Driving to Mont St Michel
 

After spending 6 days in Paris (and doing a day trip during that time to Versailles) we are driving to Mont St. Michel staying for one night and Bayeux for 2 nights to see the D Day sights. We have a full day to get to Pontorson from Paris so wondering what we should see on the way. After looking at a map I see we can go the southern route through Le Mans or the Northern route via Rouen and Caen...after a week in the big city we would like to experience some quaint towns with some beautiful sights--have heard good things about Chartres but will have already seen Notre Dame in Paris so not sure if this one is that much different...are there any small towns along the way or on the water that would warrant a few hours visit along the way. We will only have the one day to stop and visit sights as our return trip from Bayeux will be directly to the train station to head to Brussels. Any suggestions?? Thanks Fodorites :)

Honfleur is a nice stop for the night.

Try the <i>route des chaumières</i> (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7624436592493/ and subsequent pictures) to Honfleur. It's D65 in a loop of the Seine. Google "route des chaumières."

Get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy--suggested itineraries, and some route maps as well. Lots of good information, useful especially because Normandy is quite a large region.

I, personally, would not consider seeing the Notre Dame a substitute for the cathedral of Chartres; YMMV.

I second the recommendations for Honfleur and the Michelin Green Guide.

It seems really naive to me to say you don't want to see Chartres because you've seen Notre Dame de Paris, but maybe your comprehension or appreciation of history is different from mine. I agree with the recommendation to check out Honfleur (the wooden church, but it's just another historical moment so may not interest you) and the Michelin Green Guide.

As for the route, use the Guide Michelin and please dispel yourself of the notion of "quaint." It's pretty old-fashioned and for those of us who live here it's downright obnoxious.

I would try to make my way to Etretat.

What time of year is this trip? If it's in spring/summer/fall, Monet's home and garden at Giverny make a pleasant stop. Also allow time to see the Bayeux tapestry, a linear cartoon in embroidery about William's conquest of England.

<i>I would try to make my way to Etretat.</i>

That would be a long detour given tht it is north of the Seine and the final destination is south of the Seine.

Thank you all for your replies-- will look into Michelins..already plan to spend 2 nights in Bayeux--will look into Chartres, Honfleur and Etretat...they all sound wonderful

StCirq....sorry for being obnoxious with my use of "quaint" but here in sunny southern California we don't see small villages with thatched roofs and town squares so would like to be immersed in some of that...

I would not stop on the way to Mont Saint Michel, but I would continue on the Saint Malo the next day -- it is quite close.

the = to

California we don't see small villages with thatched roofs and town squares so would like to be immersed in some of that...>

Few in that part of France either. Just get a 1:200000 Michelin map and take D roads (departmental or regional roads that are often well paved and little trafficked and you'll pass thru zillions of old French villages -most however not fulfilling your dreamy wish.

Chartres is astounding but also not very far along the road to Mt Saint-Michel.

<i>-most however not fulfilling your dreamy wish.</i>

But the route des chaumières will (D65 in that département)

Chartres is worth it for Malcolm Miller alone!

Does St. Cirq LIVE IN FRANCE???

Does St. Cirq LIVE IN FRANCE???>

Yes indeed - in Dordogne, full of cute small villages.

Chartres is worth it for Malcolm Miller alone!>

Yes but worth it for a lot more than that - yes Notre Dame has some similarities as all Gothic cathedrals do as Chartres was the template for them but Chartres to me is a much nicer experience - far fewer suffocating crowds so you can better appreciate the inside and windows, etc.

And yes Malcolm Miller tours are a classic though tours are not guaranteed if enough folks don't show up.

As Michael notes, the route des chaumières, aka the thatched cottage road, might be of interest.
http://www.pnr-seine-normande.com/up...aumieresgb.pdf

Went to Notre Dame last summer and thank goodness there was a large choir singing for part of our time there. Once they were done, people kept talking and loudly. Totally disrespectful and hard to get a sense of the place.

Chartres was really very moving for me. I went years ago though and off season--it could be overwhelmed with tourists like everywhere else.

By the way,if you went to Rouen, you could see where Joan of Arc died. The cathedral is the one Monet painted about a dozen times to catch the different effects of light on a place.