I am taking my brother in law, my brother and his wife to see the D day beaches and see some of the WW2 sites in normandy. Is there anything not related to ww2 that I shouldn't miss? I plan on taking them to mont st michel for a night.
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1229 posts
I'll bite. Stop in a small Calvados distillery and talk with the family that runs it. See the Bayeux Tapestry. Drive through the countryside and visit one of the smaller towns on a market day. Visit Giverny, Rouen, Étretat. Go to the beach (in season, but beware—the English Channel is cold). Take a hike on the Grande Randonée Ile de France. Ride a horse. Drink cider.
I first went to Normandy for the WWII history. I ended up falling in love with everything else too (although I still go back every other D-day anniversary). Enjoy!
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1641 posts
We spent three nights in Arromanches right on the coast. Close enough to all the Dday sights. I loved being right on the water with a view. The harbor view and tide swings were incredible. We stayed at Hotel de la Marine and would highly recommend.
On hindsight, while the actual visit to Mont St Michel is great (but crowded with tourists), I felt that spending the night at a hotel off the island was a waste. (Everything reasonable on the island was booked) It was a less than two hours from Arromanches, and talked that we could have done as a day trip instead. Or visited and and driven to the Loire, our next stop.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Personally, I would miss MSM. It was a huge disappointment, ruined by the new road. It was much better when accessed by the tidal causeway.
Dinard and St Malo were very pleasant places.
Posted by
Rockville, MD, USA
653 posts
While you're in Bayeux for the tapestry, see the cathedral and then take the charming walking tour (pick up the brochure at Tourist Information).
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12314 posts
The cliffs at Etretat and Fecamp are a good sight. If you're looking at D-day related things, there are a bunch of German defenses along the top of the cliff that were abandoned rather than destroyed (when the invasion came down the coast).
I loved MSM but it may depend a lot on what time of year and what time of day you visit. I was there mid-September later in the day and was more than happy with the place. I wouldn't stay or eat there because it's too far beyond my normal spending.
The best oysters anywhere can be had just down the coast from MSM in Cancale, but that's in Brittany. Maybe 30 minutes past Cancale is St. Malo. It's a walled city that is also worth a visit (but may also be packed in high season). Dinan, also in Brittany, is a beautiful old town - both the medieval center and the port area down the hill.
Posted by
OP
Mesa, AZ, USA
92 posts
wow great ideas! I like the idea of a calvados distillery!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6486 posts
I want to second the idea of Arromanches. Loved it! It is a charming town right on the sea, there are remnants of an artificial harbor right off the beach and a small, excellent museum next to the beach. Also, I will say I did enjoy MSM. If you do it later in the afternoon,early evening and then right away in the morning getting to the abbey at the top 15 minutes before opening it is very pleasant. I will also second Etretat, which has spectacular scenery and the remnants of German bunkers. Loved Honfleur, Saint Malo, Dinan and Dinard and there are lots of interesting sights in beautiful Brittney.