Northern Normandy is not really well known by foreign travelers who come for a tour of France. When travelers mention Normandy, they usually have in mind the WWII D Day landing sites in Calvados or Mont Saint Michel. But there is so much more to see in this region!

 

Upper and Lower Normandy

The map below shows the border between Upper and Lower Normandy, which is near Honfleur. The WWII beaches are mostly in Lower Normandy, as well as the lovely port town of Honfleur and the famous islet of Mont Saint Michel. You may also like to see some other more detailed maps of Normandy.

The capital of Upper Normandy is Rouen, famous for Joan of Arc and the many paintings of the Cathedral by Claude MonetYou might also know about the Etretat Cliffs: rumor has it the famous gentleman burglar - Arsène Lupin - hid real treasure in a secret place inside the cliffs.

 

Etretat Cliffs - Romantic getaways in Normandy

Etretat Cliffs in Normandy (Photo: Needpix.com)

The beautiful white chalky cliffs receive a lot of visitors. They can be seen along the coast for about 90 miles, starting from the Seine estuary at Le Havre to the Somme estuary at Le Crotoy. It is called La Côte d'Albâtre - The Alabaster Coast. You can enjoy a romantic stroll along the beach at sunset after enjoying a seafood platter from a local restaurant... and you'll probably be alone on the beach.

Normandy at Sunset - Romantic Getaways in Normandy France

(Photo: Needpix)

 

When we visited, we had a great afternoon sailing from the lovely port of Dieppe. Most of the city was destroyed during the second world war, but the port and some surrounding streets provide a nice setting for a drink on a terrace so you can enjoy the ocean breeze. 

Dieppe Romantic getaways in Normandy, France Just For You

Dieppe harbor (Photo: Pixabay)

Last but not least, there's no comparison when it comes to comparing the August crowds on the beaches of the French Riviera and the quieter setting of the beaches in Normandy. Admittedly, the water temperature is a bit colder, but if you don't mind the cold, the Normandy coast is a great place to relax and enjoy France off the beaten path!

Normandy beach - Romantic Getaways in Normandy

(Photo: Pixabay)

 

 

Normandy from Paris

Normandy is very easy to reach from Paris and we recommend driving over the train (which is longer as there is no high speed). In less than 3hr drive you will reach Normandy from Paris and you have so many stop options along the way that it would be a pity doing otherwise !

Don't hesitate to contact us to plan your self-drive trip in France !

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

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Cathy
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts …
Linda & Scott
This was our first visit to France to celebrate my 40th birthday. We started in Reims/Champagne region, Burgundy, Loire Valley Normandy and finished in Paris. Our 21 day trip was exceptional in every way! Emilie and her team thought of everything and their service from fist email to our return home could not be faulted. The only way I can describe …
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One of the best planned and personalised travel experiences that my family and I have ever had. From information on how to go about navigating the toll machines on the highways; a range of brilliant restaurant recommendations in every town and village that we visited; interesting daily itineraries and extremely hospitable and generous hosts at all …
Kelly
My husband and our friends spent two weeks travelling around Northern France, the Loire Valley and Paris. Emilie provided us with a detailed itinerary that exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were excellent and unique providing us with a variety of B & B's. Her recommendations for tours and sights took into consideration our interests and …
Leslie
There are not enough superlatives for our experience with Emilie. Prompt correspondence and thorough questions led to the perfect vacation for my family. Her choice of hotels in Paris and Provence were exactly what I would have chosen on my own. Her tour guide recommendations were spot on. The fact that she arranged all of our transfers, train …
Bob
France just for you was fantastic. We provided a list of places we like to see, they customized our trips with great suggestions. They Provided Car, places to stay, a 2 book itinerary with wonderful suggestions, great Bed and Breakfast and small hotel (very romantic) , assistance when ever we accidentally called their number. We requested guides at …

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