The Normandy Classic - Seven of the Best

Last September, we hit the road on the Brittany Steers and in doing so, we got rolling with a new style of trip – the relaxed driving holiday.  Compared to our grand tours, we're talking chilled days, shorter drives and plenty more croissants and coffees along the way. Probably.  It was a great trip, and so we’ve decided to take the template and move it a bit to the east, by launching the Normandy Classic.  One week, one fascinating corner of France and less than one hundred miles per day on the road should make for a great trip away.

Here are some of the highlights of the itinerary we're currently piecing together, to give you an idea as to what you’ll be filling your days with if you come along – seven of the best, as it were: 

1 – The Alabaster Coast

Everyone knows about the White Cliffs of Dover, but France’s equivalent is pretty spectacular, too, with its chalk-hewn arches and pinnacles making for a truly unique coastline between the towns of Dieppe and La Havre.  Dotted in among the pale precipices are several cute little harbour towns in which to hunt down a croissant, with pleasant roads sweeping between them.  In short, this lesser-visited section of the Normandy coast is definitely worth a day of your time, gazing on vistas and roaming the waterfronts.

2 – Honfleur

Who doesn’t like a beautiful old port? And they don't get much more beautiful than Honfleur.  Tottering slate-fronted houses, bobbing yachts, bustling fishing boats, it’s the perfect backdrop to a morning croissant and coffee, or an afternoon port and pizza.  As Honfleur does these better than most, naturally it’s on the itinerary for the Normandy Classic, and it’s sure to have you wanting to linger longer than you planned.

3 – Cheese

What’s the most famous village in Normandy?  We’ll hazard a guess it’s Camembert, which thanks to its creamy fromage namesake, is a household name around the world.  And while the little village of Camembert – complete with its ‘Maison du Camembert’ museum – is worth a visit in its own right, the surrounding area plays host to oh so much more cheesiness.  There are fromageries to tour, small museums to stroll and tastings to be had.  Oh, and there’s a preserved tiger tank just up the road too, if that’s your sort of thing.

4 – Rouen

Huddled on the banks of the Seine, Rouen is one of the most ancient and historic cities in France.  Its old centre is a throwback to medieval times, while its association with Joan of Arc has long underwritten its place in history.  In short, it’s somewhere which needs to be seen, croissant in hand, and that’s why it’s on the itinerary for the Normandy Classic.

5 – Cider and wine

Need something to go with the cheese we mentioned earlier?  No problem – cider or wine, take your pick.  Normandy is famous for its cider, and the so-called route des cidres meanders through the days we’ll be spending there.  Tour the orchards, taste the apples, sample the ciders, it’s up to you.  Less well known outside France are the region’s wines, produced by the Arpents du Soleil vineyard, located in Suisse Normandie, not far from Camembert.  Because you can’t really beat cheese and wine, can you?

6 – Horses

Who wants to visit the ‘Versailles of horses’?  That’s what you can expect from the Haras National du Pin – a vast, 2,500 acre estate centred around a fine chateau, and focussed on producing and training some of France’s best horses.  If you have even a passing interest in all things equine, then this is for you.  And if not, well, there are still a couple of decent restaurants on-site, and a preserved Sherman tank a little way down the road…

7 – The D-Day Beaches

And now we get to the event for which Normandy will always be remembered – the D-Day landings.  On the Normandy Classic, we’ll be making sure we have time to walk these poignant sands, tour the museums, pay our respects at the monuments, and give the events of 1944 the respect they warrant.  So, even if you’ve already spent time amid the sands which stretch from Utah to Sword, you won’t be short of interest on your return.

And there we have it – we could go on longer as this list only scratches the surface of what’s contained within the Normandy Classic itinerary, but we need to finish somewhere.  If a road trip taking in these seven points of interest, along with plenty more, appeals, then get in touch.  You can read our full plan for the Normandy classic here.