2 towns in western France

Are you saying that your husband's top priority is the WW II invasion sites of Normandy? Does he want a high- priced professional WW II guide? Are you two interested in Bayeux or Mont St Michel?

When you say towns, do you mean a place with five restaurants or with 50 restaurants? Will you consider a car rental for part of the trip?

Is it convenient for you to fly into Brussels/BRU to start?

Thank you for your reply. Great questions!
Flying into Brussels would be good. A city that would be easily to get to Bruges. Yes, World War II sites. My husband is a history buff so being in that area is a must. As for Bayeux or Mont St Michel, not sure. Suggestions?
When we travel, we usually like to stay in three town/cities that we can use for a hub to do day trips from. For example, when we went to Italy, this past April, we went to Venice, Perugia, and Sorrento. So Bruges would be one, then looking for 2 more in France.

Thank you! I will do so. Unfortunately, April is the time we travel in this season of our lives.

Consider Bayeux, Honfleur and zGiverny in Normandy.

Thank you for your suggestions.

I know you're not asking about it, but the Atlantic Wall Museum is an easy day trip by train from Bruges.
Oradour-sur-Glane should be on a WWII buff's bucket list. It's on mine, and I don't even like history. It's a bit further south than the other sites.

Got it down, thank you!!

We did something like this (but completely opposite route) so I'll throw this out there...From Bruges, take the train to Ghent and spend the night and enjoy at least an overnight in Ghent. It's so charming, and see the Ghent Alterpiece at St Bravo's. Take the train from Ghent to Lille, France. Pick up a rental car in Lille (I'd suggest picking up in Rouen (it's worth a visit) but I think the train to get to Rouen via Belgium takes you out to Paris first; where as Lille is a quick train from Ghent. Then drive to your first overnight destination. So many lovely options will be suggested, and I suggested taking time to stop and smell the roses along the way; such as exploring a few little towns/villages along the cider route while on your way to your destination. Roads all well maintained and it's easy to drive.

The only convenient way to see the Normandy region is with a rental car. Bayeux is a must stay. Charming quaint, and near the WW2 sites.

You could visit Mont St. Michel at the end, then drive to Rennes to drop off the rental car and then take the train back to Paris. Of course there's lots of other towns/trains back to Paris. It's a nominal fee to pick up/drop off car rentals within France. To pick up in Belgium and return in France...forget it $$$$$$.

Enjoy! Our trip was this past April. The day of our WW2 tour, was the most spectacularly gorgeous day. The tour guide said it was the best day in many months. We had great weather on our trip, which I know was very lucky!

PS. Lots of chats on this forum for Normandy and Brittany regions that will give you lots to think about. Use the magnifying glass to search.

Wow! We love it! Thank you so much.

The Atlantic Wall Museum in Belgium as G3rryCee remarks is near Ostend along (ofcourse) the coast. Train to the latter and change there to the coastal tram to stop Raversijde Provinciedomein near the beach.
https://www.raversyde.be/en

In case you pick up the car in Lille like KD suggets is worth a detour the two V2 launch bunker complexes near Saint-Omer, La Coupole and Le Blockhaus. Further west to the coast Batterie Todt, the largest gun battery along the French coast. There is also a huge railway gun on display. From there you can drive straight to Normandy.
https://lacoupole-france.com/en/
https://www.leblockhaus.com/en
https://www.batterietodt.com/ (French only)

Thank you as well. I love the experience of travel from you all.