Hello!
My husband and I will be travelling in Normandy in early October this year. We will be taking a train from Paris to Rouen and picking up our car rental there. We are then travelling onto Honfleur and Bayeux, which will be our base. Then day trips to Mont St. Michel and the beaches. My questions are, I am interested in the Fruit Trail which I believe is right outside of Rouen. How do we get there by car, what is worthwhile seeing there and would doing the Trail, a lunch in Honfleur and then continuing to Bayeux, be too much in one day?
Any thoughts on this please.
Thanks!
Brigitte
Posted by
Paris
7260 posts
I had to Google the route. It doesn't look too long (although I'd skip a few of the loops, it looks convoluted) and it passes by the highlight of the area: Jumieges Abbey, definitely worth a visit. If it fits your plan I also recommend taking the ferry across the Seine at Jumieges, it's quick and fun. So you could take at least part of the route on your way to Honfleur, which might be a late lunch / afternoon stop rather than a lunch, but doesn't take long to visit.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2064 posts
As soon as the Fruit Trail ends in Notre-Dame-de-Bliquetuit you can keep following the D65 road further west to Aizier and Vieux-Port. This is part of the Cottage Trail (Route des Chaumières) and is very scenic. If you have time you can add that part of the route to Marais-Vernier too which is also worth driving.
Know it will be dark early in October and following scenic routes with all the stops and speedlimits in villages need way more time as for instance Google Streetview calculate. Maybe adding the Cottage Trail will be too much, but nevertheless worth to consider. Being flexible where having lunch will make the trip more easily.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Hello and thank you for your suggestions. I just hope we're not packing in too much in one day (the trail, Honfleur then Bayeux). That's always a concern. I notice one of you is from Paris. We will be finishing our trip in Paris, but only staying 3 nights. One day will be spent visiting Vimy Ridge, which I believe is quite close to Paris. I've read that taking the train then a cab there is the easiest way. We won't have a car. Is that true? We will be left with just one evening and one full day in Paris, which makes planning a little difficult considering there is so much to see and do. We are staying in the Roissy area to be near the CDG airport when we leave for home. Can you recommend any must-sees in that area and good restaurants?
Thanks again,
Brigitte
Posted by
Paris
7260 posts
If you don't plan on visiting Bayeux (Tapestry etc) that same day, then it's not too much.
As for your Paris / Vimy ridge question: it's not that close to Paris really, and without a car, a cab from the Arras train station is the only option. You might want to call the visitor center there (if there's one) to inquire.
Ideally I would use a car for that. If you can rearrange your Paris stay a little, you could keep the car after Normandy, drive 4.5 hours from Bayeux to Arras, stay in Arras (lovely place) removing one night in Paris, visit Vimy, then drive to CDG (less than 2 hours) to drop off the car.
Also, if you can change your plans, I would really stay in Paris rather than near CDG for three nights. It's easy to get an early cab for the flight home, and to answer your question... Without a car there are no must sees and no obvious good restaurants around the airport. Really.