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Normandy, France’s Northern Province, has England and the North Sea on its northern borders. The place is known for the 1944 D-Day battles, Gothic cathedrals, and ancient market towns.

The peaceful region is full of partly-timbered villages, unending coastlines, thatched roofs, and fortified farmhouses all of which are surrounding by rolling lush hills. But the outward appearance also holds deep within a tumultuous history of numerous wars, including the D-Day war and invasions by William the Conqueror, the Viking invasions and Joan of Arc. The rainy and rocky coast of Normandy is home to wartime bunkers as well as charming fishing towns. Along the border of Brittany province, there is the enchanting island called the abbey of Mont St-Michel in all its spectacular yet tranquil glory.

D-Day history of Normandy

On 5^th June 1944, over 150,000 troops of the allied forces from the US, Canada, Great Britain, and Frances as well as over 19,000 motor vehicles landed on the Normandy beaches to take back and liberate Europe from German/Nazi occupation. There were casualties of over 9,900 allied soldiers, but this invasion of D-Day is marked as the start of the victory of the allied forces and the end of WWII, after around eleven months.

A Normandy day trip from Paris usually involves retracing the path taken by the allied soldiers on D-Day. You will relieve those fateful days and remember all the braves who fought for liberation and liberty. Later, visitors can offer their thanks to the soldiers by visiting the graves of the soldiers at the Saint-Laurent American Cemetery and assembling at the Caen Peace Memorial/the Mémorial de la Paix de Caen.

Things to do at Normandy

The entire coast of Normandy is home to scenic fishing villages and ports. You will be mesmerized by the immense beauty of the quaint seaside resort Deauville, which is well-known for its film festival. There are also several historical structures that remained undestroyed or have undergone extensive renovation that you can have the pleasure of exploring and discovering at leisure.

The Atlantic coast of Normandy that is home to the D-Day beaches stretches from Sword Beach located in the east to Utah Beach located in the west. The entire area is replete with cemeteries of the allied soldiers who died fighting on D-Day, the largest successful military operation, as well as many monuments and WW2 museums, etc.

Even though the region is full of beautiful towns and cities, the two main places that act as base for a Normandy day trip from Paris are Caen and Bayeux. Discussed below are some of the top attractions at Normandy.

• Rouen: It is a historic center and a vibrant city with lots of tourist attractions. The old town is a haven for pedestrians. Some of the top sights include the majestic Gothic cathedral, memoirs of Joan of Arc, and partly-timbered homes.
• Mont St-Michel: It is a majestic abbey on a magical island. In the days gone by, pilgrims from all over used to visit it to uplift their spirits.
• Bayeux: This is the town located closest to the D-Day beaches. It was also the first town that was liberated by the allied forces. Bayeux is famous for its stunning Norman Gothic cathedral, illuminated in all its splendor at night; a lively town center; and its well-known medieval tapestry that offers a narrative of the Norman invasion and conquest of England.
• Honfleur: It is a pretty port town situated at the place where Seine River flows into the English Channel. The iridescent lights of the town in the past had been a great inspiration for impressionist painters.
• Caen: This is a big and modern city located in Normandy. It bore the brunt of destruction during the Battle of Caen that lasted for 2 months. It is most famous for the Caen Memorial Museum, a D-Day museum.
  • The Caen Memorial Museum is a 3-level structure spread across over 149,000 sq ft. It mainly acts as a home to memorabilia about D-Day and movies about the invasion. It also offers thoughts about current concerns like human rights, varied conflicts, censorship, and climate change. There are guided (by a person from an educational institute) informational tours that feature a visit to the museum as well as visits to the American Military Cemetry, the makeshift Arromanch harbor, and the Omaha Beach.

Normandy day trip from Paris (tours)

There are many private companies that offer customized individual and group Normandy day trip from Paris tours.

A one-day private tour offers a ride on an air-conditioned mini bus and involves visits to the American Military Cemetary, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, German Military Cemetery, and Ste. Mere Eglise.

Group tours can last for 1 day or two days and can comprise of just guided visits to mostly American attractions or tours of the British and American sectors. With the former, tourists can expect to see the Airborne Museum featuring gliders, the German hedgerows and bunkers which were the main obstructions during D-Day, the Caen Memorial, and explore the landing beaches, etc. You may also have some free time to walk along Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach and take pictures.

In addition to the above attractions, Normandy day trip from Paris discovery tours also include trips to the picturesque countryside in the region to revel in the amazing natural surroundings and breathe in the fresh air. Tourists will also be enthralled by the small quaint fishing ports, delectable French dishes, charming villages, small isolated beaches, and old yet pretty homes enveloped in flowers.

Normandy – Pictures

Normandy day trip from Paris – Travel options

Normandy can be easily accessed by car, train, coach, campervan, taxi, bus, and even on a cycle.

• There are many SNCF trains which depart from Gare Montparnasse/Vaugirard and Gare Saint-Lazare stations in Paris to varied towns and cities in Normandy, several times each day. In order to get to Bayeux, take the Cherbourg train and get down at Bayeux, or take the train to Caen and change there to get to Bayeux.
• You can take the A13 motorway and drive the car from Paris to Rouen or Caen.
• There are several organized bike tours from Paris to Normandy.