Normandy: miles and miles of coastline, unrivalled fine dining, many UNESCO World Heritage sites, and world-famous destinations, including the D-Day beaches, the cliffs at Etretat, the house and gardens of Claude Monet at Giverny, Honfleur, Caen, the Bayeux Tapestry, and the basilica of Sainte Thérèse of Lisieux.
Your tour begins with a visit to Giverny. Here, you will visit Claude Monet’s home, the famous water lilies studio, his house (including the private apartments, dining room, kitchen and lounge/studio) and the famous water garden that inspired so many of his masterpieces.
Having passed through typical Norman villages and the famous wooded bocage of the Pays d’Auge, you will arrive at the stunning harbour of Honfleur, one of the most popular destinations in all of Normandy. There is so much to enjoy in this city of painters, with its old harbour, picturesque narrow streets and tall slate-hung houses.
From Honfleur, you will drive through beautiful countryside along the Côte Fleurie (Floral Coast) to Deauville and Trouville. The internationally famous town of Deauville is beloved of film stars and ardent racegoers. Its boardwalks, multicoloured parasols, prestige hotels and casino all contribute to its legendary reputation. Trouville is a very vibrant resort popular with swimmers and fishermen in equal measure. The Halle aux Poissons fish market is a must-visit.
Your chauffeur will then take you to the most important D-Day landing sites. More than 60 years after D-Day, the coast of Normandy is peaceful with its beautiful resorts and beaches, but memories of the war and D-Day itself are still anchored in the landscape. Even today, the coast is scattered with German artillery pieces and many bunkers, while almost every village and every turn of the road has its own monument to the fallen. The entire region was cruelly marked by the war. The emotion is still strongly in evidence in the American Cemetery at Saint-Laurent sur Mer (Omaha Beach), with its 9,385 white marble crosses.