Normandy is the perfect place for food-loving ramblers! Stretching from Dieppe and Rouen in the east across to Cherbourg and St-Lô in the west, Normandy encompasses the regions of Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Orne and Manche.

It is an enchanting region flanked to the north by its chalk cliffs and the English Channel, yet encompasses the beautiful Seine Valley, the famous horse country of Orne and the apple orchards of Calvados.

With countless small towns and villages of flint or half-timbered houses, multi-arched bridges over lazy rivers and fields of wild flowers, it is the perfect area to explore on foot, by bicycle or in an open-topped car!

History

With its strategic placement between the sea and the capital city of Paris, the area has a history of bloodshed and battles, not least the famous Normandy landings on D-Day. For history and WW2 buffs the small cemeteries, pristinely kept; the mile markers laid by the British liberators; the battle fields and the fields of red poppies combine to make a moving tribute to the fallen. Many visitors make a pilgrimage to these historic sites to pay their respects to fallen comrades and family members.

Weather

Normandy has more showers than the eastern and southern parts of France but generally summers are warmer and sunnier than in England, with 6-8 hours of sunshine on average. It has a Maritime climate with mild winters which are generally free of frost and snow.

Normandy Coastline

The rugged coastline of Normandy is a series of harbours, fishing ports, marshes and nature reserves. Of course it is also a source of wonderful seafood for which it is famous. Lobsters from Granville and oysters from Barneville are considered the best and are staple ingredients for the local cuisine.

The magnificent port of Cherbourg is a major ferry port linking Normandy with England. Further along, the marshes are a sanctuary for herring gulls and seabirds making it an ornithologist’s delight.

One of the most famous landmarks is Mont Saint-Michel, a magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Church set on a rocky island at the mouth of the Couesnon River. It can be reached at low tide via a causeway and at the right time of year you may see some seals. The original church was completed in AD708 and appears on the historic Bayeaux Tapestry which commemorates the Norman conquest of England in 1066. This magnificent Abbey is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prepare for a steep climb up to the Abbey with over 900 steps, but it is definitely worth the effort! The Grand Rue narrow street leads to the medieval church of St Pierre. The interior is fabulous to see with tiers of arches, windows, a ribbed ceiling and a carved side chapel depicting St Michael slaying the dragon. The Abbey itself is a sprawling labyrinth of rooms, staircases, terraces and vaulted halls which can be seen on a guided tour.

Seine Valley

The River Seine is well-known as it runs through the heart of Paris, meandering towards the sea past Vernon and Rouen. It has carved a path through the white chalk cliffs around Les Andelys and makes for some of the most pleasant walking areas. Shady footpaths, hilltop viewpoints, ancient churches and delightful rose-covered cottages line the banks. Visitors can stop in the main street of any of the small towns and purchase fresh baguettes, warm cheese quiches, flaky croissants and fruit tarts from the local boulangerie. Many villages are in a time warp where local housewives walk to the shops, baskets on their arm to buy daily provisions and chat with their neighbors. Here you will find the locals pleasant, friendly and helpful, especially if you can speak a few words of french.

Calvados

Calvados is a pastoral area known for its horses and dairy cattle which graze the lush grass behind white fences. The local houses are picture-perfect with thatched straw roofs and half-timbered facades. From grand manor houses to pigeon-lofts, visitors will see the local flint, brick and cob which has been used as building materials for centuries.

Calvados is famous for its Camembert cheese production – a deliciously tasty soft cheese with a thick crust and a runny interior. It is the perfect accompaniment to the apples which grow here in profusion. The pink spring blossom of the apple trees is a beautiful sight. Apples, cider (which is sometimes known as ‘scrumpy’), and calvados, a sweet apple brandy, are the main products of this area. October is the time to visit and sample freshly made cider.

Things to see and do in Normandy

Bayeux - the Cathedral and the famous 11 th century Tapestry which recounts the victory of William the Conqueror over England in 1066.

Arromanches – the remains of the artificial harbour built in 1944 and the Museum of the Debarquement with many exhibits of D-Day.

Château de Carrouges – a wonderful historic château on the banks of the River Orne. Built in the 14 th century it remained in the same family until 1936. It is now open to the public, with its original furniture, huge kitchens and ancestral portraits hanging in the halls. Sitting in pretty woodland it is approached through wrought iron gates and over a moat.

Rouen – a splendid medieval town with a weekend market in the square beside the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Wander the old cobbled streets and dine in style here as it was voted “Gastronomic city of the Region”.


Monet’s Garden – One of the most lovely places to visit in Normandy is the home and gardens of French impressionist painter, Claude Monet at Giverny. The sizeable house he lived in is furnished just as he left it, and visitors can also see his art studio. He created beautiful gardens and borders, rose arcades and beds with every type and color of flower imaginable which is beautiful from spring to late autumn.

Across the road is his lily pond, which famously featured in many of his paintings. It is a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place to visit, along with the quaint village of Giverny and the Museum of American Art.

Food and Drink

Normandy produces some wonderful cheeses including Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l’Eveque. It is also known for its tasty andouille sausages, and its local Morel mushrooms, along with the sweet cider or the more rough-tasting “scrumpy”. Normandy cuisine is hearty, tasty and satisfying. It is farmer’s food but for all that it is delicious, rich and satisfying. Chicken chasseur, lamb dishes and duck are all served in rich, tasty sauces made of red wine, onions and mushrooms.

Along the coast the superb seafood creates the basis for dishes such as moules mariniere which are mussels served with tiny onions in white wine sauce, and Sole Normande which is a gently poached flat fish served with a rich sauce made of butter, eggs and cream. Trout and crayfish are caught in the local rivers, particularly further inland in Orne. Calvados apple brandy is often served to accompany to the rich cream dishes of this area.

Whatever you enjoy seeing and doing, Normandy has something for everyone, and you will certainly not go hungry!

France like most countries in Europe has a rich and varied history. In this beautiful country you’ll see some of the oldest buildings, the best architecture and the most amazing castles in Europe, and even in the world. In a country with such a mixed past, you’ll always find skeletons in the closet, and a sordid past. This vast country has many stories to tell, and some very dark secrets indeed.

If you ever get tired of the sights, bored with the world class shopping and fancy a real fright, why not take a trip to some of the most haunted and scariest places in France. You’ll find a number of old, and even some new spots on the map that have gruesome and terrifying tales to tell.

If you love things that go bump in the night, then France is the place for you. Probably you even know such popular «ghosted» spots like the Loire Valley castles or gloomy Conciergerie prison in Paris, but we’ll tell you about weird places in France you didn’t know before.

Some of these sights are not for the faint hearted. So, if you’re not into scary ghost stories, haunted house or cemeteries, then this list of the top ten scariest places to visit in France is certainly not for you.

Prepare to be scared, here are the spookiest spots France has to offer…

10) At the number 10 spot you’ll find the most haunted house in France, which is situated in Alais, Provence,  and haunted by the ghost of died Guy de Torno.

9) Coming in at 9 is the is the scary abbey at the Mont St. Michel, a spooky site with multiple ghostly sightings.

8) At 8, this is the first mention of the Château de Versailles. The château and the surround areas are said to be some of the most haunted places in France. There have been numerous sighting reported over the years, and even some reports from just a few months ago.

7) The seventh most scary place in France the nuclear reactor in the Monts d’Aree, also known to the locals as the gates of hell.

6) Surprisingly at number six you’ll find Euro Disney. It’s been reported the there have been several unexplained sightings at this site.

5) The number 5 slot goes to Basilica at Le Bois-Chenu Domremy. Not only will you find the ghost of Joan of Arc here, but there have been several spooky sighting of ghosts since the 1900s.

4) Forth are the gardens of the Château of Versailles. Marie Antoinette’s ghost has been spotted repeatedly at this site, roaming the beautiful gardens surround the château.

3) In at number three is the Pere La Chaise Cemetery, which is the largest cemetery in Paris, France. The spot is the most visited cemetery in the world, and is said to be one of the most haunted. Definitely worth a visit.

2) Coming in at a close second is the Brissac Castle, which can be found in the Loire Valley of France. Even if you’re not into ghost hunting, this is a great place to visit. This ornate castle was was masterfully rebuilt in the 17 th century, and is overflowing with antiques, original tapestries and the ceilings are even painted with gold. As soon as you enter the castle you get an eerie felling and a slight shiver runs up your spine. That’s because this was the site of a gruesome double murder. Jacques de Breze found his wife Charlotte and her lover one evening together in the castle. After his discovery, Jacques murdered them both. Legend has it the the pair have haunted the castle ever since. Jacques was said to have sold the castle soon after their deaths, as he was so scared of the ghosts, and could no longer live alone in the castle.

1) The top spot goes to The Catacombs situated in Paris. During the mid 1700s, the population of Paris grew so rapidly, that the city soon ran out of places to bury its dead. Those in charge at the time found the perfect solution the Catacombs, which is commonly called the empire of the dead. Many passage ways and tunnels were dug underneath the city to accommodate the millions of dead. Bodies were buried and laid along the walls, and many of the original bones and skulls still line the tunnels of the Catacombs to this day. This is said to be the most scariest spot in the whole of France. Tours of the Catacombs run each day, but beware, as you may never return.