Normandy Regional Info

History | Geography | Food / Drink

"The routes developed for us were fantastic. Wonderful back roads through beautiful countryside." - M. James, Normandy Tour

History

It was a long time ago in Normandy, around 850 ad, on the North and West coast, the Normands also called the Vikings (Norwegians and Danish) invaded what is called today the region of Normandy. "Normands which literally means " the men of the North", were warriors invading the French coast with flat boat that were 20 meters long, coming by the ocean and by the big rivers. After having pillaged cities and villages, Normands finally installed themselves on the West French territory and decided to pillage Paris in 885. Tired of pillaging and of navigating, Normands civilized and christianized. During the Hundred Years' War, the region was held at various time by both French and English forces. In 1450, French finally recovered Normandy. Normandy was the location of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France during World War II. Some geography...

A church tower, some half -timbered houses around a place, cows under apple trees and green pasture. This is the Normandy countryside ( Basse-Normandy). A little beach close by the cliffs, with small fishing boats, with baroque houses constructed at the beginning of the last century when the Parisians discovered the ocean bathes. This is the Normandy Ocean side ( Haute-Normandy). Fortresses, castles, abbeys testify to a past very prestigious as well as agitated.

Two hours from Paris, Normandy offers beautiful beaches of sand or of little rocks. It is the view of the quiet French countryside where it is good to live. The Normandy region is along the Seine Valley and akin to neighboring Brittany. There are two divisions of Normandy: The Basse-Normandy and the Haute-Normandy. The region of Basse-Normandy is represented by picturesque valleys with granite ground. It is also a region of agriculture especially for wheat, milk and other dairy products. There is also the notorious Mont-Saint Michel, a mixed of gothic and roman architecture, and a major point of interest for travelers.

Caen, the capital of Lower Normandy, is a sizable city and there is much to see and do here. Maybe an early start to visit the markets selling the delicacies of the region: cider, calvados, cheeses, butter and “teurgole”, a rice pudding with cinnamon. The Chateau, built by William the Conqueror, offers a panoramic view of the city. Your visit is not complete without a visit to the Peace Memorial Museum, dedicated to the history of the World War II conflict. Vvisit the Abbaye aux Hommes and Abbaye aux Femmes, built by William the Conqueror and his wife Queen Mathilde respectively. See Pegasus Bridge, so named for the British 6th Airborne Division’s emblem, to reach the coast.

The region of Haute-Normandy is so named because of its position on the map. This region has a very diversified landscape. It is the country of the cheese par excellence, without forgetting cider-apples. Fishing is also a part of the business of the region. At Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, you discover an important center for Tourteau crabs and oysters.

Geography

Things to See & Visit: In Caen

• Abbaye aux Hommes, built by Duke William, and Abbaye aux Dames, built
  by his wife Queen Matilda.
• Peace Memorial
• the Eglise Saint Pierre is well worth a detour
• Hotel Reconnaissance d’Escoville
• the Chateau, built by William the Conqueror
• Musee de Normandie with archeological and ethnographic collections
• Musee des Beaux-Arts with a remarkable collection of engravings

Other visits in the area on both the hiking and biking tours in Normandy:

• Battery museum in Merville
• Sword beach, which was the codename of one of the five main landing
  beaches in Operation Neptune, the initial assault phase of Operation
  Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944.
• Ouistreham, an attractive historic town with its impressive Romanesque
  church and tithe barn, and the beach resort of Riva-Bella, with its opulent
  villas, created in the 19thC.
• Musee du debarquement in Arromanches
• Arromanches 360, An 18 minute film presented on 9 screens in a round
  theatre over looking Arromanches
• Battery in Longues sur Mer
• Omaha and Gold Beach
• To visit in Bayeux:
• Cathedral Notre Dame, built during the 11th Century, with many
  alterations made between the 12th and 18th centuries
• Tapestry, presented in the Centre Guillaume le Conquerant
• Moulin Croquevieille on the banks of the river Aure
• Baron-Gerard museum, featuring porcelain items
• Memorial General de Gaulle
• Bayeux was the first town to be liberated during the Battle of Normandy, so there is much history here. Perhaps best known is the Bayeux Tapestry, depicting William of Normandy's 1066 conquest of England.

Food / Drink

What good "stuff' can you eat?

Poulet au Calvados ( chicken with apple-brandy sauce)
Hot Apple pie with the Normand Creme fraiche...you can not resist it!!!
Cheese specialty: the Camembert and the Pont-l'Eveque

What about a drink?

Calvados is a liquor made locally in the region.
Cider is excellent and is made also locally with slightly acidic green apples. The Cider is often served with crepes.

 

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