Best Vacations In France: Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (part 1/2)
Updated: Oct 5, 2023
France has been my favorite country since my childhood when I was immersed in the works of French authors and knew almost everything about key historical events in France.
As I'm so lucky to be currently based in Luxembourg - the country bordering France - I do not miss any chances to spend vacations or sometimes even weekends in this amazing country. Thanks to genius discounts provided by Booking! This summer we decided to spend 2 weeks in this beautiful country to explore Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire Valley, and it was one of the best vacations we ever spent in France.
This post will be at a very high level, as I do not want you to spend a lot of time reading a huge story about our French trip. For more details about each region, I will write a separate post, fully dedicated either to Normandy, Brittany, or Loire Valley.
So, let's get started!
1) Days 1-4: Classics of Normandy
... days 7-13 - to be continued in part 2!
Classics of Normandy: Rouen, Etretat, Honfleur, Deauville & Cabourg
Rouen
We jumped into the car around lunchtime and started our French journey. Our first destination, where we spent 1 night, was Rouen - the capital of the region of Normandy - which is rather far from Luxembourg, at about 520 km. We covered this distance in around 5 hours, checked out in our nice B&B hotel with an option to get a parking spot, and went straightaway to the city center.
We explored the charming Old Town, tried to capture the magnificent beauty of the Rouen Cathedral, which inspired Monet's iconic series of paintings, admired the beautiful astronomical clock Gros-Horloge, and tried local cuisine at one of the numerous restaurants.
After dinner, we went for a walk to enjoy the city at night: it looks great, especially the scenic banks of the River Seine.
Etretat
The next morning we headed towards Etretat: a small coastal town known for its dramatic cliffs along the English Channel. These towering chalk cliffs, including the iconic Falaise d'Étretat (Étretat Cliff), have been a source of inspiration for numerous artists, including Claude Monet.
The cliffs are amazing, but the place was full of people, and for me, it lost its charm because of it. When I first visited Etretat, it was March 2022, and this place was almost empty: I liked it there, and when I went there again, in August 2023, I had a different impression.
Apart from climbing to the Cliffs and exploring the surroundings, we visited the famous Jardins d'Etretat, the place where I felt almost like Alice in Wonderland.
In the evening we went to Le Havre, where we decided to stay for 3 nights at a super cozy apartment close to the center, as this city is just between Etretat and other places on our roadmap.
Honfleur
The next day we decided to spend in Honfleur: a picturesque and historic port town renowned for its charming and well-preserved harbor, a source of inspiration for numerous artists, such as Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin.
This charming town is worth spending at least half a day there: the colorful Vieux Bassin (Old Harbour), narrow cobbled streets filled with art galleries, shops, and nice cafes, a wooden 15th century Church of St. Catherine...
There are plenty of things to explore in this charming town, especially if you are into art: there is a lovely Eugene Boudin Museum, which features works of this great impressionist painter.
Deauville & Cabourg
On the last full day in Normandy (before heading to Brittany) we decided to spend in Deauville and Trouville and explore this area by bike. The weather was quite cold, but we enjoyed nice views around, admired horses getting ready for their next hippodrome races, and then came back to the Promenade des Planches, adorned with beach cabins dedicated to celebrities.
In the evening we went to Cabourg - a charming city, that I found less touristic than Deauville, and I was adored by its' Belle Epoque architecture and beautiful beaches.
By the way, did you know that Marcel Proust was a regular visitor of this city, and the main Promenade of Cabourg is named after him?
Caen & Bayeux: Normandy For History Lovers
Our next destination was a small village between Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo (Le Vivier-sur-Mer), in Brittany, so we decided to visit some other places on our way there during the day.
Our first stop was at Caen - the capital of the Calvados department that has a significant historical heritage, and well-preserved landmarks, such as, for example, the Castle of Caen, that was built by William the Conqueror.
Also, Caen is known for its beautiful abbeys (such as L'Abbaye-aux-Hommes, for example), and a Memorial for Peace, dedicated to the history of World War II.
After Caen, we went to Bayeux for just a couple of hours (as we were running out of time to make the check-in at our hotel). The reason when we decided to go to Bayeux, is the famous Bayeux Tapestry - a remarkable piece of medieval art and history.
This place is worth visiting: an enormous work tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England, particularly the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Overall, Bayeux is a very nice town, and we would like to come back next time, to spend more time there. Have a look at this amazing Cathedral!
Amazing Brittany: Cancale & Saint-Malo
Cancale & Saint-Malo
In the evening we went to check in to our nice hotel at Vivier-sur-Mer (do not forget to check out the prices on Booking.com) and then went out for dinner in an amazing oyster place just across the road (Dégustation Tonneau Huîtres et Moules). The oysters were super fresh and reasonably priced, and we returned to this place a few more times.
After dinner, we jumped into the car and drove around 15 km to Cancale - a picturesque town, the oyster capital of Brittany, with amazing sea views and terrific coastal lines, that hiking lovers will find attractive.
The following day we decided to spend in Saint-Malo, a historic walled port city known for its rich maritime history, and well-preserved medieval architecture. We explored the historical center (so-called Inner City), visited Saint-Vincent Cathedral (its construction began in the 12th century), and walked along the ramparts - the stunning fortified walls, the main feature of Saint-Malo.
Mont Saint-Michel
Our last full day in this area we decided to dedicate to Mont Saint-Michel - one of the most iconic landmarks in France, a small rocky island that is known for the medieval abbey atop its peak. The abbey was established in the 8th century and it played a significant role in the French history over the time.
We came to the nearby village - Beauvoir - rather early, by around 9:00 am, to
be able to park the car without any issues, Then we walked for about 4km to the island, adoring the stunning views around, entertaining ourselves by searching for the best spots to take photos of Mont Saint-Michel.
We explored the charming village, adored the stunning views from the top of the island, and visited the abbey itself: It was an amazing experience, with audioguides we learnt a lot about the evolution of the abbey and the role it's played in its history.
In my opinion, Mont Saint-Michel is a must-visit destination for those who love history and do not mind waking up a bit earlier to avoid the crowds.
Dinard
For dinner, we went back to that oyster place near our hotel. We decided to spend the rest of the evening in Dinard - a beautiful coastal town that is just opposite Saint-Malo, on another side of the Gulf of Saint-Malo, and connected with its neighbor by a bridge.
Dinard is known for its Belle Epoque architecture and charming beaches, and it also hosts the Film Festival, showcasing British films.
What did we do next? How did we spend another week of our trip? How did we reach the Loire Valley and what impressed us the most? You will be able to find the answers to this question from the 2nd part of this story. Subscribe to my Instagram account in order not to miss notifications of my next post! :)