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2 days in Normandy - Rouen based

Posted by on

My 2 school aged children and I will be staying 3 nights 2 days in Rouen in late May. The 2 full days are Friday and Saturday. I prefer not to rent a car so am exploring the options of day tours based out of Rouen. We want to see the beaches and some WWII sites but Normandy is so much more than that, so would also like to see some other important historical sites. We do not have a preference for American sites or sites particular to our country of origin as it relates the beaches, we just want to see the most interesting and unique things. Travelling with kids/young teens so variety is the name of the game.

Does anyone familiar with the general area have a suggested itinerary for those 2 days?
and
Can anyone recommend any Rouen based tours or tour companies?

Please do not come here to convince me to rent a car, I will do if I absolutely have to but it's my least favourite option so I'm exploring others right now.

Posted by
770 posts

Joan of Arc is everywhere in Rouen. It might be cool for them to read an age-appropriate book about her before the trip, and then do a family walking tour together once there, highlighting her life and times. There are few suggested itineraries online or via YouTube.

Is either kid artistic or inclined towards drawing, painting, etc.? Monet did over 30 canvases of the Rouen Cathedral. Again, before the trip, it might be interesting to look up as many as possible to see all their varieties and colors. And then when you walk down that street and see it in person for the first time .... wow! It is powerful. Not for everyone, but for the right kid, it could be quite a memory.

Posted by
1140 posts

Normandy is a large area. But unfortunately, Rouen isn't anywhere close to the D-day beaches (2-hour drive if you have a car). It is a wonderful town in its own right (cathedral, museums, half-timbered houses), but depending on the age of your kids, it may not be that fascinating. And if you don't have a car, your sight-seeing options are limited. With a car, the ruins of Abbaye de Jumièges are a half-hour drive. It is a cool sight for the kid in all of us, and is the ruined fortress where William the Conqueror made his home after returning from England. Likewise, Castle of La Roche-Guyon is an interesting castle/fortress overlooking the Seine an hour drive from Rouen. You and your kids could definitely burn some calories climbing the stairs to the wonderful view overlooking the Seine. But it is really not accessible by public transportation.

Posted by
27156 posts

The D-Day tours mostly originate from Bayeux. Although I really liked Rouen, Bayeux would be a better base if you want to spend a day seeing D-Day sites--and I think it does really need a day, because the half-day tours have to spend a lot of time driving out of Bayeux and then back at the end of the day. I was very happy with my Overlord tour, but there are other options.

Posted by
1980 posts

You can take a taxi to for instance Evreux south of Rouen and from there the train to Bayeux for joining a D-day beach tour and Trouville-Deauville for sunbathing. With the train only wil be too time consuming. From Rouen you can take the train to Fécamp and Dieppe and further no idea to get by bus to Étretat, the abbey of Jumièges and Lyons-la-Fôret. So up to you if this will make a visit to Normandy worthwile for you.

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