Normandy
TheNormandyregion is located on the North Coast of France, and shares a coast with theEnglish channel. It’s most famous for being the location of the Allied D-Day landings towards the end of the Second World War. The region has a number of large cities, including Caen, Cherbourg and Le Harve, with the latter two being popular ports for visitors coming from England. You can hire a car in any of the three cities, as well as inDieppe, Honfleur andRouen.
Within the region ofNormandythere is so much to see, with a huge number of World War museums, coastal towns, beaches, The Bayeux tapestry and Mont St Michel. With everything so spread out, the best way to get around theNormandyregion is to hire a car, something which is very easy at carhire.org.
Things to do when hiring a car in Normandy
D-Day beaches
One of the most popular tourist destinations inNormandyare the D-Day beaches, and hiring a car is the easiest way to visit them. Many still have the defence turrets and structures the Germans installed during the war, and with memorials and museums at most of the beaches, and free parking it’s a wonderful way to learn a little about the history of the northern coast ofFrance. Most famous in the movies wereOmahaandUtahbeaches, as these are the beaches the Americans landed on, but Canadian visitors may prefer to visit Juno beach, while British tourists may prefer to seeSwordBeachandGoldBeachwhere British troops landed.
Mont St Michel
A UNESCO world heritage site, Mont St Michel stands proud on a tiny island just off theNormandycoast. With free parking on the causeway, visitors can climb the islands hill to the top, where they will find the Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel. The stunning Abbey is surrounded by small shops, cafes and boutiques and the island makes a great half day visit.
The Bayeux Tapestry
The small town of Bayeuxhouses the remarkable Bayeuxtapestry, something you wouldn’t imagine driving into the totally unremarkable town. The Tapestry however is well worth visiting, and at 70 metres long is a real see it to believe it experience. It was create in the 11th century and chronicles the capture ofEngland by William the Conqueror, as well as the death of King Harold.
Open seven days a week for nearly the whole year, the tapestry costs around £5 for adults and £2 for children, which includes a headset in your chosen language talking you through the tapestry.
Town of Honfleur
This gorgeous little fishing port is still active as a fully working marina, and is a stunning place to watch the sun set and the fishermen bring in their catch for the day. La Vieus Bassin et la Lieutenance are the old harbour and port authority buildings and are a great place to eat, as they are now nearly all restaurants.
