Normandy Map: Main Sites to Visit in Normandy (2024)

Where is Normandy?

Normandy is in the north west of France. It stretches out to the coast, where the River Seine flows into the English Channel, and is bordered by Brittany in the south-west.

We warmly invite you to browse our self-guided tours of Normandy

Click on the map of Normandy to enlarge

The Normandy Coast: Deauville & Trouville

To reach Normandy from Paris, following the coast east from Honfleur, you will reach Deauville,famous for the American Film Festival and its beachside boardwalk. Deauville is a touristy town and we prefer some of the more typical beach resorts, such as the more laid-backTrouville-sur-Merjust next-door to Deauville. We always recommend the most typical, authentic places to visit to our travelers.

Our will take you along the gorgeous, wind-swept Normandy coast, through the 'garden of France', ending at the 'city of lights'!

View across the beach at Trouville-sur-Mer -©Barney, Wikimedia Commons CC0

The Normandy Backcountry

A few miles inland, Pont-l'Évêqueis famous for its creamy cheeses, which include the famous Livarot, Pont l’Evêque and Camembert cheeses.The Norman hinterlandis covered with apple orchards used to make Normandy's famous apple cider and Calvados apple brandy. To discover Normandy must-sees and hidden beauties, we invite you to take a look at our Normandy self-drive itineraries.

Our will give you a taste of the 'real France'!

Traditional stores inPont l’Evêque - ©OT Pontleveque

Towns to visit in Normandy

• Caen is the main city in the region. TheCaen War Memorial museumis very interesting and deserves a visit. It will be of special interest to history lovers or people who are retracing their ancestors’ footsteps. Unfortunately, Caen experienced heavy bombing during World War II, so not much of the old town remains.
• However, theneighboring city ofBayeuxhas a beautiful old town with half-timbered houses and thegorgeous Bayeux Cathedral. This is a great base from which to explore the sites of the World War II Normandy Invasion as well as the Norman backcountry. You should also see theBayeux Tapestrythat depicts the Norman Invasion of Britain, led by William the Conqueror in 1066. The tapestry itself dates back to the 11thcentury.

If you're particularly interested in world war history, you may enjoy our World War History Tour of France.

An old waterwheel in Bayeux, Normandy - © Barry Skeates

The World War II Normandy landings beaches

• On 6 June 1944, allied forces from the USA, Canada, Britain, France and many other countries landed on the beaches of Normandy. The goal of the allied invasion was to liberate France and Europe from Nazi control. Omaha Beachis a 20-minute drive from Bayeux. Most ofthe main World War II Normandy landing sites - that is, those that were key to the success of Operation Overlord-are about an hour's drive from Bayeux. Right behind Omaha Beach is theUS Cemetery in Colleville sur Merand towards west is the strategicPointe du Hoccliff.
• If you keep driving west you will get toUtah BeachandSainte Mere Eglise. The British and Canadian Beaches -SwordBeachand JunoBeach - are located on the eastern part of the coast between Bayeux and Deauville. We have some sample itineraries, if you would like to visit the Normandy beaches on one of our self guided tours.

The war memorial,Les Braves,at Omaha Beach, Normandy. © Dennis Jarvis

From Mont Saint Michel to Brittany

About one hour and a half from Bayeux towards the South-West is one of the most visited places in France.Mont Saint Michelis a town built on a rock in a bay on the border between Normandy and Brittany. Not far from Mont Saint Michel, we recommend a visit to some ofBrittany's typical ports. Here you'll findgranite-stone houses and gorgeous seaside sceneries.Saint Malois a must-see, but there are also smaller places such as Cancale where you can really immerse yourself in the ambiance of Brittany.

Check out our Normandy, Brittany and Loire Valley tour if you'd like to cover these regions on your next trip to France.

Sheep grazing with Mont St Michel in the distance (Photo: Pexels)

How Far is Normandy from Paris by car ?

• Driving fromParis to Normandyis an easy trip. It will take aboutan hour to drive toGivernyfrom Paris,a very small town located about 50 miles from Charles De Gaulle airport. This is where Impressionist painterClaude Monetspent the last years of his life, and where he painted his famous Water Lilies collection.The city ofRouenisaboutan hour and a half's drivefrom Paris. This city was also part of Monet’s life. He paintedRouen Cathedralmany times in different lighting. Rouen also hosts the square whereJoan of Arcwas burned alive in 1431.
• You can follow theSeine Riverfrom Rouen towards its estuary. To the north of the estuary, you'll find the modern city ofLe Havreand its cruise harbor. To the south of the estuary is the lovely port ofHonfleurwith its half-timbered houses. It will take aroundtwo and a half hours to drive from Paris to Le Havreor Honfleur.
• If you are in Paris in the summer and would like to spend a day at the beach, you will loveDeauvilleorTrouville-sur-Mer. These are very traditional seaside resorts with 19th century buildings overlooking the seafront and colorful umbrellas providing shade on the beach. You can just about visitDeauville from Parisin a day if you leave early - the journey time istwoand a half hoursby car or train.
• Further afield, heading south west toward Brittany, you'll findBayeux,the WWII landings beachesand the islet ofMont St Michel. These are probably too far to visit from Paris in a day, so we would recommend spending at least a night or two in this part of Normandy. Driving time fromParis to Bayeux is over three hoursdepending on the route you take. The fastest route is still around 170 miles from Paris.