Day 1 • French Impressionist, Landscape, History
Arrive in Paris – Transfer to Giverny.
A nice place to stop for about half a day. A visit to Monet’s House and Gardens and a walk through the small village.
Enjoy your lunch in Rouen and go for a guided walking tour for 2 hours to discover the authentic Norman city of Rouen: the old town, the courthouse, the Cathedral and Joan of Arc Square. This is where Claude Monet painted the Cathedral series. Free time at the end of the visit for shopping.
In the afternoon, we will discover Étretat, one of Normandy’s most incredible and natural landscapes. It has also been an inspiration for many of France’s impressionist painters.
Nice dinner in a gastronomic restaurant and an evening in Étretat.
Day 2 • Architecture, Medieval
Departure to Le Havre: France’s second largest port, which has also been a UNESCO site since 2005. Wandering through the streets, you’ll discover the unique and meticulous style of architect Auguste Perret who used concrete to rebuild the city after it was destroyed by allied bombings in 1944. Crossing over the Pont de Normandie bridge.
Stop at Honfleur: During our walking tour, we will see the unique 17th century harbor of Honfleur, picturesque and colourful, located on an estuary of the Seine River.
The colors of the timber-framed houses and the quaint backstreets have inspired famous painters such as Monet and Courbet. It is also considered to be the birthplace of the Impressionist and Romantic art movements.
Lunch in a nice restaurant in Deauville and a walk along the famous “Les Planches”, the seaside promenade dedicated to well-known American actors and filmmakers who come to the Deauville American Cinema Festival every September. Deauville is a lovely sea-side town with a great beach, elegant villas, and exclusive shops: it’s “Normandy Riviera”.
On the way, stop for a Norman cheese and calvados tasting event in a traditional distillery.
Spend the end of the day in the romantic town of Cabourg for dinner and for the night.
Day 3 • World War II historical Tour
Tour from Pegasus Bridge to Omaha Beach, Point du Hoc and the American Cemetery.
On June 6th, 1944 Normandy became world-famous for the part it played in D-Day when Allied troops broke through Nazi defences to liberate occupied France.
First, we will explain the outstanding military preparation of Operation Overlord. Visit of:
- Pointe du Hoc and the Rangers Memorial: the heroic acts of the Rangers and the ground shattered by extremely violent bombings.
- The American Cemetery, its beautiful marble headstones lined up over the emerald green lawn.
- Omaha Beach: we will have a walk along the beach and imagine what the young soldiers experienced.
Stop in Arromanches for lunch. - Arromanches: the unbelievable strategy of the artificial “Mulberry” harbors.
- Longues-sur-Mer Battery German bunkers.
Both moving and fascinating, this day-tour will have you discover the most popular sites of the Allied Landing in Normandy.
End of the trip at Bayeux. The Medieval city of Bayeux, located in the heart of the D-Day Landing beaches, is a genuine history book in its own right… Time to stroll through the narrow paved streets of Bayeux in the historic center of town and admire its many 17th and 18th century town houses.
Dinner and night in Bayeux.
Day 4 • Mont Saint-Michel Day Trip
Walking tour in the village and then ascension to the monument (via the ramparts or the village) all the way up to the abbey located on the top. Our guided visit covers the interior of the abbey, built on the rocky island, which was an important pilgrim destination in the Middle Ages.
Lunch at “La Mère Poulard” inn. Free time then for a walk in the village.
Dinner and hotel in Caen.
Day 5 • Feel free to use the morning to visit Caen
Historical tour in Caen: William the Conqueror
With over 1000 years of history, from William the Conqueror to the Battle of Normandy, Caen has built up an extraordinary architectural and historical heritage. The two abbeys, jewel of Norman architecture and symbol of love between William and Mathilda, and the castle, one of the largest fortresses in Europe.
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Caen War Memorial: the complete story is at the Caen Memorial Museum. It’s the unique place in Normandy dealing with the history of the 20th century, of war and peace.
Transfer from Caen to Paris – Departure
So wait no longer, come and explore Norman history and architecture, enter the universe of abbeys, travel into the world of the Arts, remember and relive the Battle of Normandy and D-Day, pierce the mysteries of nature… There are a number of great days ahead for you!
