Best route from Paris to Normandy
 

Like to head out to Normandy next week from Paris. If the three cities we would like to include are:
Honfleur
Bayeaux (just to see one beach & cemetary)
Rouen

Would it be best to head to Rouen via Train (TGV??), rent a car there, then tour Rouen, Honfluer, Bayeaux, then return to Paris via train from somewhere in Normandy?

I think we would like to stay maybe 2-3 nites, all suggestions welcome, as I am NOT familiar with Normandy.

Begin by taking the autoroute to Rouen, unless you have time to take the route nationale and do a bit of sightseeing on the way. Good stop: Les Andelys. Have lunch in Petit Andelys at La Chaîne d'Or, right on the bank of the Seine.

After visiting Rouen, just follow the major roads to Honfleur and Bayeux. Then take the train back to Paris from Caen.

Underhill,
TRhanks, sounds l;ike a plan, except the section Paris-Rouen. I'd rather not drive out of Paris, is there a train, or how long of a drive is it??
Thank you

Is the drive out of Paris pretty hectic, or would it be best to take a train to Rouen and start from there??

If picking up a car in Rouen, do it after visiting the city.

Is it best to rent a car in Paris, th
Thanksen go to Rouen, or take a train to Rouen??

If following the route Rouen-Honfluer-Bayeau, would it be best to stop overnite in Honfleur, or go on to Bayeau for the night??

We did a trip to Mt-Saint-Michel in somewhat similar fashion. Train to Rouen, stayed overnight in the city (in the quite charming Hôtel de la Cathédrale), spent that afternoon and evening wandering around Rouen. In the morning I took a taxi to the Budget car rental (it was across the river and would have been a hefty walk) to pick up the car and come back for my family.

We then drove to Mt-Saint Michel (via Arromanches, the American cemetery and Pont-du-Hoc), stayed the night there, and the next day drove back to Paris--or actually to Paris Disneyland.

Worked out quite well, and if we were headed back to central Paris I definitely would have taken the option of turning in the car in Normandy and taking the train back.

Many people hve told me that they used Bayeux as a base. Now I am thinking that maybe it would be best to go to Bayeux, and from there the Hotel (Churchill) has a shuttle to Mt St Michelle for the day, and maybe we can drive to Honfleur for half a day or so?

Would that make sense, or first visit Rouen and Honfleur by car, then stay in Bayeux??

As ytou can see I am a bit confused what to do- I am trying to get some R&R here in Paris, but problems at work are not helping.

If you think you might have an opportunity to return in the future, I'd skip the day trip to M-S-M and come back when you can stay overnight. We really enjoyed being there after the tour busses left in the afternoon, and before they arrived in the morning. And there's plenty to see between the D-Day sights, Bayeaux, Rouen, etc.

If you do go to MSM, I would plan to get there early and leave early as well. If the shuttle is an all day thing, more than a couple hours is too much time there in the summer crowds. I think a car is a better idea in that case. Do not take the train from Bayeaux as there are very limited buses and trains out of MSM. We felt trapped there once we arrived.

I actually broke a cardinal rule and hitchhiked out of there with my teen-aged daughter because the crowds were too much and the next bus wasn't for hours.

Bayeaux is a charming little town, with a tacky touristy section as well, and a wonderful cathedral and do not miss the famous tapestry as well as the movie about it.

gruezi

Bayeux (note spelling) is indeed a charming town; spend a few hours there if time allows. Just seeing the famous emroidery will take a good hour, depending on whether there are lines. Get the audio-guides.

Ask the Churchill Hotel how long you would actually be at Mont St-Michel. The drive there should take about 2 hours each way, so it's possible you would only be at the Mont for a few hours. Just getting up to the abbey precincts can take an hour because of the crowds (going up the ramparts walk is quicker than through the village, which is like walking through rice pudding).

Once you're up at the abbey, be sure to see the not just the church but also the beautiful cloisters and adjacent buildings. Doing a little background reading will be a real help. The views from the cloisters are amazing.

By the time you do all that and have lunch it will be a full day.

Bayeux is another town I can never spell - total mental block. And once there, no one seems to pronounce it the same way twice either.

Thanks underhill....

gruezi

Visit Rouen and Honfleur on the way to Bayeux. Rouen in the morning then lunch at Honfleur, visit then on to Bayeux.
Rouen was where Joan of ARc was burnt. The French still hold it against us. The town has been masterfully renovated after the destruction of the war. The ground has been excavated to lay bare the 15th c cobbles before the stake.

Honfleur is a 16th century port that went to sleep when Le Havre was built.

At Bayeux you shouldn't miss the tapestry which is 950 years old and 200ft long. It's a unique piece of art.

It would be a shame to limit your visit of the beaches to one and a cemetery. There's so much to see along the 50 miles zone. Take a guide or audio guide to get the most out of your visit.

ttt

The distances you want to cover may appear to be small but leave plenty of time as it will take longer to drive than you think.

It can be very complicated to get in and out of Rouen by car so make sure you have a good map. I've done it many times and still seem to get lost!

You could possibly do Bayeux and Honfleur in one day but it's pushing it and doesn't leave you any time for stopping if you see anything of interest or detouring...

I would suggest a day for Bayeux and a day for Honfleur. Lot of nice places in Honfleur for lunch.

Lynneb,
Thanks. I was thinking of either driving to Rouen or taking the train from Paris, early in the morning, then see if it is feasible to see Rouen, Honfleur, then stay in some seaside town such as Vueles-Les-Roses overnite, then the next day see Bayeaux, D-D sites, then overnite in Bayeaux, then maybe Mt St Michelle as a day trip from Bayeaux, or on the way back, or drive to Caen, and train back to Paris.

Any suggestions? Thank you

Vueles-Les-Roses is the other way from the river Seine to Bayeux and caen.

You'd be better off driving up to Rouen then going on to Honfleur then Bayeux to be near the beaches for your visit. You need a day to visit them so travelling in the morning would waste precious time.

If you took the train to Rouen you would then need a car. Sorting out the rental at Rouen would loose any time gained in taking the train.

cpmac
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