Normandy’s Non-WWII Sites
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When you think of Normandy attractions, you are immediately thrust into WWII and images of D-Day. There is no shortage of tour buses and tours focused on WWII sites in the area. However, if you look beyond the cemeteries, memorials, American flags, plaques, and gift shops, you’ll find that Normandy is much more than just D-Day sights.
With its 350 miles of coastline and richly varied landscapes, Normandy gives you a wonderful choice of scenery and culture, which is why it was a big surprise to me. I expected my interest in the WWII sights, but I didn’t expect to fall in love with the landscape and culture of the area. From UNESCO sites to architecture to churches to stinky cheese and apple brandy – there’s plenty to see and do around the area. If you go, then make sure you stay an extra couple of days to explore some of these non-war sites and the bliss of the French countryside.
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Monet’s Muse – Rouen
Not only was Joan of Arc burned at the stake in Rouen, but it also has a fascinating architectural history. It’s deemed the “Town with a Thousand Spires”. The ornate Notre Dame Cathedral inspired Monet to paint his Cathedral series – a series of 28 paintings to show the different effects of light at varying times of the day. The facade of the cathedral is mesmerizing with its abundance of pinnacles and carvings – you can stand and stare at it for hours.
Calvados Tasting
Drive through the countryside, enjoying the green rolling hills of Normandy along the Cider Route. You’ll be able to stop and do plenty of Calvados tasting. Calvados (apple brandy) is made when apples are harvested and pressed into a juice that is fermented into a dry cider. It is then distilled into brandy. After two years of aging in oak casks, it can be sold as Calvados. The longer it is aged, the smoother the drink becomes.
Mont Saint Michel
As a UNESCO site, the island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times. Le Mont Saint Michel looks like a wedding cake from a distance – but the top-down design was for religious purposes. On top God/church, the abbey and monastery, below this the Great halls, then stores and housing, and at the bottom, outside the walls, fishermen and farmers’ housing.
This is one of the most visited sights in France and also probably one of the most photographed. Unfortunately – they are doing a great deal of construction around the pathway leading to Mont Saint Michel, which left it a little less picturesque. to top it off, we had some pretty gray weather, but we made the most of it by touring through the indoor abbey and monastery buildings.
Village Life – Sainte Marie du Mont
The countryside is peppered with old chateaus and castles. In fact, my friends and I actually stayed in this lovely chateau in Sainte Marie du Mont – a small village near Utah Beach. Each morning, I would get up and walk from the chateau to the local bakery, using my best French to get a bag of fresh croissants and pain au chocolat. Then, I would walk around the town square saying “Bonjour” to other locals as they were out running their morning errands.
Pont de Normandie
Make sure that your itinerary includes crossing the Pont de Normandie cable bridge. Completed in 1995, this bridge spans the river Seine, linking Le Havre to Honfleur in Normandy. Not only is it fun to drive over, but there’s also a pedestrian and biking lane for those who aren’t scared of heights!
Looking for more ideas? Check out the Normandy tourist board website!
Sherry, I got so involved/lost in your photos that I gotta run, late for work now but WELL WORTH IT!
Great article and gorgeous images that so effectively convey the extraordinary beauty, romance and history of this region. A dream to explore!
So, that’s the name of that bridge. I took pictures of it as we crossed it, because it was so beautiful. Thank you!
And I wished we had more time in Normandy. We stayed in Bayeaux (and visited the Tapestry) for 24 hours. We focused on WWII sites. I didn’t know about the apple brandy. I think a return will happen.
I love the cider route. Normandy cider is much sweeter than Irish cider, which is what I normally drink, but I was pleasantly surprised to taste the Normandy stuff.
I love Normandy. It’s really tough for me to pick my favorite area of France but Normandy ranks highly.
Another non-WWII place to visit is the Pays d’Auge which is probably where your cider route was… Our favorite stumble-upon was Beuvron en Auge…
I have only driven through Normandy on my way to Britany but I know that the cream, apples and calvados make some delicious food combinations
Stop in Normandy next time Heather!
I have yet to visit this region in France. I love our fresh pressed apple juice in Sebastopol, California. I look forward to trying Calvados.
On our recent trip though the area we were unable to visit Mont Saint Michel due to a change in our schedule but it was definitely on our list of must see destinations…we will be going for sure on our next visit! I love the photos and of course the history of this area. Thanks for sharing and Happy Travels!
Stunning pictures! Great architecture 🙂
Lovely photos, and refreshing to see this side of our beloved Normandy. The photo of the rooftops, the Mont with the yellow flowers and the bridge are particularly good. isn’t Normandy a strange mixture of caring passionately for it’s history, then looking the other way as heritage crumbles.. An old postcard of a classically beautiful 17th century castle took us to Cahaignes. We could find nothing online about it, perhaps a private owner had sensibly protected their privacy? But when we found it the château is completely abandoned and derelict. Strangely beautiful though. See the château and what we did find out here: http://www.normandythenandnow.com/cahaignes/