Discover All Of Normandy During “Day Trips” Departing From The Guesthouse

Étretat and its majestic cliffs, the splendid Mont Saint Michel, the Claude Monet House and Gardens at Giverny, the Cotentin Peninsula and many other world-famous Norman attractions can be explored on day trips, 2 hours maximum ride from the guesthouse.

HEADING NORTH

  • Étretat and its majestueuses falaises Nature has carved unusual shapes out of the white cliffs in Etretat, and as a result, this picturesque spot attracted many Impressionist painters, who sought to capture the cliffs on canvas.
  • Veules les roses One of France’s most beautiful villages, tucked away on the Alabaster Coast, the picturesque village of Veules-les-Roses is a cluster of typical half-timbered cottages and lots of ancient unspoiled charm. A pleasant, laid-back atmosphere make Veules-les-Roses a delightful seaside retreat, brimming with local restaurants specialising in delicious fresh fish and oysters.
  • Fecamp Framed by the impressive white cliffs of the Alabaster Coast, this historic seaside town was home to the Dukes of Normandy until 1204. A fishing port, seaside resort, artistic and religious pilgrimage site, and home to the famous Benedictine liqueur, Fécamp oozes authenticity and a way of life connected to the sea
  • Dieppe With its deep harbour protected by white cliffs, Dieppe has long been a favourite destination for cross-Channel visitors.

HEADING SOUTH

  • Le Mont Saint Michel A magical island topped by a gravity-defying abbey, the Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay count among France’s most stunning sights. For centuries one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations, this holy island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is its breathtaking bay.
  • La Presqu’ile du Cotentin The Cotentin is a land of wilderness, lulled by the wind and the sea, a land of hidden treasures : La Hague, Val de Saire, Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue, Berneville, UNESCO heritage sites, and lands of art and history.
  • Grenville commands stunning views of the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel from its fortified headland. Enjoy this seaside resort’s lively fishing port, medieval Upper Town and museum dedicated to local celebrity Christian Dior, or catch a ferry or sailing boat from here out to the magical Chausey Islands, just 15km away.
  • Cherbourg, one of France’s great Channel ports, is closely linked to French naval history, and to transatlantic adventures – the Titanic even made its final stop here on its fateful journey, as recalled at the Cité de la Mer, one of the port town’s main tourist attractions.

HEADING EAST

Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny are the second most visited tourist attraction in Normandy and attract visitors from around the world between 29 march and 1 November. The famous water lily ponds and colourful gardens created by the Master of Impressionism, Claude Monet, at his home in Giverny, close to Paris and Rouen, gave him his greatest artistic inspiration and have made this tiny river Seine-side village famous all over the world. 

Château gaillard Considered a cuttung-edge example of military architecture in its day, the Château-Gaillard was constructed by Richard the Lionheart in record time on the high chalk cliffs dominating a great meander in the River Seine. Today it is a ruin, but two villages below, Le Grand Andely and Le Petit Andely, merged over time to form one riverside village, Les Andelys, in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Le Bec Hellouin is a village with a profound religious past that can still be felt as well as seen. Justifiably, it has also been listed among the ‘most beautiful villages in France’.

Les boucles de la Seine Following 112 miles of the River Seine between Rouen and Honfleur – this regional nature park boasts a unique combination of light and landscapes, much of which was a source of inspiration for painters such as Turner, Boudin, Sisley and Signac.

Route des abbayes Famous or secret, the Norman abbeys are an exceptional architectural heritage both in number and in artistic quality, the charm of the surrounding landscape, the greatness of their past.

Lyons-la-Forêt Be transported to a fairy tale village set in one of Europe’s most beautiful beech forests. Located 40km east of Rouen, it comes as no surprise that Lyons-la-Forêt has been officially recognised as one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France’.

The gardens of the Seine Maritime The Normandy countryside is rich in remarkable gardens