Caen, Deauville, Le Havre and Rouen, 4 cities full of surprises, open the doors of Normandy to you…
Caen, the city of William
Caen, the capital of the Calvados department, is a city steeped in history. From the time of William the Conqueror in the Middle Ages to the Allied landings in 1944, the city bears the marks and traces of these events: Caen thus boasts a wealth of heritage and museum treasures. The fresh sea air, so close by, invites leisurely strolls through its lively city center.
The imposing castle of William the Conqueror
In the heart of the city, perched on a promontory, William's Castle proudly displays its fortified walls. Erected by William, Duke of Normandy, on the eve of the Battle of England, it bears witness to the turbulent and prestigious history of the city of Caen. Built in 1060, it served as the residence of the Dukes of Normandy, Kings of England.
The castle grounds now house the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can discover a permanent collection and contemporary exhibitions, and the Museum of Normandy.
You can eat there, picnic on the lawns, stroll through the herb garden, and let the children play in the park. Caen Castle also offers a magnificent view of the city of a hundred spires.
The majestic abbeys of the Ladies and Men
Wherever you are in the city of Caen, you can make out the spires of the two magnificent abbeys, also built by William the Conqueror. The Abbaye aux Hommes, or Saint-Étienne Abbey Church, adjoining the town hall, houses William's tomb. Most of the church's elements date from the 11th and 13th centuries, and its choir is emblematic of Gothic art. Behind the abbey, theCaen Art Library, housed in the Ducal Palace, offers unusual exhibitions.
William also had the Abbaye aux Dames (11th century, seat of the Normandy region today) built with his wife and cousin, Matilda of Flanders; the construction of the two abbeys was intended to buy them papal absolution, the marriage having been disapproved of.
The Abbaye aux Dames has a large wooded park and offers exhibitions and events.
Old Caen and its preserved alleyways
Although Caen was 80% destroyed by Allied bombs during the D-Day landings, the narrow streets of its city center were nonetheless preserved. Stroll along Rue Saint-Pierre, the city's main shopping street, and admire the houses built from Caen limestone.
Walk up the picturesque Rue Froide to discover the magnificent Place Saint-Sauveur, bathed in sunshine in summer, and finish with the Place des Petites Boucheries district, a stone's throw from the Town Hall.
You can also follow the path of its churches, discover its old cemeteries, parks and gardens, or go in search of its elegant villas, in the little Nice of Caen, the 20th century street or around the Place du Canada.
In Caen you will also become familiar with the typical Reconstruction architecture that characterizes the majority of the contemporary city.
Caen, a nautical city
Caen, a student and festive city, is home to a marina and commercial port. It's a pleasant place to relax and stop over near the docks, or to stroll along the modern Presqu'île.
Wander through the spaces of the new Alexis de Tocqueville library (2017), a building entirely clad in glass, designed by the famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
Have lunch in its renowned restaurant, La Table des Matières, before heading off to admire the Cargo, a contemporary music venue, the School of Fine Arts (ESAM) or the Dome, a scientific research center.
Then hop on your bike and follow the 15 km of the canal which will take you to Ouistreham, on the seafront.
Bayeux and the Bessin
is located Memorial, is a privileged gateway to the Bessin countryside and the D-Day beaches.
In Bayeux, discover the Tapestry Museum, which recounts the embroidered story of the epic conquest of England, on a wool embroidery on linen canvas, created in the 11th century, a unique work in the world! Then visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and old Bayeux.
At the beginning of July, the Medieval Festival is a colourful and family-friendly event that invites people to learn about the city's past.
From there, you will continue through the countryside to the D-Day landing beaches, Arromanches and Omaha Beach: there you will discover the importance of the Second World War for the Normans and their region… And you can also take the opportunity to enjoy the riches of the coastline and the joys of water sports!
Rouen, capital of Normandy
Rouen is a proud medieval city, where half-timbered houses rise majestically. Like the whole region, it is steeped in history: Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, made it his capital, and Joan of Arc was tried there for heresy.
Rouen, a city steeped in history
While the city's influence can be traced back to Prehistory and Antiquity, it is primarily the Middle Ages that are remembered today. It was during this time that the Viking leader Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy and made Rouen his capital.
RolloN . is also the name of the regional citizen digital currency of Normandy, launched in mid-2018
Right in the center is the Joan of Arc Tower, the keep of the old castle, where Joan was tried for heresy. She was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square (now a fresh produce market), hence the name of the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc, which is said to represent a Viking ship.
The square is surrounded by period houses with corbelled upper stories and half-timbered construction.
Just a stone's throw away, the Rue du Gros-Horloge is spanned by an imposing astronomical clock, a Gothic belfry and vestige of the Renaissance. The impressive Rouen Cathedral, a listed historical monument, traces the evolution of the Gothic period. In the ambulatory lies the tomb of Rollo, and in the crypt, the heart of Richard the Lionheart…
Rouen, city of street art
The Norman metropolis reveals numerous jewels of urban art on its walls and facades.
At the end of March 2019, a Rouen route was also listed in the Guide to Street Art in France, published by Alternatives de Gallimard.
In 2016, the contemporary art triennial "Rouen Impressionnée" focused on highlighting existing works and commissioning local and national street art figures to create twenty-five new murals.
A route allows you to explore the city in a fun and modern way, following the artworks… And if you would like to try it yourself, the hoarding along the Gare d'Orléans is available to budding or experienced artists.
Rouen, city of art
The Rouen Museum of Fine Arts is not to be missed. Its high-caliber temporary exhibitions have showcased the great names of 20th-century modern art: Picasso, Duchamp, Braque, Calder, Miró… and that's just the beginning!
Baroque Europe, the French Grand Siècle, and of course Impressionism (Monet, Renoir, Sisley…) also find a prominent place here. The sculpture garden invites a more contextual and less “sacred” approach to the works of art.
The ceramics museum and the Flaubert museum will help you better understand the history of the city through the works of art that are kept there.
Rouen, city of water and Armada
It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but Rouen is a port city, crossed by the Seine.
Head to the maritime, river and port museum to understand the history of the port of Rouen, its merchant navy, its river transport, whaling and Charcot's polar expeditions which began on its quays.
The port of Rouen is also the place where the exceptional Armada dropped anchor in 2019 for its 7th edition.
Imagine the millions of spectators attracted by this extraordinary festival where more than 50 sailboats, ships and tall ships from all corners of the globe gather.
In 2019, L'Hermione, the famous frigate of Lafayette, made a stopover on the banks of the Seine.
The Seine Valley, very close by
The Rouen metropolitan area is home to numerous gardens and green spaces, which has embarked on a local COP21 and is promoting ecological initiatives and initiatives in favor of sustainable development.
But you can also leave the city centre and explore the Boucles de la Seine National Park: wooded cliffs and alluvial terraces, forests, great abbeys, tell us a lot about the history and heritage of the Seine Valley.
Why not try hiking and take one of the marked routes (nearly 500 km)? You can thus join the Sente aux Moines and follow in the footsteps of the clergymen, from the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Jumièges to the Manoir du Torps in the Brotonne forest.
If you are going up the Seine towards its source, try your hand at sailing at the Bédanne nautical leisure centre.
A little further on, Giverny
About 70 km from Rouen, at the entrance to the Vexin Regional Natural Park, you will come across the village of Giverny, where Claude Monet lived for a little over 40 years until his death.
It was the light that attracted the master of Impressionism to this charming village. His house, the flowers and water lilies, the water garden and the Japanese bridge still welcome delighted visitors.
Many cultural and artistic events come to life in Giverny and the Museum of Impressionisms will bring to life the history of this revolutionary artistic movement which overturned the established rules in painting and greatly influenced 20th century art.
Deauville, the elegant lady of the Côte Fleurie
Coco Chanel, the boardwalk, and the American Film Festival have given elegant Deauville its prestigious reputation. It's pleasant to stroll on the beach, shop in luxury boutiques, applaud the yearlings, stop at the casino one evening, and then explore the roads of the Pays d'Auge.
The beach and the boardwalk
Walking on the famous boardwalk, between the port of Deauville and Tourgéville, reading the names of movie stars that line the beach and the Pompeian Baths establishment, you feel like somebody.
The promenade, very early 20th century (it was built in 1923), in Art Deco style, all of concrete and mosaics, remains a fashionable place, which vacationers like to stroll along, before lying down on the beach, in the shade of multicolored parasols.
With 2 km of beach and 450 parasols, everyone will have the pleasure of finding a spot and reliving the magic of "A Man and a Woman." In the evening, the Barrière casino, with its 300 slot machines, English and French roulette, Blackjack, and poker room, invites you to try your luck…
The opulent Belle Époque villas and shops of the town centre
Deauville remains a luxurious destination. Leave the beach and, wandering through the streets, admiring the half-timbered houses and elegant Belle Époque villas, you will easily reach the shops in the town centre.
You'll find everything you need to liven up your seaside look, trendy treats and accessories to bring back, books for your relaxing moments…
Every Thursday morning, an organic market is held in the square of the Saint Augustin church; as for the Deauville market, it takes place almost every morning in the Place du Marché and under the half-timbered market halls of the town.
Deauville, city of the horse
It's impossible to visit Deauville without understanding the importance of horses in local life. Stud farms are scattered throughout the countryside. Deauville-La Touques is home to one of the largest racehorse training centers in Europe, housing 300 horses year-round, and twice that number in August.
The racecourse attracts the best horses and jockeys in the world. Horse races, yearling sales (Elie de Brignac auction house), competitions, and equestrian sports punctuate the lives of the locals. Perhaps it's an opportunity to try riding and even experience a gallop on the beach?
Trouville-sur-mer, more village-like
, Deauville's sister town Trouville, is more modest, more family-oriented, and very popular with Normans. Trouville is first and foremost a beach, stretching for over 1 km. There, too, is a boardwalk called "Savignac," along the seaside villas, lined with brightly colored parasols.
There's also a fishing port and market halls where you can sit and enjoy freshly caught oysters. Afterwards, it's lovely to wander through the maze of narrow streets and dead ends that wind between the tall, narrow houses of white or red brick.
The Pays d'Auge
From Deauville, nothing could be easier than exploring the country roads of the Pays d'Auge.
The bocage landscape, with its deep green color and very hilly terrain, will rest your eyes as much as your mind.
You will of course come across cows and horses; many guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, in old traditional Norman farms, with thatched roofs and half-timbering, are very popular places to stay.
The Pays d'Auge is also the birthplace of Norman PDO cheeses, Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque, which are never better than in their original terroir.
The Black Cow Cliffs
Directly above the coastline, between Villers-sur-mer and Houlgate, popular seaside resorts, you can walk along the proud cliffs of the "Black Cows", or "Black Rocks".
Clayey, they extend for nearly 4 km and are partly classified as "Sensitive Natural Area": made up of numerous and varied natural environments (scree, thickets, dry grasslands and wooded areas), they host nearly 394 species of plants, some of which are very rare, as well as numerous species of seabirds.
On the beach, large blocks of dark rock, from which they take their name, come from the limestone layers of the cliff: seen from the sea, these blocks would resemble a herd of cows grazing at the foot of the cliff…
You'll find a large number of fossils here; this part of the coastline is renowned for its exceptional geological (Upper Jurassic period) and paleontological richness. You can delve deeper into the subject by visiting the Paléospace, which offers an immersive experience in Jurassic Normandy (160 million years ago).
Le Havre, the ocean city
Welcome to Le Havre, an oceanfront city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, the first site rebuilt after the war, and whose inhabitants are its biggest fans. They say life is good in Le Havre…
A city with a strong personality, clad entirely in concrete
Thearchitecture of Le Havre is renowned among architects worldwide. It is a symbol of the architectural choices made during the post-war reconstruction and was entrusted to Auguste Perret. He conceived the project for the rebuilt Le Havre (150 hectares) as early as 1945; construction lasted until 1954.
The Belgian architect had, from the beginning of the 20th century, asserted resolutely modern and decried ideas, advocating the free plan and reinforced concrete in his constructions.
Absence of ornament, importance of structure, permanence and roof terrace are key words that allow us to better understand the philosophy of Auguste Perret and the design of the city center of Le Havre.
The Ocean Gate
At the end of Avenue Foch, on the seafront, the gateway to the city, stands the monumental Porte Océane, completed in 1955.
This group of buildings and towers owes its name to the work of Édouard Herriot published in 1932 (La Porte Océane) and was carried out during two construction sites: one entrusted to Jacques Poirrier and the other to André Hermant, both architects from the workshop of Auguste Perret.
This Ocean Gate was conceived to complement the Town Hall square which, with its 18-story tower, 72m high, and its horizontal central section stretching over 92m, constitutes an astonishing ensemble.
Le Havre Port Center
At the entrance to the port, the Port Center of Le Havre invites you to immerse yourself in the heart of the port world of Le Havre and facilitates the understanding of its know-how and its trades.
In the 19th century, the port of Le Havre turned to trade and the transport of raw materials (coffee, cotton, spices, exotic woods…), thus following the city in its quest to become a major industrial power.
With the rise of transatlantic travel, passenger transport is expanding.
The port of Le Havre is still today a port of European importance; it is at the crossroads of industrial, economic and ecological issues.
At the western end of the commercial basin, you will see a striking building, a sort of white concrete sail. This is Le Volcan, a cultural center designed by Oscar Niemeyer, hosting live performances, conferences, a national theater, a media library, and a cafeteria.
The Hanging Gardens and other gardens
Spanning 10 hectares in the former military fort of Sainte-Adresse, built during the Second Empire and inspired by Vauban, the Hanging Gardens of Le Havre overlook the estuary and the lower town.
They form a botanical garden that is home to some 3,000 to 4,000 species, benefiting from the privileged microclimate brought by the maritime air.
Wandering aimlessly between greenhouses, North American gardens, contemporary Explorers, East Asian or Southern Lands gardens will take you on a journey around the world and delight young and old.
Numerous activities brighten up the summer season and you can stop at the tea room to recover from your emotions.
Among other green spaces (750 hectares of forests, parks, gardens and squares occupy the port city), visit the Japanese Gardens, located on the port, Quai Lamandé, facing the Vauban Basin. These gardens are dedicated to the twinning between the ports of Le Havre and Osaka: the majesty of the "land of the rising sun" is represented here by lush and varied vegetation.
Honfleur, city of painters
In the Seine estuary, on the other bank, Honfleur greets Le Havre. The city of painters – Courbet, Monet, Boudin and so many others – enchants with its Old Port lined with restaurants, its Lieutenancy, its half-timbered facades and its charming hotels.
Venture into the surrounding alleyways and you will come across small independent shops, art galleries, typical houses and lush gardens.
The beautiful Honfleur is a stop that every tourist should make a point of visiting during a Normandy getaway!
The Seine estuary
A wetland of nearly 10,000 ha and a remarkable area, the Seine estuary, created in 1997, is home to a set of preserved natural environments, subject to the influence of tides and salt.
Nearly 500 plant species have been recorded there to date, and no fewer than 385 species of butterflies, 325 species of birds, 70 species of fish, 48 species of mammals, and 13 species of amphibians that you might spot during your walks
And also: the Normandy Bridge, a fascinating structure, spanning the Seine at a height of nearly 215 meters and for over 2 kilometers. It is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. It was designed to allow ample space for the imposing ships that sail up the Seine. Cyclists and pedestrians can cross for free and thus enjoy the most exceptional view of the Seine estuary.