Shopping in Normandy Region?

I'm planning a trip to France myself. Unfortunately, what I've worked on so far is mainly southern France, so I have no up-to-date information on markets in Normandy. This is a list of towns/cities reported in a 1999 book to have interesting markets: Rouen, Cherbourg, Evreux, Rouen, Batilly, Granville, Honfleur, Ouistreham, St-Pierre-sur-Dives, and Sotteville-les-Rouen. I imagine the other cities of any size (including Caen and Bayeux) must also have worthwhile markets.

The large markets that extend beyond food are often just once a week or even once a month, and those dates can change over time. In updating my information on Provence, I've had good luck finding current schedules by Googling something like "Rouen markets". There will be a few links for supermarkets that you have to ignore, but typically in the first 5 or 6 links you'll see one to the city's (or region's) tourist office. That's the one to click on. I trust the tourist offices to keep their market lists up to date. There are other websites out there that could be years old and therefore rather unreliable for the information you are seeking.

In 30 minutes you should be able to put together a nice list. It will help if you know what other cities they plan to visit besides Bayeux.

Deauville has a nice selection of small shops and also a wonderful market on Saturday.

Hi,

I would suggest the town of Etretat.

very helpful, thank you. I googled a lot (well, Bing) and didn't have much success. Someone else recommended Etretat, so we'll make a strong suggestion they go there for sure.

I always use Google and never Bing. That may be the difference. Or it could be that there are a lot more markets in southern France (well, duh, the weather!).

I think the Normandy region is more known for the WWII stuff and the seaside/fishing towns. I thought my step-daughter would be satiated by the shopping in Paris, but it seems she hasn't been able to do much. It's tough traveling with 76 year-olds and she can't venture out by herself :)

I'm not much of a shopper, but I never met a street market I didn't enjoy. I schedule my day-trips to take advantage of weekly markets when I can. But it only takes one trip on which you do a lot of shopping before you realize that you pay a second price in the form of a heavier suitcase. Costume jewelry always fits. Ceramics, not so much.

Actually to the French, Normandy is known for its resort towns: Deauville, Trouville, Etretat and more. It's visited for its countryside and interesting houses, some of which still have thatched roofs. It's known for its farms and food: apples, apple cider, Calvados, camembert, crèpes, butter. It's also known particularly to Americans for the D-Day Landing. And now it can be known for the discount shopping mall outside Honfleur!

OMG! I saw something about that outlet mall, but it seemed it wasn't open yet. Is it?

I think Honfleur has a big flea market the first Sunday of the month. Rick's book talks about it. If she's there this weekend, she will overlap with it. I believe it's by St. Catherine's church. I've also been told there's a larger one in Deauville.

Thank you very much Margaret! In fact, they do and I forgot all about it. I've sent the information to the travelers! Good timing for them--they arrived in Honfleur today (Friday) and return to the U.S. on Tuesday.

In case anyone else reads this string, having the same questions as I. I have learned there is an indoor mall in La Havre (Espace Coty) that is in a non-tourist area and also has a grocery store. What's better than a little shopping and then grabbing a baguette and some brie on the way out?! Appears to be about 50 vendors. The website has some "look books" to show what various stores offer. http://www.club-onlyou.com/Espace-Coty

Le Havre is a good idea. It's big enough to have a shopping mall, relatively close to Honfleur and industrial port town enough not to be a tourist mecca.

Last trip I was in Dinan, Brittany on market day so I wandered through. About half the vendors were food and the other half were more flea market type vendors (jeans, sweaters, books, art, etc.). I'm not a big shopper on vacation so I didn't really pay more attention. If you find a market day in Honfleur, or nearby, she may enjoy that too.