Normandy

Food and Drink

• Normandy’s rich pastures and stone farmhouse are responsible for producing some of the country’s richest cheeses, pates and creamy desserts. Home to Camembert, Pont l’Eveque and Neufchatel cheese to name a few. Traditional meals include Rouen-style duck and Auge-style chicken, delectable with cream. Seafood lovers won’t miss out either, with spectacular platters, including scallops and oysters traditionally cooked with fresh cream.
• Desserts are a big part of every meal, the main ingredients being sugar, butter and apples! Tasty and mouth-watering, try the famous Normandy Apple pie where the apples are cooked in cider and served with fresh cream - a definite must-try.
• All of this is obviously washed down with the delicious local cider or a hearty shot of the local apple brandy - Calvados.

Shopping
Lively market towns are a big part of the Normandy way of life and sell everything from traditional home grown fruit and vegetables to local cheeses and sausages. Professional retailers also set up stalls selling everything from clothes, tapestries and paintings, to cookware and porcelain. The vibrant market at Honfleur every Saturday morning is situated at the old Dock and is worth a visit, especially during the shrimp festival when the market becomes even more vibrant!
Visit the elegant boutique shops of Deauville situated on the main shopping street between the polo field and the Port; they cannot be missed and nor can the prices, but a look round to soak up the atmosphere is a must.
For souvenirs try the streets of Caen and Bayeux, purchase memorabilia such as small tapestries and souvenirs or the many antiques on offer in the area.
Where to Stay

• Deauville - Elegant Deauville is a glamorous seaside destination, which dates back to a more elegant age of travel. With its Grand Casino, horse races, boutique shops and parasol-dotted sands it evokes style and sophistication. Restaurants in the area are what you would expect -all top notch!
• Bayeux - Steeped in history, the town is only a few minutes away from the Normandy landing beaches. There are plenty of museums to visit and things to see, including the Bayeux Tapestries telling the story of William the Conqueror, and the magnificent Cathedral.
• Honfleur – The City of painters. This town is an artist’s haven and considered one of the prettiest towns in Normandy. Offering a jumble of waterside merchants’ houses and a glittering speckled harbour it’s a true delight.
• Rouen - Known as the historical capital of Normandy. There is plenty to see, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral showcasing the famous painting from Claude Monte, while the resting place of Joan of Arc is also a must-see.
• Cabourg - Popular with the fashionable French, Cabourg is a wonderful seaside resort specialising in traditional cuisine.
• Granville - A traditional seaside resort, complete with a casino, promenades and gardens. Granville is a delightful walled town, originally built in an attempt to capture Mont St Michel. If you climb to the top of the ramparts, it affords stunning views.

Things to Do

• MONT ST MICHEL - No holiday is complete without a visit to the rocky bluff of Mont St Michel. Created by some of the largest tides in Europe, this rocky tidal island has formed by rising sea levels and erosion. Meander through the narrow streets, take a guided tour or visit the Abbey for the full story of its history. Tickets are available at the entrance of the Abbey.
• D-DAY LANDING BEACHES - Visit the D-Day landing beaches which were in operation on the 6th of June 1944 when over 135,000 Allied troops landed on the Normandy Coast. Along a 50-mile stretch, the beaches were divided into five sectors, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
• CHRISTIAN DIOR MUSEUM - Visit the beautifully restored Villa ‘Les Rhumbs’ - Christian Dior’s childhood home. Located on a remarkable cliff top garden in Granville offering stunning sea views and now a museum explore the designer’s childhood and witness a range of haute couture pieces. Open 1 May – 20 Sep.

Insider Tip
See the Pegasus Bridge, a major triumph of the Allies when they took control. The Gondree Cafe next door is a first stop for any visitor, used as an aid post by the owner who dug up his supply of champagne and shared it with his liberators. It is still a café and owned by the Gondree family but inside it’s also a living museum; a true experience.
Celebration
Celebrate a special trip in style by visiting Deauville during the American film festival in September; who knows what stars you may spot!