Heavens

We are thinking about going here for a night or two to tour Normandy and the area, Dday sites. Any hotel you recommend? Restaurants? Other sites to see along the way? Thanks all.

kagoo

Well, we haven't been there yet (going in April), but you might want to look into the Hotel d'Argouges, which gets high marks on this site and elsewhere. That's why we chose it! Good luck.

dutyfree

We stayed at the Hotel D'Argouges and thought it was a wonderful hotel.The staff were great and the room was nice. We used it as our base to tour Normandy after driving over from Honfleur. The town of Bayeaux was great and the prices were alot cheaper than in Paris. We spent two days there and then went on to stay at Mont St. Michel for a night and then on to Britanny. Be sure to include a half day at least at the Caen Museum before you start the Normandy sites as it will provide alot of information and is a very fascinating museum for all ages.

grandmere

Another vote for Hotel d'Argouges. They recommended Le Petit Bistro for dinner, and it was a little place with good food; chef and his wife are owners, I believe. It's within walking distance of the hotel; reservations recommended.

There's not a lot to recommend for spending time in Caen, IMO, but the Memorial is there (very worthwhile), and also many folks take train from Paris, rent car easily there, across street from train station. However, we hit upon a wonderful, tiny bistro in Caen called Bouchon de Vaugueux--excellent! We did see it mentioned in a guidebook later. It's also family run, frequented by locals, and reservations are recommended. We waited for 45 min. outside (w/o reserv).

Heavens

WOW, thanks so much. I will look into that hotel.

If you have a moment, can you tell me what it is you especially liked about the area of Normandy? The history, obviously. Is the countryside beautiful? The food wonderful? Any other places we should check out?

We will arrive on a Sunday to Bayeux. Should we rent a car? We wanted to spend Monday (May 1st) doing one of the Battlebus tours. And then hop back on the train Tuesday to get back to Paris.

Thanks again, Fodorites...

Underhill

Our last night in Bayeux found us in a mood for Italian food, and so we settled in at La Fiorintino. I had a fansastic pizza bolognaise, something entirely new--excellent pizza dough covered with a sauce bolognaise. Only in France!

My husband had ordered the Coquilles St-Jacques à la Provençale. His plate arrived bearing a dozen plump sea scallops topped with escargots sitting on a vegetable roux; they surrounded a mound of tiny sautéed potatoes. He thought the presentation resembled the standing stones near Carnac, in Brittany and gobbled up every last morsel.

sheila

It'sa few years now, but we loved Le Petit Normand.

loisco

La Coline d'Enzo...was the best meal we had in Bayeux. Our hotel sent us there.

2 & 4 rue des bouchers

grandmere

Sheila's post made me question my last post; perhaps the restaurant was Le Petit Normand, or is there also one called Le Petit Bistro? It was very small, with both a front room, store-front style, and a back room. It was not far from the place that houses the Tapestry.

StCirq

We loved the Château de la Bellefontaine, but the Argouges gets great reviews here, too.

Le Petit Bistro is better than Le Petit Normand, but both are very good. Just watch out for some of the touristy restaurants on the main pedestrian drag through town - had one of the worst meals ever in France at one of those places.

Janeyre

I have just booked us at d'Argouges for three nights in June. Based on a tip from this website, I asked for and spoke with Cindy. She speaks English very well, and we were able to take care of details in a matter of minutes. She also has been quick to respond to some follow-up emails.

dutyfree

I think that the restaurant that we ate at one night in Bayeux was Le Petit Normand (that might have been in Rick Steve's book?).The food was decent and the atmosphere was the storefront type.Their are some tourbus type restaurants on the main drag that you should avoid-overpriced and tourist meal mentality. I would also suggest going to see the tapestry in Bayeux as it was quite interesting.we had a rental car which we liked as we could do everything on our own schedule.My favorites were: the Caen Museum,the American Cemetery(took my breath away and haunting) and the various beaches just looking out and imagining what had happened in years past. I would strongly suggest you rent the video "The Longest Day" before you go to get some historical background to draw upon for your visit.

Heavens

Thanks for all of the info.

I am understanding that Caen is a big city...is it difficult to find the Caen museum?

ANd, if you please, how do you pronounce Bayeux?

Janeyre, how did you contact them? Phone, email? Thanks for all of the info.

StCirq

We drove from Bayeux to Caen in about a half-hour and found the museum with no trouble at all using our Atlas Routier de France. It's not far outside the big pedestrian center of the city, and there were good signs.

Bayeux = Bye-euh - not sure how to transliterate that "euh" sound - do you know how to pronounce "de" in French? It rhymes with that...

Heavens

Is de like "dew"?

grandmere

No, it is not "dew". The nearest I can think of is the "oo" in "foot".

Janeyre

Heavens: I did both. I emailed first (attention: Cindy). After emailing back and forth a bit, I phoned when I was ready to book. It was nice to talk over the reservation with Cindy. I have since emailed to extend our stay by one night (no problem) and ask about a public laundrymat (yes, nearby).

SuQue

We recommend the Hotel Lion d'Or for lodging and wonderful dining in Bayeux.
It is an historical property. friendly helpful owners, location in center of town.

annw

We stayed at d'Argouges as well and had a lovely time.

I would go back to Bayeux JUST to eat at Lion D'or, truly a couple of the most memorable meals ever there.

They have lodging as well which I can't speak to, since we stayed at d'Argouges.

Heavens

Thanks. I will ask about the Lion D'or. I wonder if they will be open on a Sunday or Monday night. That is a bit of our dilemma is whether the place will be open Sunday night.

annw, do you remember what you ordered there that was so good? Is there seafood there or your basic French fare? Thanks.