By rail
Bayeux, trains from Paris Saint-Lazare
Europe · France
Normandy, France
D-Day beaches, white cliffs and half-timbered towns
Getting there
By air
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), ~3 h by road to Bayeux
Best time to visit
May to September — long days for the coast
Don't miss
The D-Day beaches
The Bayeux Tapestry
The cliffs of Étretat
Honfleur
Things to do
Visiting the D-Day beaches and memorials
The Bayeux Tapestry
Cliff walks at Étretat
Cider and cheese tasting
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Jörg Braukmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, a rain jacket
A quieter corner
Honfleur's old harbour, painted by the Impressionists
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Normandy?
May to September — long days for the coast. What to pack: Layers, a rain jacket.
How do I get to Normandy?
Fly into Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), ~3 h by road to Bayeux.
What is there to do in Normandy?
Visiting the D-Day beaches and memorials, the Bayeux Tapestry, cliff walks at Étretat, cider and cheese tasting. A quieter find: Honfleur's old harbour, painted by the Impressionists.
What should I eat in Normandy?
Camembert, cider, calvados and seafood.
About Normandy
- Coastal
Where it is
Normandy is a region of northern France on the English Channel, between Brittany and the Paris basin, with a coastline of beaches and chalk cliffs.
History
Normandy takes its name from the Norsemen who settled here in the 10th century; in 1066 its duke, William, conquered England. On 6 June 1944, the Allied landings on its beaches began the liberation of Western Europe.
People
Normans speak French, and the region is known for farming and dairy; many families keep the memory of 1944, and towns along the coast hold commemorations every June.
Known for
- The D-Day landing beaches
- The Bayeux Tapestry
- The chalk cliffs of Étretat
- Cider, calvados and Camembert
Did you know?
The Bayeux Tapestry, nearly 70 metres long, tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.