Normandy combines a long, varied coastline with striking inland landscapes and a rich heritage. Along its 640 kilometres of coastline, sandy beaches, dunes, rocky shores, pebble beaches and white chalk cliffs alternate. Inland, the Seine Valley, Marais Vernier, Cap de la Hague, Perche and Suisse normande are among the features that define the landscape. When planning your trip, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on: coastal scenery, nature, history or regional cuisine.

Coast, valleys and nature trails

The chalk cliffs of Seine-Maritime are considered the highest in Europe; at Étretat, they form great arches and a rock spire. Four regional nature parks add to the variety of the landscape: Boucles de la Seine normande, Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin, Normandie-Maine and Perche. If you want to explore the coast on foot, the GR223 in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel links Granville and the abbey via beaches, salt marshes, coastal scenery and regional heritage.

There are cycling options to suit different levels, too. The regional cycle route network comprises five routes totalling 1,600 kilometres, including 700 kilometres on greenways. The VéloWestNormandy is a four-day, 185-kilometre route from Bayeux to Pontorson; you can start in Bayeux or Carentan. It follows greenways and country roads and links natural, cultural, historical and gastronomic heritage. The route is specially signposted. Check route conditions before setting off.

Activities on the water and in the countryside

At Asnelles on the D-Day coast, a watersports centre offers land sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and boat trips. Which activities are available depends on the provider and conditions. Inland, Normandy also offers a range of outdoor activities: there are four major riding routes and networks of signposted local circuits. The region’s non-motorised outdoor tourism also includes cycling and water activities.

Activities at Lac de la Dathée include pedal boating, kayaking and golf; there is also an ornithological reserve with more than 80 bird species. The Grande Cascade near Mortain-Bocage offers a different natural setting: it is 25 metres high and lies in a rocky landscape with remarkable flora and fauna. This gives you a choice of different nature experiences, from watersports and birdwatching to a waterfall. Check the current availability of activities at the lake before visiting.

Heritage from the island to the museums

Mont-Saint-Michel is a complex of an abbey and a fortified village on a small island, and a major site of medieval Christian civilisation. In 2015, it regained its maritime character and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Normandy’s UNESCO-related heritage also includes the centre of Le Havre and the Vauban towers of La Hougue and Tatihou.

The heritage sites open to visitors reflect more than 500 years of history, with connections to the Vikings, William the Conqueror and the Duchy of Normandy, as well as the Hundred Years’ War. The D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 are also part of the region’s culture of remembrance. Art offers another way to explore: Normandy as a whole is associated with Impressionism, having served as a source of inspiration for painters. The fortresses, castles, abbeys, basilicas and cathedrals open to visitors include Château-Gaillard, Falaise and Jumièges, as well as buildings in Caen, Rouen, Bayeux and Sées.

The Bayeux section of the VéloWestNormandy passes the medieval town, its cathedral, the UNESCO-listed Bayeux Tapestry and Mondaye Abbey. The Musée de la Percée du Bocage offers a different historical perspective: it covers Operation Bluecoat and the occupation period in eight museum rooms, as well as through a sound and light presentation.

Regional cuisine and themed routes

Regional cuisine is shaped by dairy products, meat, fruit and produce from the coast. Dairy traditions include cream and butter from Isigny, as well as Camembert, Livarot, Neufchâtel and Pont-l’Évêque. Regional meat specialities include Bœuf de race normande, Agneau de prés-salés, Andouille de Vire and Tripes à la mode de Caen. Apples and pears are used to make Calvados, cider, Poiré and Pommeau de Normandie.

Coastal specialities include scallops, lobster, whelks and bouchot mussels. Four oyster-growing areas are known as Côte Ouest, Isigny, Saint-Vaast and Côte de Nacre. There are also four regional routes for exploring cider, Poiré, fruit and thatched-roof landscapes; they range from 28 to 70 kilometres in length. This lets you shape your trip around scenery, history or culinary interests, without limiting your experience of Normandy to a single way of exploring it.

Discover more destinations: Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime, Saint Pierre, Auvergne, Corsica.

For the main travel overview: France.