Thanks for the advice on my earlier question as to where to visit from Dusseldorf--my husband has chosen France as he has never been there and I've only been once. Cheap flights are available to CDG.

Paris is an obvious destination, but we would also like to go to a smaller town accessible by train in either Normandy and/or the Loire Valley for a couple of days each. (Previous trips we saw London and Cotswolds, Florence and Cinque Terre--that sort of combo) We'd like a place that would be pleasant in the evening and be accessible to some sights during the day. We love to walk, architecture, history, local cuture.

I was looking at Normandy for a D-Day tour. Is Bayeux a good choice? Any other towns worth a stop along that rail line besides Caen and its museum? Lisieux? Walks or other diversions to consider in that direction? Doesn't seem practical to combine with Giverny or Versailles.

I'm considering Loire Valley for a couple of chateau via van. What else? Tours seems too large. Amboise? Other town? Stops along the way?

I'm not considering the Champagne region because I went there on my previous trip to France. We also will visiting folks in the wine region of Germany yet again, so are looking for something different.

Bayeux is a very good choice for proximity to the D-Day sites and it does have the tapestry. It's a pleasant town but as far as I'm concerned for architecture, art, restaurants and charm, it doesn't hold a candle to Honfleur.

You do have to transfer from train to bus at Deauville/Trouville for the last 25 minutes of the trip to Honfleur, a small price to pay for over the top charm.

Bayeux is a good choice. We have twice taken the train from Paris to Caen and rented a car. There are a number of car rental offices across the street from the train station. Before leaving Caen follow the signs to the Memorial Peace Museum and visit this excellent museum. Then make the relatively easy (once you get used to the traffic circles) drive to Bayeux. There are a number of pleasant hotels in Bayeux, old timbered buildings, lots of shops, small restaurants and the cathedral is lovely. It is easy to reach many D-Day sites from Bayeux. See the 360 degree film in Arromanches then walk along the beach to view what is left of the Mulberry harbor. The main British cemetery in Bayeux and American cemetery at Colville are a must but there are many smaller cemeteries dotting the area that are worth a stop.
You can take the train to Bayeux and there are van tours that should be easy to locate.
In the Loire, Azay-le-Rideau is a lovely town, very walkable. The Hotel Val de Loire is a dependable choice. The chateau is lovely. Not sure about rail access, we took the TGV to Tours and rented a car.

Can someone tell me where in the Normandy area the best festivities will be happening for D-Day? We will be in France for a month and I have promised my WWII-obsessed 12 year old son that I will have him in the area to experience 6 June in the thick of things.