1. So easy to get to
Whether you are travelling just to France or Europe as a whole, Normandy is only a short train ride from the French capital and a 1 hour flight from London.
2. Take in Normandy’s unique places to visit
Normandy is internationally renowned for its famous sites: the magical Mont-Saint-Michel, Etretat and its spectacluar cliffs, the unique Bayeux Tapestry, Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, Rouen’s medieval cathedral, the picturesque fishing village of Honfleur… to name but a few.
See more Major sites & Heritage.
3. Pay your respects where D-DAY and the Battle of Normandy were fought
On June 6th 1944 and during the long summer which followed, men from the world over came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and re-establish Freedom.
Every year we remember and pay tribute to the veterans from America, Britain, Canada among others… to those many heroes who lost their lives here during the summer of 1944, and are at rest in the cemeteries to be found throughout Normandy. In 2019, the second Forum for Peace will be held in Normandy.
See more on Commemoratives ceremonies.
4. Normandy Impressionism
As the spiritual birthplace of impressionism, Normandy has inspired many great artists to create images which live on in the collective consciousness today. Normandy offered the perfect backdrop for the Impressionist painters who set up their easels along the Seine and the Channel coast.
In 2020, the Normandy Impressionist Festival will bring to life all things impressionist with a wealth of exhibitions, concerts and events across the arts.
5. Medieval Normandy
William the Conqueror, Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart: all these figureheads from the Middle Ages have marked Normandy and left behind their legends. Explore the Bayeux Tapestry plus the glorious medieval cathedrals, abbeys and castles in Normandy today.
6. International Events
2019 marks the commemorations and celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy.
It also features the gathering of the world’s most famous tall ships in Rouen for the spectacular Armada along the River Seine.
The Caen Memorial will host Enduring Ideals: Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms from June 10 to October 27, 2019. This exceptional traveling exhibition of 70 works—paintings and illustrations of Rockwell and some of his contemporaries, will feature the iconic Norman Rockwell paintings including the Four Freedoms collection: “Freedom of Speech,” “Freedom of Worship,” “Freedom from Want” and “Freedom from Fear.” More on the exhibit.
As well as commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, the city of Cherbourg is expanding its Americana celebrations this year in hosting the 9th biennale of Comic Book art (known as the 9th art) from May 25 to September 1, 2019. This year, the 9th art biennale pays special tribute to American comic book artist Jack Kirby, the mind behind Black Panther, the Avengers and Iron man, among other iconic characters (for details, click here).
7. Unesco Sites
Norman sites recognized internationally :
- The World famous Bayeux Tapestry : 70 meters long and 50 centimeters high and and recounts the tale of the conquest of England on 14th October 1066, led by William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy
- The Mont-Saint-Michel remains an international place of pilgrimage to this day and with its Bay is included on the Unesco list of wolrd Cultural and Natural Heritage sites.
- The city of Le Havre rebuilt in modernist postwar style by Auguste Përret, the concrete poet. Le Havre est recognised as a Unesco as a World Heritage site.
- And Tomorrow the D-Day Beaches ?
8. Museums at the forefront, in perpetual evolution
To better accommodate the clientele, the museums of the Second World War are expanding, offer new exhibitions and new scenography for June 2019 :
- Overlord Museum near the American Cemetery of Colleville sur Mer is growing like Dday Experience on the Utah beach area
In Caen, Normandy
In honor of this historic milestone the Caen Memorial will inaugurate a new high-tech wing, which will feature a 360 degree immersive film experience on Europe’s 20th century.
9. Great Food and Drink
A land of rolling fields and dramatic coasts, this region is a cornucopia. Normandy yields world-class cider and brandies from its apple orchards, fresh seafood from its waters, as well as creamy cheeses and (Julia Child-approved) butters from its farms.
Click here for more on Normandy's culinary specialties.
10 Great outdoors
Whether you are looking for a round of golf, a cycle through the French countryside or a ride on horseback, Normandy has so much to offer the outdoor explorer.
Contacts :
ATOUT FRANCE
Marion FOURESTIER
Director of Communications - USA
Tel: (212) 745-0963/67
marion.fourestier@atout-france.fr
NORMANDY TOURISM BOARD
Edouard VALERE
Head of Marketing
Tel : 0 (33) 2 32 33 07 07
e.valere@normandie-tourisme.fr