Please tell me if this is reasonably possible - I am looking to leave Paris on a Thursday morning by train to Normandy and spend two nights, looking to do 2 main things - visit Mont Saint Michel one day and D-Day battlefields/beaches/sites on the other. Is this reasonable? If so, which would be better to do on the arrival day from Paris? Is there one preferable area to stay both nights, or would it be better to stay in 2 different places? Thanks.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
Ron,
In that situation, you could consider something along these lines.....
- Travel by train from Paris St. Lazare to Bayeux in the morning. Try to arrive as early as possible so you'll have time to check-in to the hotel and have lunch.
- Pre-arrange an afternoon tour with Overlord Tour which covers the Omaha, Utah, and a few other sites in a four hour time frame. I believe departure is at 13:45, returning at 18:00.
- Following the tour, freshen up in the hotel and then treat yourself to dinner at Le Pommier Restaurant (the food is great IMO, although not inexpensive).
- The following day take the Shuttle offered by Hotel Churchill to Mont St. Michel. It departs at 08:30, arriving at 10:00, and the return trip departs at 13:00, arriving back in Bayeux at 14:30. That method only allows three hours to look around MSM. An alternative would be to rent a car for the day in Bayeux and drive there on your own. As I recall, there's a Hertz outlet in one of the local gas stations.
- If you use the Churchill Shuttle to MSM, you'll still have some free time in the afternoon. You can either spend some time visiting the excellent WW-II Musuem in Bayeux, or see the historic Bayeux Tapestry which describes a much earlier battle. You should be able to see both if you allocate your time well between the two sights.
- Treat yourself to another fine hot meal, and also ask your hotel to arrange a Taxi for the trip to the station in the morning.
- The following morning return to Paris.
There are of course many ways you could arrange your trip, and this is only one suggestion.
Bon Voyage!
Posted by
Daphne, Alabama, United States
106 posts
Ken from Canada that is some great very helpful information. I want to go back to Normandy and I am not interested in renting a car. Thanks.
Posted by
2081 posts
Ron,
when i was up there a couple years ago, thats about what i did. I stayed in Bayeux since i felt it was more central to where i wanted to do/see things. I also took a day (morning) trip to Caen to check out the war museum.
I took the shuttle bus from the Hotel Churchill to the Mont. That took most of the day for that. After visiting the Mont, i thought it would be cool to stay overnight, so when i go back, i will probably spend a night or 2 on the Mont. For me, its just something that i would like to do.
Then the next day is did a personal guided tour of the Normandy Area. Specifically the US sectors. just a note and comment. Even with a guided tour, you wont be able to do/see everything there. I wasnt able to see some of the museums that i cam across on the tour. If you drive yourself, you maybe able to cover more stuff or maybe not. But its one of the reasons why i will go back and spent 3 or 4 days up there.
Happy trails.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
Ken gave you excellent advice. If you can tag on an extra night, spend it on Mont St-Michel. Once the crowds leave, that place is magical.