ftmagellan

Leaving From Paris CDG with rental car this Friday and have until SUnday afternoon to see highlights of Normandy for my daughter's 24 birthday. Interested not only in War sites but aslo the area,Calvados, cheeses, cuture,etc.WHat rental car co? Where to get it? What great tours or/and tour guide? Modest lodging but good beds-twins preferable. Where to stay? One town as base or move around? Would like to go to Mt St Michel.

StCirq

For car rental, Auto Europe, a US-based broker. You'd better call them now, if you're leaving Friday.

I would take the train from Paris to Bayeux or Caen and pick the car up there. I'd base yourself in Bayeux. There are lots of nice, reasonably priced accommodations there (would be more helpful if you named your price instead of just saying modest), and unlike many other towns in the area it didn't get blown to bits in WWII so is still very attractive. Plus it has the tapestry.

I've always done Normandy on my own, but a search here on Fodors will unearth all kinds of information on tours and guides.

You will, of course, find Calvados and cheese and other local products everywhere, but IME out in the country around Alençon and Argentat there seemed to be the most roadside signs pointing to local producers. With your limited timeframe, though, you're going to have to make some choices about how you spend your days.

Jean

You don't have three days. You have one full day (Saturday) and two half-days (Friday and Sunday). You can't see all of the WWII sites, go to Mont Saint-Michel, delve into the local culture and seek out locally produced foods in that timeframe.

If the priority is WWII, then go to the Peace Memorial (museum) in Caen on your way from Paris. I second the StCirq's suggestion of basing in Bayeux. Explore the landing beaches (including Arromanches) and one or two of the cemeteries on Saturday. (Personally, I doubt you can stuff this much into one day.)

Seeing Mont Saint-Michel on Sunday and getting back to Paris that afternoon would be too much driving in one day for me (5+ hours), but it's your trip.

ftmagellan

Many thanks to both of you for your tips! I land at CDG Paris on Thursday morning 7 AM 9/23 and I return to the CDG train station sometime early evening 9/26 to head to Brussels.So I have all of Thu,Friday, Sat, and Sunday.

robertino

Doable.

Take the TGV from the airport staight to Rennes on Thursday - about 3 hours. Rest on the train. Rent a car in Rennes and drive to Dinan. It's only about 45 minutes, so it shouldn't be too bad after your flight, and you will have rested on the train. Dinan is a pretty little town. Walk around in the late afternoon and evening. Next morning, Friday, drive to Mont Saint Michel. About a half hour - 45 minute drive. Spend as much time there as you need, then back in the car and drive to Bayeux. About an hour and a half. Use Bayeux as your base on Saturday and most of Sunday to see the WWII beaches and eat cheese and drink Calvados.

Have a great time!

avalon

We loved Moulin de Vey as a base in Normandy. We drove to all the Normandy beaches, Caen Bayeux, Mont St Michel. It really doesn;t take a lot of time to see the beaches...that's all they are is beaches! Do go to Arromanches and the American cemetary. We loved exploring the little Normandy cvillages, eapecially Beuvron sur Auge for the cider festival in October.

Red arrow me if you want but the WWI sites are more personal to the soldiers. I find the WWII sites more dedicated to the power of nations.

Gretchen

Rent in CDG and drive to Bayeux. I would choose Arromanches, Pont du Hoc, Omaha and the American cemetery. If you get the Green guide to Normandy it will give you an excellent tour. I would NOT do Mont St. Michel. I would drive around the countryside south of Honfleur, tasting Calvados, and eating cheese!! Have some seafood on quay at Arromanches. And do see the Bayeux tapestry.
Dinner in Bayeux at Le Petit Bistro (gender not guaranteed on the name!!)--best dinner we had in a two week trip to France that year. Across from the cathedral.
If you can stop, at either Honfleur or Rouen on your way back to CDG.
You won't be able to get a train direct to Bayeux from CDG, just as an FYI. You'd need to go into Paris, a waste of time andmoney. The drive from CDG to Normandy is not long nor hard.

Gretchen

Finally remembered my fave cheeses--Pont Levecque and coullomiers.
Here's a quick map. DO get the Michelin Normandy map.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...OIH6lwf95czTBQ

Jean

We spent a lot of time at the beaches. We walked all over Ponte du Hoc, spending well over an hour there. At Omaha, we walked from the waterline toward the cliffs, and we spent at least an hour at the museum at Arromanches. We also spent time at the American cemetery but also stopped briefly at the British/Commonwealth and German cemeteries. There are museums and monuments at every turn, some better and/or more meaningful than others, but, if you just want to "see" the beaches, you could probably drive the coast between Ouistreham (Pegasus Bridge)and Pointe du Hoc in 2 hours.

While exploring the Normandy sites up-close and on the ground, I could only think how hopeless it must have looked to the soldiers as they left the landing craft and about the tremendous bravery and sacrifices that occurred on those beaches. It was all about the soldiers to me.

jblaser13

The Bayeux Tapestry is the main non-WWII sight to see, but it's about two blocks from a much more impressive site: The Bayeux Cathedral. If you're not tired of churches and cathedrals, it's worth a visit. It's about 900 years old and displays a wide range of architectural influences. Bayeux as a town wasn't anything special in my view, but the tapestry and cathedral were worth the trip.

Gretchen

I agree about the cathedral also. There are some very poignant WWII stories associated with it as I recall.
As for the German cemetery, it is interesting to note that the German officer that ordered the burning of Oradour sur Glane is buried there. That German command was ordered to Normandy from there.
We stayed at the Hotel Bayeux which is within 5 minutes of teh Tapestry, the cathedral, and good food (the restaurant I possted). It is also easy to get out of town from that part of Bayeux.

ftmagellan

Hi All, Leaving early tomorrow for Normandy. WIll be staying at Manoir du Quesnay in countryside near Bayeux. For a very special Birthday dinner for my daughter's 24th, does anyone have a suggestion? For that matter any favorite eating places in Normandy? AGAIN thanks and bon voyage,
Francie

voyager61

Many good restaurants in Bayeux. Ask your hosts at the Manoir to name their favorites. We loved the food in Bayeux. Schedule a half-day tour of the D-Day sites so that you have a guide to provide you with the stories that enrich those sites. Would echo recommendations for the cathedral and the tapestry.