Normandy places to visit and attractions
Below you can explore some of the most popular highlights and places of interest in the Normandy region. See also our Normandy travel guide.
Alencon (Orne)
There are several sites of historical interest in Alencon, best known as a centre for lace production See guide
Argentan (Orne)
Despite extensive war time damage Argentan has retained several sites of interest See guide
Arromanches (Calvados)
Arromanches is well known as the town where the Mulberry Harbour was built during the D-Day landings in 1944 See guide
Bagnoles de l'Orne (Orne)
The town of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne is very pleasant, and well known as a spa town See guide
Barfleur (Manche)
Barfleur is listed among the 'most beautiful villages in France' and the harbour area in particular is very pretty See guide
Bayeux (Calvados)
Best known for its world-famous tapestry, Bayeux also has an imposing cathedral See guide Advertisement
Belleme (Orne)
Belleme is one of several small attractive villages within the Perche Natural Regional Park See guide
Beuvron (Calvados)
Part of the Normandy Cider Route, Beuvron has lots of half-timberd houses and is one of the prettiest villages in Normandy See guide
Cabourg (Calvados)
One time favourite of Marcel Proust, Cabourg has one of the longest and active beaches in the region See guide
Caen (Calvados)
With a castle, two abbeys and an attracive historic centre Caen is a very pleasant town to explore See guide
Cambremer (Calvados)
Cambremer is a very picturesque small village, ideally explored as part of the Normandy Cider Route See guide
Caudebec-en-Caux (Seine-Maritime)
It is the houses and scenery along the banks of the Seine river that will be the focus of your trip to Caudebec-en-Caux See guide
Chateau de Beaumesnil (Eure)
The Chateau de Beaumesnil is a baroque style castle surrounded by park and gardens See guide
Chateau de Boutemont (Calvados)
Beautiful chateau and gardens in the Calvados department of Normandy See guide
Chateau de Harcourt (Eure)
The Chateau de Harcourt in Eure is a medieval castle now restored and surrounded by an impressive arboretum See guide Advertisement
Chateau Gaillard (Eure)
The evocative ruins of Chateau Gaillard, built in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart, are one of the most imposing sites in Normandy See guide
Cherbourg (Manche)
The port town of Cherbourg has several monuments and museums of interest and a visit is recommended See guide
Coutances (Manche)
Coutances is well known for its impressive cathedral, built in the 113th century See guide
Creully (Calvados)
The medieval Chateau de Creully is the highlight in Creully See guide
Deauville (Calvados)
The resort of Deauville, established in the 19th century, is still one of the most upmarket beach resorts in Normandy See guide
Dieppe (Seine-Maritime)
Explore the port area then head to the castle and the Museum of Dieppe to see the highlights here See guide
Dives-sur-Mer (Calvados)
In the 'Village of William the Conqueror' at Dives-sur-Mer artisans and artists are brought together in a medieval setting See guide
Domfront (Orne)
The castle forms an excellent backdrop to the cobbled streets in the old town of Domfront See guide
Etretat (Seine-Maritime)
The town of Etretat is pretty, but it is the dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery here that attract the crowds See guide
Eu (Seine-Maritime)
The red-brick castle, built in the 16th century, is the main attraction for visitors to Eu See guide
Evreux (Eure)
In Evreux it is the two religious monuments - the cathedral and the bishop's palace - that are the principal attractions See guide
Falaise (Calvados)
Best known for its castle, Falaise also has several other interesting monuments in the town centre See guide
Fecamp (Seine-Maritime)
An important town on the Alabaster Coast, Fecamp includes the Bishop's Palace, the Abbey Church and the Church of Saint-Etienne among its highlights See guide
Giverny Gardens (Eure)
The most famous, most visited, and perhaps most attractive gardens in France, as painted by Monet, are here at Giverny See guide
Granville (Manche)
Granville is best known for its long sandy beach, and the 19th century villas that follow the seafront See guide
Haras du Pin (Orne)
The Haras du Pin is the oldest of the national horse training centres in France, and preserves its 18th century buildings See guide
Honfleur (Calvados)
There are lots of interesting things to see in Honfleur - if you can drag yourself away from the lovely harbour! See guide
Houlgate (Calvados)
The beach is certainly the main attraction at Houlgate, and there are also some imposing 19th century villas to see See guide
Jumieges Abbey (Seine-Maritime)
The extensive ruins of Jumieges Abbey are one of the most visited religious monuments in the department See guide
La Bouille (Seine-Maritime)
You will enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Seine river when you visit La Bouille See guide
Le Bec-Hellouin (Eure)
The village of Le-Bec-Hellouin is one of the prettiest in Normandy, and also has Abbey of Bec-Hellouin to visit See guide
Le Havre (Seine-Maritime)
Le Havre centre is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, for the concrete city built after the destruction of the town in WW2 See guide
Le Perche (Orne)
The peaceful countryside of the Perche Natural Regional Park has lots of opportunities to enjoy the natural environment See guide
Le Treport (Seine-Maritime)
The highlight of a visit to the active port town of Le Tréport is the coastal cliff scenery around the town See guide
Les Jardins du Pays d'Auge (Calvados)
The gardens of the Pays d'Auge are a beautiful mature garden set around a number of typical half-timber houses. See guide
Les-Petites-Dalles (Seine-Maritime)
A village on the coast of Normandy with lots of 19th century villas See guide
Lessay abbey (Manche)
The abbey church at Lessay is an important example of roman style architecture See guide
Lisieux (Calvados)
The painstaking rebuilding of Lisieux since the war has gone a long way to recapturing the feel of the medieval town See guide
Lisieux Basilica (Calvados)
The basilica in Lisieux is a 20th century church built in tribute to Saint-Therese, who lived in the town See guide
Lyons-la-Foret (Eure)
The half-timbered buildings in the village of Lyons-la-Foret make it one of the prettiest places in Normandy See guide
Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche)
No visit to Normandy would be complete without visiting the iconic Abbey and island of Mont-Saint-Michel See guide
Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne)
There are several places of historic interest to discover here at Mortagne-au-Perche, within the Perche Natural Regional Park See guide
Normandy landing beaches (Calvados)
70 years on and the Normandy Landing Beches still attract thousands of visitors interested in the D-Day landings in 1944. See guide
Pont-Audemer (Eure)
The canals and rivers are the highlight in Pont Audemer, famous for its traditional canalside washouses See guide
Rouen (Seine-Maritime)
The cathedral and cobbled streets in the old town are just two of the many highlights in the lovely town of Rouen. See guide
Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei (Orne)
Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei is a very pretty village in the Regional Natural Park of Normandie-Marne. See guide
Saint-Valery-en-Caux (Seine-Maritime)
The area around the beach, harbour and marina in Saint-Valery-en-Caux is always very active in summer See guide
Sees (Orne)
The cathedral is the famous attraction at Sees, but there are other sites of interest in the town and the nearby Ecouves Forest to explore See guide
Trouville (Calvados)
The long established resort at Trouville has retained lots of its 19th century villas, which provide much of the character of the town See guide
Varengeville-sur-Mer (Seine-Maritime)
Varengeville-sur-Mer is a village near the Normandy coast, with several beaches and charming views of the cliffs along the coast See guide
Veules-les-Roses (Seine-Maritime)
Veules-les-Roses is a stunning village on the coast of Normandy, France See guide
Veulettes-sur-Mer (Seine-Maritime)
The pebble beach and promenade are the big attraction on Veulettes-sur-Mer, but find time for the coast path as well! See guide
Villers-sur-Mer (Calvados)
Villers-sur-Mer is one of several friendly beach resorts along the Normandy coast See guide
Villerville (Calvados)
Less popular than neighbours Deauville and Trouville, the resort at Villerville also has a long beach See guide
Vire (Calvados)
When you visit Vire be sure to also explore the Route des Gorges de la Vire' through the woods and valley of the River Vire See guide
Yport (Seine-Maritime)
A small sea resort, Yport has a pebble beach and is close to attractive coastal cliff scenery See guideFor more information see the Normandy guide
Tourist attractions to visit in Normandy
The following sites have received official "tourist classifications"...
Aquarium
Estran Cité de la mer
Grand Sites of France
Baie du Mont Saint-Michel: See tourist guide
UNESCO world heritage sites
Le Havre: See tourist guide
Mont-Saint-Michel (monuments on French pilgrim routes): See tourist guide
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue tours (Vauban fortifications)
Villages classified as "most beautiful villages"
Barfleur: See tourist guide
Beuvron: See tourist guide
Lyons-la-Foret: See tourist guide
Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei: See tourist guide
Towns classified as Recommended Detours
Argentan: See tourist guide
Domfront: See tourist guide
Forges-les-Eaux
Granville: See tourist guide
Honfleur: See tourist guide
Pont-Audemer: See tourist guide
Secteur Sauvegardé (protected historical town centre)
Bayeux: See tourist guide
Honfleur: See tourist guide
Rouen: See tourist guide
Towns of Art and History
Coutances: See tourist guide
Dieppe: See tourist guide
Elbeuf
Fecamp: See tourist guide
Le Havre: See tourist guide
Orbec
Rouen: See tourist guide
Valognes
Ville d'etape
Ducey
Torigni-sur-Vire
Tourouvre
Villedieu-les-Poeles
Villers-Bocage
4* Towns in Bloom
Autretot
Cabourg: See tourist guide
Cherbourg: See tourist guide
Domjean
Honfleur: See tourist guide
Lyons-la-Foret: See tourist guide
Montville
Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon
Pont-Audemer: See tourist guide
Saint-Fraimbault
Saint-Valery-en-Caux: See tourist guide
Touques
Zoo or wildlife park
Parc zoologique de Champrepus
Parc zoologique de Clères
Parc zoologique de Jurques
Parc zoologique de Lisieux
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