Suggestions on overnights in Normandy Region

I am also a medieval history buff. Your husband might also enjoy visiting Dinan, just across the border in Brittany, and Les Andeleys, just across the eastern border of Normandy where King Richard had a castle. (Les Andeleys is close to Giverney if you want to include a non-medieval site!)......... We were content with three hours in congested Rouen (including lunch), but found Honfleur much more pleasant. We were only there for a few hours, but would have enjoyed staying there for an overnight........Haven't been to either Amiens or Beauvais........some other sites in that area were on our list but we ran out of time: Barfleur (where the White Ship sank), Jumieges Abbey, and the sites of the Crecy and Agincourt battles which are just north of Normandy. ......If you want to turn your Chartres trip into an overnight, you could visit the ruined castles at Chinon and Loches.

Sounds like your husband has seen the Great Courses course on European Cathedrals! How are you planning on getting from Paris to MSM? If you're driving, why not stop at Chartres on the way? Bayeux also has a 12th century Gothic cathedral which isn't as well known as the others. Last year at this time it was being cleaned both inside and out, but I don't know how much progress they've made since. I don't know how much into the D-Day experience you are, but if you're really interested in it, I'd spend three days there. You can also go to St. Lo, which is about 15 miles from Bayeux and the site of an important battle as well. I'd stop in Honfleur on the way to Rouen. The church there is interesting, as it is made in the shape of an upsidedown boat. Actually, two upsidedown boats side by side. Haven't been to Amiens or Beauvais, so can't help you much there. If you're looking for more cathedrals to visit in the future, you could do the Cologne-Freiburg-Colmar-Strasbourg circuit. Enjoy your trip

I would second the wooden church in Honfleur. One thing that has not been mentiioned about Rouen is perhaps the finest stand of half-timbered buildings I have seen anywhere.

Check out www.bandbnormandie.com. We used it as our base and visited all the places you've mentioned quite easily with our rental car. The centuries old working farm is about 10 miles from Bayeux, 90 minutes from MSM, and about 20 minutes from the D Day beaches. Odile and Jacques and their sons are delightful hosts and the breakfasts are to die for. MSM is good for about 2-3 hours tops but arrive early to beat the hordes from the tour buses. We then drove around the bay to Cancale, in Brittany, for a wonderful seafood lunch, then drifted along the back roads back to Le Ferme, sampling goods from locals in the small villages. It was one of our best trips ever, driving around Normandy and stopping where we wanted. You'll have a great time.

Jan, My comments are on Amiens....go, it's worth it, not just to see the cathedral, which is famous and impressive, but also see the centre ville. I've been to Amiens a couple of times in the late 80s and early 90s, Rouen and Beauvais I have not as yet visited. For Amiens two nights would suffice. I did the visits there as day trips from Paris, r/t from Gare du Nord. As suggested above, I recommend Strasbourg and its cathedral, very impressive, was known as das Straßburger Münster. I just like walking around in Strasbourg...very interesting and revealing...the city.

We stayed in a beautiful place outside of Bayeux which I would highly recommend. ranconniere.fr Take a look. It's a short drive to Bayeux and it's also close to the Arromanches beach (also involved in D-Day).