Best Places in Normandy

Normandy, which got its name from the Vikings – the “Northmen” – is located in the north of France and borders on Brittany in the west. The capital is Rouen. Normandy was once divided into Upper Normandy and Lower Normandy – at that time with the capital Caen. Other larger cities are Le Havre, Honfleur and Cherbourg. In culinary terms, Normandy is known far beyond its borders for its famous Calvados, apple brandy, cider and Camembert cheese. In addition to the scenic beauty, such as the cliffs with the white chalk cliffs near Etretat, the “Bayeux Tapestry”, the house and garden of the Impressionist Claude Monet and the picturesque seaside resort of Deauville are also well worth a visit. Even Napoleon spent his vacation here. In many places in Normandy, you will be accompanied by the Seine, which flows into the English Channel and the North Sea at Le Havre. Discover with us the 22 Best Places to visit in Normandy! #normandy #france #bestplaces

Introduction Best Places in Normandy 0:00
22. Rouen 2:35
21. Lyons-la-Forêt 4:56
20. Barfleur 6:48
19. Veules-les-Roses 8:48
18. Jumièges 10:46
17. Lisieux 12:55
16. Granville 14:59
15. Le Havre 16:57
14. Château Gaillard 19:17
13. Dieppe 21:21
12. Alençon 23:19
11. Cabourg 25:08
10. Le Treport 27:00
9. Mont Saint-Michel 29:07
8. Etretat 32:06
7. D-Day Beaches 34:11
6. Bayeux 36:10
5. Honfleur 38:15
4. Giverny 40:20
3. Trouville /Deauville 42:07
2. Cherbourg 45:41
1. Caen 47:54

[Music] Normandy which got its name from the Vikings the northmen is located in the north of France and borders on Britany in the west the capital is Ruan Normandy was once divided into upper Normandy and lower Normandy at that time with the capital Khan other larger cities Al laava enf and shabor in culinary terms Normandy is known far beyond its borders for its famous Calvados Apple Brandy cider and cam bear cheese in addition to the scenic Beauty such as the cliffs with the white CH cliffs near rrar the Bayou tapestry the house and garden of the impressionist Claude Monet and the picturesque seaside resort of dville are also well worth a visit even Napoleon spent his vacation here in many places in Normandy you will be accompanied by the same which flows into the English Channel and the North Sea at laava take a few minutes time and discover with us the 22 best places to visit in [Music] Normandy if you like this video please support the travel Al Channel with a like comment or a subscription thank you [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] winding Alleyways colorful half timbered houses countless churches and chapels small boutiques hidden street art and lots of culture you shouldn’t Miss Ruan on your trip to Normandy the Cozy capital of Normandy which once served as inspiration for many impressionist painters is the perfect destination for a relaxed City trip or as a stopover on a round trip trip through Normandy Ruan was once one of the wealthiest cities in medieval Europe and the second largest city in France however those days are long gone with around 100,000 inhabitants Ruan is now so compact that you can easily explore the Port City on foot at the same time the city is so rich in sites and culture that you won’t get bored even after several days in the Metropolis the large Market Square is framed by magnificent half timbered houses that seem to support each other the smell of fresh coffee wafts from the many cafes and restaurants on the Square people sit outside chatting and watching the children playing in the middle of the plast du marhe on the old foundations of the sensore church which was destroyed in 1793 a few meters away Traders and Farmers offer their products for sale a little away from the hustle and bustle a stone column commemorates Joan of Ark it was here in the middle of ru one that the 19-year-old Freedom Fighter was tortured and burned at the stake [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Leon La for is a commune with a bit over 700 inhabitants in the ER Department approximately 35 km east of Ruan it is one of the most beautiful villages in France in the center the half timbered facades are lined up around the Old Market Hall where a small Market is also held on Sundays The Village was first mentioned in documents between 10:15 and 10:26 William the Conqueror built a castle here his son Henry the first died there in 1135 the castle was destroyed in the 6 Century there was no destruction during the second world war also worth mentioning the composer Morris Revel lived here from 1917 to 1920 and Leon La for was the filming location for Madame bovery by Jee renoa in 1933 and fla sh bro in 1990 no matter which direction you come to Leon La for from the central place Isaac bad with its impressive 18th century Market Hall is always the end point The Market Hall is adorned with hanging baskets of flowers as is the entire surrounding area in front of it is a large square that is used by the various catering establishments simply charming and cozy [Music] [Music] [Music] Baur is a Charming coastal town and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France The Village owes its classification to the numerous buildings made of gray green granite that rise up along the streets and Alleyways most of the houses are covered in slate and were built between the 17th and 19th centuries the harbor of the 600 strong Village on the English Channel Coast welcomes you with a romantic flare Old Fisherman’s cottages and restaurants can be found in the small Bay which surrounds a protected natural Harbor the fishermen meet in the bars and cafes and tell stories of their trips the baralo lighthouse stands on the tip of a headland the Coastal Village of Balo experienced a Heyday in the Middle Ages when around 9,000 inhabitants lived in the town and Merchant ships and fishing fleets were anchored in the harbor the Romans already appreciated the location on the sheltered Bay and used the village as a starting point for sea voyages to Britain William the Conqueror is said to have set out from baralo in the 11th century on his campaign against England which ended with a victory for the Norman Duke after the Battle of Hastings in 106 6 until the beginning of the 13th century barlor was one of the most frequently used ports for crossing to England in the 12th century Richard the lionart used the port of Baur as the starting point for his Crossing to England where he was later Crown King [Music] [Music] vola Rose is a Charming Coastal Village on the alabaster Coast about 12 km Southwest of deep The Village has about 550 inhabitants and is is known for its picturesque Old Town its beautiful beach of about 2 km which is surrounded by white chalk Cliffs as well as its culinary Delights characterized by its location by the Sea V La Rose is one of the most beautiful villages in France V La Rose is a Labyrinth of winding Alleyways and small squares the houses are built of bricks but also half timbered partly thatched and decorated with flowers and of course with the aonomus roses in almost every front Gard garden vola rose is known for having the shortest river in France at 1,149 M which gives the village a special charm the village with its River the V and the former Mills there is a popular destination for painters and photographers also worth seeing is the IG son Maran and just outside the ruins of the sonola and cross from the 16th century the region is famous for its oysters which are farmed in the Bay of V the V also has a number of restaurants serving fresh seafood and other Regional dishes [Music] [Music] [Music] jum is one of the oldest monasteries in France St F courtier of King dager the first founded it in the S Valley in 654 ad the monastery’s cultivated fruit apples pears and cherries on their large Estates the microclimate of the same Valley favors such crops to this day in 841 the Vikings who had sailed their boats up the S Valley as far as Paris plundered The Abbey and a second time shortly afterwards only ruins remained of the carolingian Abbey where the Bavarian Duke TSO had found shelter as a monk in the 9th century the 900 monks and 1,600 servants who had lived and worked there at the time fled jum was not rebuilt until the 11th century when the abbey church notredame of jumes was consecrated it was in the presence of the entire Norman nobility and the Norman Duke gam and thus in the presence of the descendants of the Vikings who had once destroyed it the last monks left jumes during the French Revolution just a few years later in 1793 it was sold to a Timber Merchant from caloo at a public or aution he used jumes as a quarry and had the lantern of the Dome blown up but the magic of jumes is still unique today National poet Victor Hugo was absolutely right when he raved about jumes it is the most beautiful ruin in France [Music] through now it’s over you [Music] me St terz of Liu was a none of the carlite order who was born on January 2nd 1873 in the Norman town of olome she entered the caramel of Liu at the age of 15 and from then on devoted her life to her faith and her fellow human beings during her lifetime her work was inconspicuous and manifested itself in small everyday gestures after her death in Liu in 1897 TZ was venerated as a saint by many people the nun wrote down her life story in a book that was published shortly after her death had became one of the most widely read religious writings in France in 1923 terz of Vu was beatified by Pope pasus the 11th and two years later she was canonized a basilica was built in her honor in Liu which is one of the largest churches built in the 20th century every year around 700,000 people make a pilgrimage to the town of Leu to pray in the Basilica of St terz and ask for the Saints help the church was built in the Neo bantine style and consecrated in 1954 the Basilica Rises on a hill on the edge of the city center and has a cruciform ground plan the building is crowned by a huge Dome that spans the interface between the Nave and transcept artistic mosaics with scenes from the life of St terz of Leu Adorn the Crypt the Bell Tower with its 51 bronze Bells Rises away from the church building [Music] I Granville is a small town on the French Channel Coast that was officially recognized as a seaside resort in 1979 the town with its 13,000 inhabitants was named a climatic health resort back in 1926 due to its clean Sea Air Granville is located in the Munch Department in the western part of the kentan peninsula on a rocky Cape the town has a sea port from which feries regularly depart for the offshore shy islands and the British Channel island of Jersey the colorful boats of local fisherman Bob on the waves in the traditional Fishing Harbor and modern sailing and motor Yachts are mored in the marina in the High season the seaside resort is a hive of activity which dies down in mid-september the Granville casino is located directly on the Main Beach where you can try your luck at the roulette or blackjack table during your Normandy vacation the beaches of Granville are the focus of leisure activities in the summer month months the extensive range of water sports on offer includes surfing sailing on small catamarans swimming and Diving while the Sandy and Rocky beaches around the seaside resort are often crowded in the summer months things are quieter and more tranquil in Spring and fall boat trips to the offshore shy Islands provide variety on a family vacation in Granville the archipelago in the English Channel is made up of 22 small and large islands only a few of which are inhabited the islands are administratively part of Granville and are regularly visited by fairies one of the most important events in the annual calendar of events is the Granville Carnival it is one of the most colorful and dazzling events of its kind in the west of France and attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the small town every year with a population of around 170,000 laav is the largest Metropolis in Normandy the urban area extends along the right Bank of the sa which forms numerous meanders just before it flows into the English Channel the Atlantic Port played an important role in the city’s development from the 19th century onwards coffee spices tropical Timber and cotton from the French colonies entered the country via laava Maritime Flare still characteriz is the city on the same Esty today huge cruise ships and passenger ships on the transatlantic routs dock in the port the painter Claude M immortalized the commercial Port of laav in 1872 his painting impression C Levant in 1944 the port city which was occupied by German troops was covered by a hail of bombs from Allied aircraft which reduced large parts of the city to Rebel after the end of the second world war the city was was rebuilt under the leadership of the Visionary architect AUST Pere he succeeded in breathing new life into the port city on the English Channel with his extraordinary concrete architecture the architect focused on clear structures straight lines and the interplay of space and light the concrete buildings shine in countless shades of color and in 2005 the city center of laav with its modern post-war architecture was declared a UNESCO world heritage site [Music] the ruins of the medieval castle shatowa stand on a rocky Plateau on the banks of the S it was built by the English king Richard The lionart Who sought to regain Supremacy y over Normandy after his return from the Third Crusade construction began in 1196 and the defensive Fortress was completed just 18 months later at the time the defensive structure literally blocked the sa and was surrounded by numerous fortified outposts and trenches the English king had wooden posts placed in the middle of the river to prevent ships from passing through the construction of the castle swallowed up a fifth of the state budget the enormous sum underlines the importance of the Fortress for Richard The Lion Heart only the ruins of Shadow guia remain today but they still give an impression of the Fortified nature of the complex even today the architecture gives an idea of how difficult it must have been for attackers to conquer the castle in the Middle Ages the main Castle Rises well protected on a rocky Cliff above the sa and was only connected to the hinterland via a narrow entrance the complex was surrounded by an outwork which was secured by a moat in the center of the Shadow is a residential Tower which thanks to the undulating structure of the masonry offered no attack surface for cannonballs the medieval Fortress with stod numerous sieges over the centuries [Music] [Music] DF on the alabaster coast of Normandy is an important trading and fishing port and also the oldest seaside resort in France as early as the 19th century Aristocrats and celebrities came to Deep’s baths to enjoy their French Seaside vacation the climb up the Cliff of lapole offers a wonderful view of the town and its harbor the Panorama from Deep castle and the boulevard the lur above it is no less impressive other sites include the picturesque Old Town the Church of sonj the grand Rue shopping street and the place to P deep is also famous for its works by local Ivory Carvers from the 16th 19th centuries the collection Museum in the shadow deep is considered to be the most important of its kind in the world one of the most valuable pieces is a three master in which even the sales are carved from Ivory the reputation of Deep’s Ivory Carvers was so legendary that they were entrusted with almost all the work at the court of Louis the 14th [Music] [Music] he [Music] enson is the capital of the or department and is located on the southern edge of Normandy it was once very famous for its lace and was therefore known throughout Europe there is evidence of the existence of the city of olone as early as Roman times in the 11th century when the Normans secured their duy to the South the first fortified settlement was built here this was later followed by the construction of a mighty Castle the town really came to economic prominence around 1,650 when Madam la pera came up with an original lace it was in no way inferior to the Venetian lace known as at the time but it was considerably cheaper to buy promoted by Jean Baptist culbert a royal manufactury was founded as a result more than 8,000 people worked in lace production the point Daron lace was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2010 olon is also known as the birthplace of St TZ of Liu she was born here on January 2nd 1873 the Basilica of notra Dame is the ideal starting point for a visit to the town in the neighborhood is the Market Square the place de la Magdalene where you will also find the Mason Doza the office due to reason is also here a walk through the Grand Rue which also starts at the square offers a view of many imposing town houses [Music] the seaside resort of kabor is located on the coat flurry known as the flower Coast until the middle of the 19th century the seaside resort was a sleepy little fishing Village this changed in 1854 when the Parisian businessman HRI Durant marimbo decided to build a seaside resort next to the former Village kabog was planned and laid out on the drawing board in 1854 the first Casino was built on the beach and hundreds of trees were planted along the Avenues one of the most famous guests of the time was the writer Marcel Cru who stayed at the fashionable Grand Hotel every summer between 1907 and 1914 the Grand Hotel is a magnificent building in the style of spa architecture and stands directly on the beach prominade next to it are Bell Epoch villas with playful bay windows Norman Cottages with glazed Verandas and half timbered houses cabor is located on normandy’s flowery Coast known for its long Sandy peaches and offers excellent conditions for a varied summer vacation children build sand castles on the gently sloping Beach and splash around in the water near the shore the 4 kilomet Long Beach is supervised during the season and umbrellas Sun lers and Beach cabins can be be hired at first aid Post Number Four numerous water sports are available on the beach in kabog to keep you entertained during your Normandy vacation [Music] L tror is a small Harbor Town that is known as the gateway to Normandy the town lies at the mouth of the river brzil picardi begins on the other side of the river bank the landscape around lpor is characterized by the massive Cliffs of the alabaster Coast the town is wedged between Limestone Cliffs and the Sea and deres its extraordinary charm from this location the chalk cliffs in L tror are the highest in Europe you can reach the plateau above the town via a staircase or by taking the historic funicular the Funicula was opened in 1908 and is one of the landmarks of the port town which has a population of around 5,200 the heart of lror Beats to the rhythm of the tides since the town was founded in the 11th century EB and flow have determined the lives of the people in the past the inhabitants lived primarily from fishing until tourism became the most important source of income despite this the number of fishing boats in the fishing port is still considerably high and everyday fully loaded fishing boats return to the port with their catch in some places time seems to have stood still in the narrow winding streets of the Harbor Town they run through the Old Town District of fishermen and rope makers which extends below the church and the cordelier quarter balconies and bay windows Arch out of the houses above the Alleyways and green Vine lines twine up the facades of the houses [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Mont Sam Michelle impresses with its legendary silhouette which is characterized by The Abbey enthroned on the mountain the first sacred building was commissioned as early as the 8th century and construction of the monastery which is still standing today began in 1017 in the Middle Ages the island experienced its first Heyday as a popular pilgrimage site the faithful flocked here in droves and numerous children’s pilgrimages had the island in Normandy as their destination the aby’s writing room was known and appreciated far beyond the borders of the country you can still see some remnants of this time in the islands museums today during the Hundred Years War the English enemies were never able to take the castle as mighty walls protected The Abbey and its inhabitants from Invasion during the French Revolution the monastery was converted into a prison and was used to detain various opponents of the regime it was not until Emperor napolian thei had the village restored to the state it is in today the island is now the third most visited place in the whole of France as you can imagine only the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Palace of Versa attract more visitors visitors from the USA in particular are always fascinated by the medieval history of Europe [Music] now [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] the chalk Cliffs of rrar are undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the cliffs in Normandy these impressive Limestone Cliffs and Crags are at the heart of rr’s natural beauty and are known worldwide for their unique shape and Brilliant white the Rocks Cliffs and valleys in and around rrar are the result of thousands of years of erosion by wind and water the chalk Cliffs of rrar have inspired numerous artists and writers including famous personalities such as Claude M the extraordinary beauty of this Cliff attracts tourists from all over the world who come to admire the landscape and Hike along the cliff paths rrar is a popular destination for nature lovers photographers and anyone who wants to explore the impressive Coastal landscape of Normandy the chalk Cliffs of rrar are spectacular geological formations on the Cliffs of Normandy and France they are made of chalk and flint and are known for their breathtaking Beauty and unique shapes the views are also phenomenal steep Cliffs that rise abruptly at either end of the coast off a breathtaking views of the Deep Blue Waters of the English Channel [Music] the Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy on June 6th 1944 was to go down in history as the largest amphibious and Airborne operation of all time to this day millions of visitors flocked to The Landing beaches to commemorate the soldiers who liberated occupied France the Allied Landing planned during the second world war under the code name Operation Neptune took place on the night of June the 5th to the 6th 1944 with bombing raids from the air and at Sea tens of thousands of ships crossing the English Channel and the landing on the beaches of Normandy at dawn on D-Day the Allies had one goal in mind to establish an Allied Bridge head in Northwestern Europe and open up a second front in the West the gu Landings with a Prelude to the famous Battle of Normandy the operation was to last the entire month of June 1944 and finally end on June 30th each of the five Landing beaches located close to each other has its own characteristic features The Landing beaches to be visited from west to east are Utah Beach and Omaha Beach American Landing section Gold Beach British Landing section Juno Beach Canadian Landing section and sword Beach British French Landing section [Music] [Music] [Music] the small town of Bayou is located around 7 km from the English Channel Coast with its romantic medieval Town Center it is one of the most visited places in the lower Normandy region the medieval Town structures around by U Cathedral have been almost compl completely preserved the mighty church was consecrated in 1077 and has been rebuilt and extended several times over the centuries the three Nave cruciform Basilica combines elements of Romanesque and Norman Gothic on its facade the most important buildings and districts in the center of Bayou include the 17th century Town Palace the historic Tanner’s quarter and the old Parish churches the narrow streets are lined with pretty half timbered houses from the 14th centuries which serve as residential buildings and house small stores and boutiques in their basements one of the most important works of art from the Middle Ages is the famous Bayou tapestry it was created in the second half of the 11th century as an elaborate embroidery and depicts detailed scenes from the campaign of Conquest against England which William the Conqueror ended victoriously with the Battle of Hastings in 1066 the tapestry is 68 M long and consists of 58 individual scenes and several text passages the wealth of detailed depictions of the campaign makes the tapestry one of the most important victorial documents of the Middle Ages [Music] [Music] the picturesque town of onur founded by the Normans lies where the funnel of the S Esty opens up in the 19th century it was impressionist painters such as Monet Renoir San pisarro and many others who cemented its reputation as an artistic town the painter Eugene Budan famous for his paintings of coastal Landscapes was born in onla the Eugene Budan museum is dedicated to the artist himself and his contemporaries collections from everyday life in Normandy in the 18th and 19th centuries can also be admired numerous fishing boats and Yachts Bob about in the old Basin the old Harbor built in the 17th century narrow six-story houses are picturesquely reflected in the water and offer painters and photographers countless atmospheric motifs the left tenants the remains of a fortification Rises up on the key and watches over the old Harbor Basin with its Corner Towers two 17th century salt warehouses are now used for art exhibitions no less romantic than the Old Port is the S Catherine District which is just as inviting for a stroll there the 15th century wooden Church of the same name with its freestanding Tower and twin naves attracts attention to the east of the city the 2.1 km long Pont to Normandy spans the funnel-shaped main Esty and several Esty arms of the same Delta it is Europe’s largest cable State Bridge with a main span of 856 m [Music] Jan a village with impressionist charm if there is one name that stands for impressionism in itself it is is that of the village of xan where Claude Monet settled in 1883 and created his beautiful gardens which come to life every spring soon after he settled there numerous painters including many Americans flocked to capture the light and study Mon’s work in the midst of the Landscapes that inspired the famous artist even today jivan has retained its Soul character and authenticity everywhere in the flowering streets and Alleyways the colorful houses of adorned with blue Vines and wild grapes Galleries and Studios of painters artists and creatives are lined up throughout the village where a stroll is always inspiring Claude Monet’s house and Gardens which are a mustsee and the impressionism Museum are the two main attractions when visiting this famous Village [Music] [Music] doville is a fashionable seaside resort with a large Marina it is located on the coat flurry in Normandy and is only separated from the neighboring seaside resort of troville Sumer by a narrow River designed on the drawing board in the mid 19th century in a lavish style the extraordinary town houses in Norman half timbered style crowned by the Magnificent historic Villas facing the Sea and the fourstar deluxe hotel the Normandy by I sure to impress on a vacation in France by the Sea many a high-end Boutique from Paris has set up shop in the elegant cityscape the spacious Beach prominade running along the extensive Sandy Beach also exudes exclusivity the partitions between the bathing Huts honor the names of countless International stars who have enriched deville’s Festival of American Film troil s is a time honored seaside resort in Normandy that grew out of a fishing Village in the 19th century and is as popular as ever for French Seaside vacations there is a large Sandy Beach lined with a long prominade an impressively Long restaurant mile along the river luk which flows into a harbor Basin an attractive old town and a fish market worth seeing with an almost overflowing offer incidentally the river separates troville saw from the fashionable neighboring seaside resort of doville so there are no limits to further exploration [Music] he [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] at the tip of the French peninsula of koton tan in the northwest of the country lies the town of shabor officially shabor and cotent tan it is nestled around the largest artificial Harbor in Europe which is an important architectural work from the 18th century the Lively Seaside Town attracts boat Travelers and yach captains Around the Clock it also plays host to exciting sailing trips and cruise passengers the transatlantic port and its Art Deco buildings are a site in themselves sherbo is also known as the home of the painter Jean franois Malay and the astronomer and botanist Emanuel lier the French associate the town with the film lay parle toborg The Umbrellas of shabor Catherine dener graced the streets of the Rainy City where many umbrellas can still be found today sherbo also boasts a long history the Romans established a settlement here as early as the 4th Century due to its location it has always been surrounded by conflict which explains the large fortifications during your trip you can follow the historical traces in an entertaining way thanks to its location on a peninsula there are numerous dream beaches around shabor they are all Sandy and affected by high and low tides it is therefore important to find out about the current tides in advance there are also many beautiful hiking and cycling trails along the coastline the Old Town breathes 1,000 years of History the town has its roots in an island built by the Normans as a fortress at the Confluence of the rivers or and Odon William the Conqueror the town’s most famous inhabitant had the castle and two abies built here the ab o AR and the abay odam after the conquest of Normandy by the French Crown the English laid Siege to the town in 1346 and 1417 and remained there until 1450 in the early summer of 1944 a fierce battle raged here between the Allied Landing troops and the German occupiers during this month tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost their lives the city was finally liberated on July 9th 1944 the new cityscape emerged around the preserved and restored historical buildings with its buildings made of the Region’s light colored sandstone and its Parks khah is considered a green City student flare and numerous boutiques make the metropolis a magnet for visitors [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] he n [Music] [Applause] [Music]