Leaving for Normandy tomorrow morning and it's raining -- help!
Aug 6th, 2004, 07:46 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leaving for Normandy tomorrow morning and it's raining -- help!
We're off for a family trip to Normandy with 3 daughters (15,23 and 26) and the weather forecast is for a week of rain. I quick took a closer look at museum options and there are lots, so I guess we'll do a lot of that. Thought we'd do cheese, chocolate and calvados tours, but I don't know exactly where to find them. Can anyone help? Any other indoor Normandy ideas would be appreciated !
Aug 6th, 2004, 07:49 AM
#2
Aug 6th, 2004, 10:55 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chocolate? in Normandy? Hmm... don't know about that.
For cheese, try Vimoutiers, among other places - - http://www.camembert-country.com/vim...s/infeng01.htm
For calvados - - everywhere!
A rather less visited option - - the Palais Benedictine, in Fecamp.
I bet it won't rain 24/7 for a week.
And for other thoughts on rain in France, see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494696
Best wishes,
Rex
For cheese, try Vimoutiers, among other places - - http://www.camembert-country.com/vim...s/infeng01.htm
For calvados - - everywhere!
A rather less visited option - - the Palais Benedictine, in Fecamp.
I bet it won't rain 24/7 for a week.
And for other thoughts on rain in France, see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494696
Best wishes,
Rex
Aug 6th, 2004, 12:16 PM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check out the Normandy threads on bonjourparis.com. CapnMike, a former resident of Rouen, has compiled an entire sightseeing guide, almost step by step, including quite a few indoors options.
Good luck with the weather! We're going to Normandy in September and will be interested in hearing how your trip went.
Good luck with the weather! We're going to Normandy in September and will be interested in hearing how your trip went.
Aug 6th, 2004, 04:27 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hope you have a wonderful time. I loved the Normandy area, more so than I thought I would. Honfluer was a great little town and your daughters may like the multiple shops it has to offer (just bring an umbrella). Trouville has a great market on Sunday mornings and its right of the inlet to the sea. This can be a 1/2 day trip from Honfluer, in combo with Arromarches. Even in the mist, you should enjoy.
Aug 6th, 2004, 05:57 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even though it says Rain, it most probably will not be non-stop steady rain. Just periods of showers.
Do let us know how the trip goes and what you found to do inside..especially the part about the chocolate
Bon Voyage!
Do let us know how the trip goes and what you found to do inside..especially the part about the chocolate
Bon Voyage!
Aug 7th, 2004, 12:21 PM
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would also suggest the Peace Memorial Museum in Caen There are a number of other D-day museums in Normandy in Bayeux and other places too. Also, do you have Rouen on your itinerary? It has a number of museums as well. Bonne chance!
Aug 7th, 2004, 11:48 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Domaine St. Hyppolite only about 5k outside of Lisieux is a fantastic communal working farm where you can take a wonderful walking tour through the property...visit the colombier, the cider press, the dairy barn, see a movie on how the famous Normandie cheeses are made and visit the actual cheese factory. They have a wonderful gift shop with their products--can personally vouch for the CREME de Calvados. MMM! My husband is addicted now. Lisieux is a well known pilgrimage town and could take up the rest of the day.
In the back of my mind Isigny-sur-Mer near Bayeux is famous for caramels and has tours. There are also cookie factories that can be visited. Look up the Pays D'Auge, too. I woulnd't worry about the weather. Have fun and don't forget to report back!
In the back of my mind Isigny-sur-Mer near Bayeux is famous for caramels and has tours. There are also cookie factories that can be visited. Look up the Pays D'Auge, too. I woulnd't worry about the weather. Have fun and don't forget to report back!
Aug 8th, 2004, 03:10 AM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
I don't know the weather forecast outfit you are using to track the weather, but the forecast for a family trip to Paris last November had it raining the whole week. It rained the last day for two hours. That was it. We had great weather, including the Sunday we visted Versailles and had to take off our sweaters and walked around on short-sleeves. There is always hope!! 
Aug 9th, 2004, 02:37 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Probably too late for you, but might help someone else: The Chamber of Agriculture puts out a 2-in-1 thick brochure "Loisirs a la Ferme dans la Manche" (Things to do) and Gastronomie a la Ferme dans la Manche (eating). It lists horsebackriding, fihsing hunting, cidre, goat chese farm and general farm visits as well as narrated walks. They have a website www.normandielaferme.com
Oh, and Domaine de St Hippolyte is in the direction of Alencon-Livarot at Saint Martin de la Lieue. The tour takes about 2 hours. Cheese making is 10-12, milking is 16:30 and they have picnic tables for you to enjoy your own picnic.
Oh, and Domaine de St Hippolyte is in the direction of Alencon-Livarot at Saint Martin de la Lieue. The tour takes about 2 hours. Cheese making is 10-12, milking is 16:30 and they have picnic tables for you to enjoy your own picnic.
Aug 16th, 2004, 12:22 PM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're back. Had a wonderful trip. Really appreciated all the comments -- even those I didn't get to read cause we'd left already!
The weather was fine. Most days were sunny. Towards the end of the week we did have a couple of days with scattered showers but we someone managed to either by in the car between places or off the street at the right moments. So much for weather forecasts !
Our itinery, for future travelers :
Landed in Paris and took the rental car straight to a tiny town called Ducey not far from Mont St. Michel.(3 hour ride) Stayed at the Moulin de Ducey (Best Western)that's right on the river.
Day 1 : Coffeed on "main street" right in the middle of the town market. Drove to the Caen Memorial (excellent! we were there for close to 4 hours and good have easily stayed longer), Arromanche(for the view of the beach and the 360 movie-- also very good) and then a small British/Canadian Cemetary right outside Bayeux. There's a short inscription from the families on each grave -- very touching, especially at the end of a very moving day. Dinner at a simple brasserie in Bayeux. So glad we ordered the mussels in cream our first night -- that way we knew to get them again and again. We ordered and shared at least one plate every evening !
Day 2 : Cape Frehel in the morning. Nice leisurely walk around the lighthouse and over the steep cliffs above the water. Beautiful carpets of heather. From there to Dinan to wander down (and then up) through the narrow streets. Dinner in Cancale at Le Sucouf restaurant right on the marina. Good food and good service.
Day 3 : Mont St Michel. Horrible traffic jam and then even worse people jam crammed into the tiny street that leads up to the abbey. Escaped up an alley to a slightly less crowded side street. Hard to enjoy under those conditions ! Cooled off some in the little bit of water at the bottom before heading over to Villedieu les Poeles. Another pretty medieval town -- this one famous for copper and it's bell foundry. Did the bell tour (interesting) and walked through the streets and in and out of shops. Dinner back in Ducey at Selune reataurant. Also good.
Day 3 : Back to Bayeux to see the tapestry we'd missed cause they were already closed our first time through. Worth going back for! From there to Honfleur and the Satie museum. Fun! Dinner at Le Chat que Peche in "downtown" Honfleur. Our least good meal of the trip. On to our next hotel, Le Petit Castel, in Beuzeville, not far from Honfleur. Almost half the price of the one in Ducey and just as nice.
Day 4: Traffic jam to get inside Etretat and to find a place to leave the car. Finally parked slightly outside town (5 minute walk). Went straight to the beach and climbed way up to see the view from above. Then relaxed in the sun on the rocky beach before checking out the town and the covered market. Drove to Le Havre. Got there just in time for our first downpour. Spent a few hours in the BeuxArts /Malreaux musuem. In addition to their permanent collection of Impressionists they had a wonderful exhibit on photographs of water. Suited the storm outside! Dinner back at Beuzeville at the hotel's excellent restaurant.
Day 5: Day in Rouen. Cathedrals and the old town. The Joan of Arc church is just beautiful. Drove over to Deauville and wandered through the town. Continued on to Trouville for our last dinner (mussels included).
Ride back to Paris was less than 2 hours.
Two tips : Breakfast wasn't included in the price of the rooms. In Ducey it was 10 euro apiece; in Beuzeville 6.50. MUCH wiser to order the coffee and croissant at the nearby bar/cafe -- cost us around 12 euro for all of us: coffee or hot chocolate and a croissant apiece.
Get a 6 pack of water for the car. Each morning buy a fresh baguette, tomatoes and cheese and/or pates and/or some sort of sausage for lunch. Saves both time and money and we found really nice places to stop and picnic.
The weather was fine. Most days were sunny. Towards the end of the week we did have a couple of days with scattered showers but we someone managed to either by in the car between places or off the street at the right moments. So much for weather forecasts !
Our itinery, for future travelers :
Landed in Paris and took the rental car straight to a tiny town called Ducey not far from Mont St. Michel.(3 hour ride) Stayed at the Moulin de Ducey (Best Western)that's right on the river.
Day 1 : Coffeed on "main street" right in the middle of the town market. Drove to the Caen Memorial (excellent! we were there for close to 4 hours and good have easily stayed longer), Arromanche(for the view of the beach and the 360 movie-- also very good) and then a small British/Canadian Cemetary right outside Bayeux. There's a short inscription from the families on each grave -- very touching, especially at the end of a very moving day. Dinner at a simple brasserie in Bayeux. So glad we ordered the mussels in cream our first night -- that way we knew to get them again and again. We ordered and shared at least one plate every evening !
Day 2 : Cape Frehel in the morning. Nice leisurely walk around the lighthouse and over the steep cliffs above the water. Beautiful carpets of heather. From there to Dinan to wander down (and then up) through the narrow streets. Dinner in Cancale at Le Sucouf restaurant right on the marina. Good food and good service.
Day 3 : Mont St Michel. Horrible traffic jam and then even worse people jam crammed into the tiny street that leads up to the abbey. Escaped up an alley to a slightly less crowded side street. Hard to enjoy under those conditions ! Cooled off some in the little bit of water at the bottom before heading over to Villedieu les Poeles. Another pretty medieval town -- this one famous for copper and it's bell foundry. Did the bell tour (interesting) and walked through the streets and in and out of shops. Dinner back in Ducey at Selune reataurant. Also good.
Day 3 : Back to Bayeux to see the tapestry we'd missed cause they were already closed our first time through. Worth going back for! From there to Honfleur and the Satie museum. Fun! Dinner at Le Chat que Peche in "downtown" Honfleur. Our least good meal of the trip. On to our next hotel, Le Petit Castel, in Beuzeville, not far from Honfleur. Almost half the price of the one in Ducey and just as nice.
Day 4: Traffic jam to get inside Etretat and to find a place to leave the car. Finally parked slightly outside town (5 minute walk). Went straight to the beach and climbed way up to see the view from above. Then relaxed in the sun on the rocky beach before checking out the town and the covered market. Drove to Le Havre. Got there just in time for our first downpour. Spent a few hours in the BeuxArts /Malreaux musuem. In addition to their permanent collection of Impressionists they had a wonderful exhibit on photographs of water. Suited the storm outside! Dinner back at Beuzeville at the hotel's excellent restaurant.
Day 5: Day in Rouen. Cathedrals and the old town. The Joan of Arc church is just beautiful. Drove over to Deauville and wandered through the town. Continued on to Trouville for our last dinner (mussels included).
Ride back to Paris was less than 2 hours.
Two tips : Breakfast wasn't included in the price of the rooms. In Ducey it was 10 euro apiece; in Beuzeville 6.50. MUCH wiser to order the coffee and croissant at the nearby bar/cafe -- cost us around 12 euro for all of us: coffee or hot chocolate and a croissant apiece.
Get a 6 pack of water for the car. Each morning buy a fresh baguette, tomatoes and cheese and/or pates and/or some sort of sausage for lunch. Saves both time and money and we found really nice places to stop and picnic.
