Discover the region Basse-Normandie

L'abbaye aux hommes, à Caen
Le chateau de Guillaume le Conquérant, à Caen
Le port de Barfleur

Making the best out of one’s time in Normandy is no easy thing as there are so many things to see and do!

Coming to the Hôme du Monde is looking for the best tips, reliable and fitted to your expectations and not necessarily in the guide books.

To avoid getting lost in the numerous possibilities, I listed the visits according to 3 criteria:

  • The starting place (BnB or cottage)
  • The distance between the starting place and the activity
  • The kind of activity chosen (historical, regional, sports, exhibitions, restaurants and coffee shops).

IMG_20110904_183201-1_OBouly

Normandy in general and Lower Normandy in particular are exceptionally rich areas. There is a wide variety of nature sites, sports activities, cultural and educational visits LIEN. Whatever the time of year or the weather, you’ll always find something to do. The list below is far from complete. Its aim is barely to guide you while leaving you free of choice…

Around the BnB in Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse, you can choose to discover cities (Caen, Bayeux), the countryside (the plain of Caen, Norman woods, the Suisse normande and the Pays d’Auge which are rolling countrysides), the sea (beaches, resorts, cliffs, fishing harbours  surrounded by restaurants). This variety allows a wide range of excursions (hikes, biking rides, …) and strolls in the city for visits and shopping. What’s more, the region is open to sharing its culture. You can visit crops and cow farms, oyster farms, fishing outings, cider farms, calvados distilleries, cheese factories, … And as the D-Day 70th Anniversary is not far gone, try the “ Freedom hikes” to remember!

Around the cottage in Gatteville, the sea is everywhere. So take advantage of the beaches, the coast path , the visit of the lighthouse, the walks around the harbours of Barfleur and Saint Vaast, ….

The countryside is full of little paths and trails where it feels so good to walk. As the ground is rather falt, biking is very pleasant as well. Urban life is not that far with Cherbourg and its sea port, its ferry terminal, its shops.

At last, if you go still a little farther, you’ll reach the North-Western tip of the Cotentin (la Hague LIEN) where you can walk along the coast path which is right onto the cliff. The view is wonderful. The Channel Islands are not very far and easy of access. The Mont St Michel is a must-see.

Again,do not hesitate to ask me for advice.

 

Enregistrer

Enregistrer

Enregistrer

Enregistrer

Enregistrer

Next to the BnB in Bretteville l'orgueilleuse

  • - Walks and hikes in the valley of the Thue and the Mue
  • - Walks and hikes in the Bessin
  • - Visit Caen and enjoy shopping
  • - Walk from Caen to the sea along the canal
  • - Beaches and seaside resorts from Courseulles to Ouistreham
  • - The Demoiselles of Fontenailles, at the bottom of the cliffs in Longues sur Mer
  • - Visit the city of Bayeux
  • - Visit Port-en Bessin, a charming fishing port.
  • - The charming and traditional villages in the Pays d’Auge (Crèvecoeur-en-Auge, Beuvron-en-Auge, ...))
  • - The flowery coast with its prestigious sea side resorts (Cabourg, Houlgate, Deauville)
  • - The cliffs of the Black Cows between Houlgate and Villers sur mer
  • - The Souterroscope des Ardoisières (exploration of caves and animations), next to Caumont l’Eventé
  • - The Hom loop, where the river Orne meanders in Thury Harcourt, to open onto the Suisse Normande area
  • - The “rift of the Devil” in Soumont St Quentin
  • - ...
  • - The Suisse Normande, especially for hiking
  • - The crest road and the “sugar loaf” in Clécy
  • - The miniature railway in Clécy
  • - The gorges of the river Vire (Souleuvre’s viaduct, Pont-Farcy, …))
  • - ...
  • - The Hague, Northern Cotentin
  • - The Western coast of Cotentin with its fine sandy beaches
  • - Coutances, Granville, Avranches
  • - The Mont St Michel and its great bay
  • - Villedieu-les-poëles and its bell foundry, a must-do!
  • - The Chausey islands departing from Granville
  • - Brittany ...- The Normandy Bridge, Rouen, le Havre, Etretat
  • - Paris
  • - ...

Next to the cottage in Gatteville-Phare

  • - The lighthouse in Gateville
  • - Barfleur, labelled one of the most beautiful village in France
  • - Saint Vasst la Hougue and the island of Tatihou
  • - The city of Cherbourg with its harbor
  • - The “Cité de la mer”, museum in Cherbourg dedicated to the sea
  • - The castle of the Ravalet in Tourlaville
  • - Valognes, the Norman Versailles
  • - ...
  • - Utah Beach, D-Day beach
  • - The village of Ste Mère Eglise
  • - The Hague, Nez de Jobourg: coast path
  • - Bricquebec, St Sauveur le Vicomte, ...
  • - D-Day beaches
  • - Carteret, Portbail: towards the Channel Islandss
  • - Coutances, Granville, ...
  • - The Mont-St-Michel