Nous allons profiter du long weekend du 15 août pour partir à la découverte de la Normandie... Le problème, c'est que 4 jours c'est court! Et il faut décider d'un trajet.
En général nous aimons bouger, marcher et visiter, plutôt que flemmarder ou bronzer.
Dans l'idée, sachant que nous partons de Belgique le 14 août au soir après le boulot, nous ferions la route vers Rouen et y passerions la nuit.
Jour 1 : Le 15 août, visite de Rouen, nuit à Rouen.
Jour 2 : Départ de Rouen, en passant par Jumièges.
Après ça, c'est le flou. Je suis attiré par Etretat, Honfleur... Mais aussi par les plages du débarquement... Impossible de faire les deux à mon avis, mais je ne sais pas combien de temps prévoir pour ces différents endroits, ni aux endroits qui seront sur notre route...
Effectivement c'est certainement jouable en termes de km à parcourir, mais j'ai peur que ça nous fasse passer trop de temps dans la voiture... A Etretat, si la météo le permet évidemment, nous aimerions parcourir à pied et descendre dans une ou deux valleuse histoire d'en profiter. Je ne sais pas si ça sera jouable après avoir fait Jumieges le matin...
Pareil pour les plages du débarquement en une après midi si nous profitons de honfleur pendant une matinée...
C'est faisable mais j'ai l'impression que nous passerions à côté de beaucoup de choses...
Bien sur tu passes à côté de beaucoup de choses. Personnellement sauf si tu as un intéret personnel, emotionnel, historique je n'irai pas sur les plages du débarquement. Ce n'est pas forcément la plus belle côte. C'est pour cela que j'avais mis Bayeux. Maintenant à partir d'Honfleur, tu peux rester dans le Calvados. Pleins de jolis villages, des fromages et des vaches. Avant d'arriver sur Etretat Rouen, il y a Dieppe. En gros la première ville côtière Normande.
Je sais pas trop dire pourquoi, peut etre parce que j'y suis passé avec l'école a l'époque, mais Rouen m'attire pour une journée de visite... Peut etre aussi parce qu'il y a 3 étoiles dans mon guide...
Ensuite on pourrait imaginer aller vers Bayeux, , Abbaye de Jumièges, une plage du débarquement...
Le lendemain aller par la côte vers Honfleur et dormir au Havre (ca semble impossible de trouver un logement a prix correct vers Honfleur).
Le dernier jour quitter le Havre vers Etretat puis rentrer +- de nuit...
Est-ce qu'en terme de cidre, calva, fromage... Il y a quelque chose à voir dans ce coin?
Attention les plages du débarquement sont beaucoup plus à l'ouest. Du côté d'Etretat, il n'y a guère qu'à Dieppe qu'il y a eu un débarquement des Canadiens. Mais cela ne fait pas parti des plages du débarquement.
Si à Rouen tu te contentes de flâner dans les rues, une demi journée est suffisante. Si tu as été voir mon blogue, tu as vu qu'il y avait tous les soirs un son et lumière sur la cathédrale. La région des fromages, calva, et caramel se trouve plutôt au sud de Honfleur, pas très loin de Deauville
Je suis originaire de Rouen mais je vis en Belgique depuis 28 ans.
En venant de Rouen, suivre la Seine est un bon plan. J'ai habité à la Bouille, charmant village.
Je ne sais pas d'où vous partez en Belgique.
Mon conseil :
A partir de Rouen, suivre la rive droite vers le Val de la Haye et prendre le bac à Sahurs pour aller visiter la Bouille. Au dessus il y a un château fort, le château de Robert le diable à Moulineaux qui domine la Seine. Redescendre et suivre ensuite la rive gauche le long de la Seine jusqu'à Duclair. Passer la Seine en bac et suivre la rive droite jusqu'à Jumièges . Visite de l'Abbaye (ruines). Prendre direction de Saint-Wandrille. l'abbaye se visite également. Elle est encore en activité et les moines y fabriquaient des... microfilms. je ne sais pas si cela existe toujours.
Passer rive gauche en empruntant le pont de Brotonne et rallier Pont-Audemer par la D 139. Suivre ensuite la vallée de la Risle ou la D180 pour arriver sur Honfleur .
Nuit dans le coin
Honfleur > Deauville : Passer impérativement par la côte de Grace (vue magnifique, belles maisons et petite chapelle des pêcheurs) avant de descendre sur Villerville et Trouville-Deauville. Faire un tour sur lesplanches (mythique).
Deauville > Pont l'Evêque, jolie bourgade Normande typique.
Pont-l'Eveque > Etretat en passant par le pont de Normandie
Au nord d'Etretat il y a Veules les Roses, charmante petite ville entre les falaises qui possède le fleuve le plus court de France et des cressonnières dans le village.. C'est vraiment charmant.
Depuis Dieppe vous pourrez rejoindre l'autoroute pour Amiens et la Belgique.
J'ai fait l'itinéraire sur Google maps en même temps que j'écrivais ce message. Voir image jointe:
Bonne prépa🙂
" Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalité" St Exupéry
Je confirmequ'à Saint Wandrille, il y a maintenant de la numérisation de documents "sensibles". Ils font aussi de la restauration de tableau. Evidemment la visite ne permet pas de voir cette activité.
@CBODEAU Tu peux voir des photos sur mon blog. Si vous faites l'itinéraire ci-dessus qui est très bien (merci Cendryon), arrêtez-vous à Dieppe. Pensez aussi aux heures de fermeture. Jumièges vers 17h et Saint Wandrille une ou deux visites dans l'après-midi
Aux dernières évolutions, le circuit se ferait plutôt dans l'autre sens.
Arrivée (en venant de Bastogne en Belgique) à Fécamp ou Etretat (mais pas encore trouvé de logement abordable sur place) vers 22h30 ou 23h. (Encore à réserver)
Bonne petite nuit de sommeil puis :
Jour 1: direction les Falaises (avec peut etre une étape sur le chemin s'il y a quelque chose de remarquable entre Fécamp et Etretat. Idéalement on profiterait des 2 falaises puis d'une ou l'autre valleuse (Antifer et/ou Bruneval).
Après cela nous pourrons nous diriger vers Honfleur pour une nuit déjà réservée (en passant par le pont de Normandie évidemment, sans savoir s'il y a quelque chose de remarquable en chemin... Le Havre ne m'attire pas particulièrement.
Jour 2: Le point de chute pour la nuit suivant est Bayeux (nuit déjà réservée)... J'imagine longer la côte par Trouville puis entamer une partie de la zone du débarquement (Sans s'arrêter à Caen sauf si vraiment il faisait moche, pas spécialement envie de visiter une ville, et les musées (en général dans la région) sont chers pour le temps qu'on a à y consacrer (mais la météo pourrait nous convaincre)
Jour 3: A définir. Soit prolonger vers Omaha Beach, la pointe du Hoc... Soit profiter de Bayeux puis rentrer dans les terres. En fonction nous pourrions soit passer une nuit supplémentaire à Bayeux, soit nous approcher déjà de Rouen (mais où?) dans l'idée de faire le jour suivant:
Jour 4: Abbaye de Jumiège + Ste Wandrille (voire un chateau ?) + Fin de journée à Rouen avant de rentrer tard pour éviter les encombrements de retour.
Voila ou j'en suis pour l'instant sans savoir si c'est raisonnable :-)
A l'aller vous avez des hôtels Accor à Dieppe ou à Fécamp.
Evidemment à Bayeux, il faut aller voir la tapisserie (1h30). Au retour dormez directement à Rouen. Jumièges est proche.
Oui j'avais vu de quoi loger sur Fécamp. Je me demandais si on n'allait pas perdre trop de temps entre Fécamp et Etretat, des amis m'ont dit que les falaises sont magnifiques au petit matin.
Sinon tu irais directement de Bayeux à Rouen sans pousser jusqu'à la pointe du Hoc? Ou au contraire, après la pointe du Hoc, directement à Rouen (en manquant peut-être pas mal de choses en route)...
Typiquement le musée de Bayeux (9€/pers.) fait partie de ceux qui me paraissent à coup sur trop chers...
Quand on fait les plages du débarquement il y a 3 "spot" importants :
- Arromanches (ils ont gardé les caissons du port artificiel),
- le cimetière de Colleville-sur-mer (Omaha beach)
- le mémorial de Caen.
Sinon moi j'avais bien aimé l'arrêt à Pegasus bridge (Pont de Bénouville), le premier lieu du débarquement où sont arrivés les alliés en planeur le 6 juin 44.
perso, si ton temps est compté, je ne pousserais pas jusqu'à la pointe du Hoc en préférant me concentrer sur la côte d'albâtre et la cote fleurie. Il y a longtemps que je n'y suis pas allée mais ça ne m'avait pas particulièrement marqué (sauf à dire que ce fut l'occasion de faire une des plus belle scène du film "le jour le plus long")
Mais surtout un conseil : Pense à (re)visionner le film "le jour le plus long" avant d'y aller, ça aide.
Et pour la région d'Etretat je me répète mais un des villages les plus charmants est Veules les roses http://www.veules-les-roses.fr/
" Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalité" St Exupéry
Arrivée (en venant de Bastogne en Belgique) à Fécamp ou Etretat (mais pas encore trouvé de logement abordable sur place) vers 22h30 ou 23h. (Encore à réserver)
Si tu n'envisage pas d'aller voir la tapisserie de Bayeux tu peux ne pas aller dans cette ville pour gagner du temps. Mais tu manqueras un témoignage unique de cette époque
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Sta matin, comme il fait beau, claudio ne pédale pas recherchant qlq zinfos il tombr sur Eurovélo 4 www.eurovelo.com/... et les ayatollah du vélo disant que le…
Voyager à vélo › Pays-Bas / France › Normandie · 6 replies
J'envisage de faire un petit tour entre Le Tréport et Breskens (NL) en empruntant la EV4. Est-ce que certains d'entre vous auraient suivi cet itinéraire et…
Hi there,
I need to plan a trip to mainland France for the first time with my family (my partner and our two kids, aged 16 and 5). We arrive at Paris Orly on the evening of JANUARY 12th and leave on January 30th.
Do you have any city recommendations to visit during this period, or hotels you’d suggest?
We’ll be traveling by train and would like to spend at least 4 nights in each city.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Delphine
I want to rent an economy-class car in France for 12 days. I checked prices on several sites mentioned in this forum, and they’re pretty comparable—around 350 € or $470 CAD.
Strangely, Auto Europe is showing prices between $300 and $330 CAD for an economy-class vehicle. That seems too good to be true. What do you think?
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Corsica for 12 days:
- One week in Ajaccio
- One week in Porto-Vecchio
I’m renting a car at Ajaccio airport.
Any special visit ideas?
Thanks
Hello,
I’ve visited Corsica several times with our kids, and we loved the warm welcome and friendliness of the locals as we explored many villages. We’re originally from the JURA region.
Now that we’re retired, we’d like to live somewhere between Bastia and Porto-Vecchio.
Which village or town would you recommend for a peaceful and welcoming lifestyle?
We’ll be back from a river cruise with a stop in Strasbourg for just the afternoon and evening. We’d like to spend the afternoon in either Colmar or Kaysersberg and then return to Strasbourg for dinner and a stroll afterward. I’d love your advice on which spot—Colmar or Kaysersberg—you’d recommend. I’ve noticed there’s a bus line 145 that runs from Colmar to Kaysersberg, taking about 40 minutes and costing around 5 €.
Is there a train or another way to get directly from Strasbourg that’s quick and affordable? I think a taxi would be pretty expensive. The issue is we don’t have much time—our flight is the next morning. We’ve already visited Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr about 10 years ago and loved them all. Our river cruise covers the Main, Rhine, and Danube.
We’re really looking forward to seeing places in Germany, like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, among others.
Hello,
We’re planning to spend a week in Cap Corse in early September, and I’d love some advice on renting a car (for 4 adults), hotels, and the must-see spots. Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
This question is for a friend who lives in Munich and needs to come to Paris in May 2027.
Could you share any tips on the easiest way to get to Paris (flight or train) and then to La Défense Arena?
I don’t know anything about it, and my friend is just as lost when it comes to planning her trip.
Thanks in advance if you have any advice! :-)
We’re planning to spend a few days in Valencia and the surrounding area. Can you recommend the must-see sights?
PS: If you know any great restaurants, we’re all ears!
It’s official: our Lyon weekend is confirmed from June 12th to 14th (girls only, no kids!). Do you have any must-see spots to recommend? Are there any exhibitions happening around that time?
Which places do you suggest for going out and having a good time?
Hi,
Our son, currently in Central America, will board a sailboat on 04/16 to cross the Atlantic. He’s expected to arrive around 05/31 in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, and we’d like to welcome him on the day he arrives.
I’m looking for accommodation in the area for a few days around that date, from which we can explore the Camargue. We’ll be bringing our e-bikes.
Could you tell me which towns to look in and which areas to avoid, please? I think Port-Saint-Louis isn’t a great option if we want to avoid the toll for the ferry every time we leave by car.
Thanks for your tips.
Claire
PS: Are there a lot of mosquitoes in late May/early June?
Hi everyone! I’m Loubna, I’m Algerian. My friends and I are planning a trip to France, but we don’t know this region at all. Could you help us out? Thanks in advance!
Hi there, I’m facing a pretty big and important dilemma—I moved to Argentina (Buenos Aires) when I was 20, and now, at 30, I’m coming back to France.
I’m looking for a city to live in and build a life for the next several years. I’m a single guy, so that’s the context.
The thing is, I have quite a few strict criteria...
First and foremost, I *need* a city that’s bustling with people everywhere—I really don’t like quiet, small countryside towns.
Nightlife is super important to me, especially on weekends. It’s crucial that there’s a wide range of options for going out in the evening (mostly bars—I’m not really into nightclubs, but I’d like to be one day if possible).
The social aspect is the *most* important thing (honestly, the *only* thing that matters to me). I don’t care at all about living conditions, safety, cleanliness, or whether things work smoothly.
But I *do* need a place where people are generally "chill"—not cold, rigid, or overly professional, with social norms that don’t make my head spin. I know I’ll never find the same Latin vibe here in France, haha, but I’m trying to survive anyway.
In France, I’ve always lived in Essonne (91), around Bures-sur-Yvette / Les Ulis / Gif / Orsay, etc. I *hate* it—way too quiet, empty streets, and zero activities that suit me. There’s not a single proper bar in any of the surrounding towns, just PMU tobacco shops, and nightlife is nonexistent.
I went to Hossegor once with friends—great vibe, nightlife, bars, beach, etc. But I’m guessing it’s *super* expensive to buy a place there, close to the action (and I’m not even sure if it’s a nice place to live overall).
When I came back to France, I spent 3 months in Paris because I thought it would obviously be the closest to what I was looking for. I still have horrible memories of it—it haunted me so much that I had to escape the capital in a hurry... And I was (I think?) in one of the best neighborhoods for my tastes: Belleville.
So here I am, going in circles because I don’t know enough about French cities. All my friends love quiet, small provincial towns or even living alone in the mountains.
A couple told me about Montreuil, but they were there a long time ago, so I don’t know what it’s like now. They said there was activity, that the city was pretty big, and that there was a good nightlife scene (bars, nightclubs, all kinds of outings), plus the metro (which would make it easy to get to Paris or for people to come to Montreuil from Paris).
So, for now, Montreuil is my only option, but I’m scared and would love other opinions (on Montreuil and other possibilities).
Sorry for the novel, but this is *really* important to me—my future depends on it, in a way ^^'
Thanks so much for reading and for any help you can give!
Hello,
At the beginning of June, we’ll be spending a few days in Sardinia. We’ve decided to return via a detour through Corsica and want to make the crossing from Santa Teresa di Gallura to Bonifacio (2 people and 1 car). There are currently two companies, Moby Lines and Ichnusa Lines, that operate this route. Unfortunately, we don’t know either of them at all. The prices and crossing times are pretty much the same, and we’d like to choose the most reliable one (punctuality/risk of cancellation for a booked crossing) and, if possible, the more comfortable of the two. Could you share your thoughts on either company to help us decide? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Have a great day.
I’m thinking about planning several short trips in France outside peak tourist seasons, especially in spring and autumn.
The idea would be to prioritize:
- fewer crowds at tourist sites
- more affordable accommodation prices
- a more local atmosphere
However, I also have some concerns about:
- attractions or restaurants sometimes being closed
- more unpredictable weather depending on the region
- less frequent transportation in certain areas
For those of you who’ve traveled in France off-season before, what do you think were the main pros and cons?
Are there any regions or specific times that are particularly worth prioritizing?
I’m looking for a ski resort in the Massif Central for a family trip—two adults and three kids (ages 4, 5, and 6)—for a week between late February and early March.
The main goal is to introduce my kids to skiing, so I’m looking for a resort that’s really "family-friendly." But honestly, almost every resort (Super-Besse, Mont-Dore, Lioran, etc.) claims to be family-friendly, so I’m not sure which one to choose. Plus, it’s not always easy to check the location of accommodations on booking sites.
For what I have in mind, we don’t need 30 km of slopes. What would be ideal, though, is a resort that’s mostly pedestrian-friendly, with lodging within a reasonable distance from the base of the slopes and a ski school available.
I’ve read some things here about places like "Chalmazel-Jeansagnière," but the thread is a bit old.
Hi,
We’re heading to Corsica at the end of July, and after a 4-night stay in Zonza, I’d like to head toward Cargèse or Porto to visit the Calanques de Piana. What’s the actual travel time? Maps says 2h40/3h, but I’m wondering if that’s really accurate.
How long does it take to get back to Ajaccio Airport afterward?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip to Normandy and, after reading quite a few posts here, I still have some questions about the most logical order to avoid spending too much time on the road.
The idea is to have a fairly smooth itinerary, taking the time to enjoy the places, over about ten days (possibly a little more), combining the coast and the inland areas.
I’m particularly wondering about:
– The best starting point (starting with Mont-Saint-Michel or saving it for the end)
– The balance between the coastline and more inland areas
– The areas where it’s really worth slowing down the pace
If any of you have done a route that felt particularly coherent, your feedback would really help me fine-tune the planning.
Hi,
I saw that the first tram from Pont du Garigliano leaves at 5:15 AM, and by taking the RER B at Cité Universitaire afterward, I’d arrive at Roissy at 6:30 AM—2 hours before my international flight.
Is this doable, or not? If anyone’s done this before, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re about to finalize a booking for late July near the Pink Granite Coast. We’re wondering about the traffic jams that could make our trip miserable, given how famous the place is—we’re excited to see it too. Could it get pretty bad?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
In June 2020, my wife and I will be visiting Brittany and Normandy. We’d especially love to explore villages that aren’t part of the usual tourist routes. We enjoy traveling off the beaten path.
We’re reaching out to you all to share which villages we should check out in these two regions.
Thanks.
Here’s the account of the start of our 5/7-day trip in Normandy (then off to the neighbors in... Brittany):
Day 01 from Valenciennes to Mont Saint-Michel: Sunday, September 6, 2020.
After a detour through the south of Lille (picking up our son), we head southwest around 10:00 AM, taking the highways via Amiens, the Pont de Normandie, and Avranches to arrive at "the Mount" around 4:00 PM after 515 km.
Parking P3 (14.20 € for 24 hours) for residents and hotels, located 50 meters from the start of the free round-trip shuttle included in the parking price (not too many tourists at this "late" Sunday hour), and we arrive at the hotel around 4:30 PM.
Triple room with a view of the bay at Hôtel Du Guesclin for 1 night.
From 5:15 PM to 6:30 PM, we tackle the complete tour of the ramparts counterclockwise from the Porte de l’Avancée, via the Tour du Nord (near the abbey entrance), passing in front of the abbey to reach the Tour Gabriel, and back to the start: stunning, not crowded, great weather, and amazing views.
Dinner in the beautiful panoramic restaurant of the hotel, with a bay view at a "window" table (such a nice touch!).
Of course, the day isn’t over, and we can then wander through a deserted main street and its unique atmosphere (photos below labeled "night" even though it’s only 9:15/9:30 PM). What a privilege!
Day 02 from Mont Saint-Michel to Saint-Cast: Monday, September 7, 2020.
After a memorable sunrise over the bay and a sit-down breakfast, we climb the steps to the Abbey for our online-reserved time slot (9:30 AM, 11 € per person).
The "masked group" is quite large, though within normal limits, and the one-way Covid-marked route (with a small brochure) prevents crowds. No need to rush, and 1 hour 15 minutes later, we’re done. Sure, it doesn’t have the charm of a guided tour, but we’re not complaining about being there!
We pick up our bags at the hotel, take the shuttle back, grab the car at Parking P3, and head "south" to Dol-de-Bretagne, 26 km/25 minutes away.
Around noon, the small town is very quiet, and parking in front of the Saint-Samson Cathedral** is free. Across the street, the tourist office is generous with info and gives us a great walking map/circuit: Cathedral, a stroll near the ramparts, the historic center** with its typical shopping streets and half-timbered houses, all covered at a leisurely pace in 45 minutes. Then a picnic on-site.
It’s another 50 km/50 minutes to Saint-Cast-le-Guildo and the Armor Conseil agency for the apartment keys (Résidence du Casino, 72 m², 5th floor, 2 bedrooms, beach 20 meters away, insane morning and evening views, bed linen rental at Ohier 50 meters away, Carrefour City supermarket, and a bakery 200 meters away, plus a town center that hasn’t changed much in 25/30 years. Really, really nice.
After settling in, a short walk is a must up to the heights of the Isle neighborhood behind the seaside residence... memories. Strangely, the well-known Crêperie Bretan’Or seems to be closed, as does the venerable Hôtel du Centre et des Plages (formerly "des Voyageurs")??
And for this reunion evening with the resort, a great crêpe/galette dinner at La Régal’ette, just 100 meters away.
Day’s total: 12 km of walking for sightseeing.
I’m traveling alone from my remote Pyrenees home to Roissy Airport, arriving at Austerlitz Station. I’m a bit nervous about getting to the airport—could you suggest a route?
While you’re at it, maybe you could recommend a budget hotel near the airport?
I’m looking into a trip to Paris around mid-February. I’d love to know more about the temperature (weather) in Paris, museum access (closures or anything else), how easy it is to get around on foot (slippery due to ice?), public transport, etc.
Also, are there any events or activities I absolutely shouldn’t miss? I could adjust my dates based on what you know.
On another note, I’d love to catch a hockey game. Are there any around Paris? I’m happy to watch a few games no matter the level 🏒🥅
FYI, I’m not afraid of the cold since I’m from Quebec 😁😆😆🧑🌾
This summer, we’re planning a family trip to Corsica.
We’ve chosen Sari Solenzara because we want to combine: sea, mountain hikes, natural pools, canyoning, and peace and quiet. Does this choice seem like a good one to you?
Second question: which airport should we prioritize to have the easiest roads to access?
Hi everyone,
We’ve wanted to visit Alsace for a long time to see the famous and well-known "Christmas markets."
Apart from the one in Strasbourg, could you give us some tips on other markets (Sélestat, Colmar, Mulhouse)?
Also, any recommendations for hotels, restaurants, or things to see, etc.?
I know my question is a bit "basic," but we really need some expert advice.
Thanks in advance to all.
I’m planning to spend three days in the Annecy region. What would you recommend visiting? Just so you know, I love nature and enjoy walking, but I prefer hikes that aren’t longer than two hours.
My husband, our 1-year-old son, and I have decided to head to southern France in mid-September.
We don’t know the region at all—it’ll be our first time.
We only have 9 days, and we’re really torn between Provence for its gorgeous villages, its "slow" vibe, Provençal markets, flavors, and colors, and the famous French Riviera for its beaches, ports, and because it’s intrigued us for so long.
I found a beautiful place to stay in a *mas*, but it’s not in the region at all (it’s in the Gard).
My husband found a place he really likes in Saint-Aygulf, but before booking, I’m hesitating and wanted to get some advice.
Obviously, with only 9 days, we clearly have to choose. I thought about splitting the trip in two, but that seems like a bad idea for two reasons: first, we’re traveling with a little one, and second, if we spread ourselves too thin, we risk not seeing anything properly.
Since we don’t know the area at all, I’m worried the coastline might be too built-up with big buildings, etc., like Lloret de Mar (no offense to anyone who loves it—it’s just not what we’re looking for).
Anyway… what would you recommend for a first 9-day trip to the south?
