My wife and I have rented a house in the SW of France for two weeks. But before returning home, we have decided to spend 4 extra days in Normandy, a section of France we have not been to. Our current thinking is to train from Sarlat to Bordeaux to Paris and then into Normandy. We are torn between going to Rouen or Caen and doing a day trip from there into the country side after exploring the city. We plan on 4 days including travel, ending up in Paris for our return flight.

Any suggestions?

Is either city we have selected better than the other for exploring and experiencing life in Normandy? Or would you suggest another?

We have not been to Omaha Beach or any of the Normandy historic beaches, and the urge to see them is not paramount. I would rather visit Mont St Michel.

It is going to be late September, will room reservations be necessary, or will we be able to arrive in the city and find a room?

Thank you for you insights,

Scott

<<We have not been to Omaha Beach or any of the Normandy historic beaches, and the urge to see them is not paramount.>>

Well that sounds kind of shirty.

MSM is about 80 minutes from Caen by car. You should consider a car in that area.

Bayeux to many is the perfect base for both M-S-Michel and the Normandy D-Day beaches - it is only a few miles from Caen but is much more romantic since it was about the only sitting in the Cotentin Peninsula not decimated during WW2 and exudes an old-world look nearly completely lacking in Caen.

Rouen suffered damage as well but not nearly so much and is a pleasant if larger town than Bayeux but much farther from Moun Saint-Michel but if you want to see honfleur, Trouville and Deavcille - nice seaside towns then Rouen would be as good as Caen or maybe even closed.

Are you renting a car? If so why go to Paris - why not take the TGV say to Tours and then take a train or drive from there to Bayeux/Caen - Caen has lots of car rentals, Bayeux just a few if any.

For train info check out www.voyages-sncf.com for discounted but train-specific tickets that are sold in limited numbers on TGV trains so must be booked in stone weeks in advance but can be much MUCH cheaper than full fare walk up tickets - other neat sites about French trains - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id8.html - for Paris-Saint-Lazare to Caen or Rouen it is pretty much a flat fare strcuture so you can just buy those tickets at any French train station or SNCF Boutique in town centers.

Bayeux has a famous sublime cathedral and the very famous Tapestry of Queen Matildha (sp?) woven shortly after the Norman Invasion of England in 1066 and this Norman conquering of England when they defeated Saxon King Harold in a battle at Battle - a major site not to be missed.

https://www.google.com/search?q=quee...=1449&bih=1003

Bayeux would be better for me--and when we did it. I had not had a specific desire to see the beaches, but I will tell you it WAS a life changing experience for me. It is hard to describe--and harder to know how that invasion succeeded from the heights of those cliffs and beaches.
The Tapestry is a not to be missed, and the Cathedral just fascinating. The coast is also fun for dining enroute to other DDay sites, sitting on a terrace on the water eating mussels!!
The Normandy area is a fun tour--cheese and cows and calvados!!
We stayed a night in Rouen, and the museum there has a very lovely Impressionist wing. There is a road north from Rouen, the Abbey Road, which is a string of medieval churches in various amounts of ruin. VERY interesting also.
I actually find Normandy proper more interesting than MSM.

If driving from Paris to Normandy be sure to stop by Les Jumieges - an ancient abbey in a bucolic setting - not far from Rouen!

Don't take a train from Sarlat to Bordeaux to Paris and then Normandy. Take the train from Brive to Paris, then to Normandy and save yourself money and time.

I have been to the Normandy area twice, although my memory for specific hotels is not good. BUT we did stay in Bayeau both times. The town is absolutely beautiful. On one trip, we hired a guide who stayed with us an entire day. I wish I could remember his name but there are many who do this for a business in the area. For us, it was the best money spent. He took us to all the key areas and then some. He actually was British so he was able to give us the American and British stories. As for visiting the Beaches of Normandy, we went to most of them and I can tell you...touching moments. For us, it was very important as my children's grandfather was a Purple Heart veteran and was part of the D-Day invasions.

We did have a rental car for the area. Have a great trip!