I've got a total of 8 days for Normandy & Brittany. We (husband and I) will be driving from Brugges and dropping the car in Paris at the end (much cheaper rates to drop the car in Paris instead of a smaller city). I've been tinkering with the itinerary for a while, and have a day I'm not sure where to put. Here we go:

Day 1- Drive from Brugges to Rouen. Stay in Rouen.
Day 2- Drive the rRoute Des Abbeyes. See Jumieges. Stay in Honfleur.
Day 3- Coastal drive (Trouville, Deaville) stay in Honfleur.
Day 4- Drive through some of Pays D"Auge. Stop in Caen for the WWII museum. Stay in Bayeux.
Day 5- Drive the WWII beaches. Arrive Mont St. Michel at the end of the day. Stay overnight on the mount.
Day 6- Up early for the tour of the abbey. Leave to drive coastal area surrounding Cancale, St. Malo, Dinard. Stay in Dinan.
Day 7- Drive coastal area around Cap Frehel. Stay in Dinan.

Day 8- Stop in Fougeres. Stay ???????

I would like to find a place between Dinan and Paris that would make a logical stop. We have been to Chartres, so don't want to stop there. Or, should I add the day somewhere in Normandy or Brittany? If so, where?

I know that some might suggest addtional time at the WWII historic spots and an additional night in Bayeux. We are not interested in total immersion in the history, and I think we'll have enough exposure from the museum and visits to the beaches. Although I'd like to spend the extra day in Bayeux, I don't quite see that there's that much we'll want to explore in that area and we both want to arrive late in the day and spend the night on Mont St-Michel. Any suggestions here? I don't want to feel like we're exploring a region just to make sure that we arrive at MSM late in the day.

We will have already spend 4 days in Amsterdam and 2 days in Brugges, then end with 4 days in Paris. So the "whistle-stop" tour of Normandy/Brittany will be fine for us.

Thanks Jean and Stu for your itineraries. They are both helpful to read, though I wish I had more time for Brittany. Next time!
Paule

You've put together an excellent itinerary. For that last night you might consider staying in the small town of Neauphle-le-Château; the Domaine du Verbois is a particularly nice small hotel, beautifully decorated to match its 19-th century origins. It's set in a small park. The following day you could drop your car at Orly, which isn't far.

Alternatively you might stay in Chartres, although there's not a whole lot to choose from in the way of lodgings. Another option would be St-Germain-en-Laye, which is a pleasant town to explore.

Here is a drive for day 3 starting from Honfleur and looping back around.
On the day we took it we stopped for lunch in Deauville.

Leave town on the D580, following the signs to the A13 and the Pont de Normandie. Continue past the bridge, turning left on to the D312 along the Siene estuary and through the village of Berville-sur-Mer.

Keep on the D312 and then left in Toutainville on the N175 to Pont-Audener. Then return on the N175, past Toutainville and then Beuzeville to Pont-l-Eveque.

The next destination is Lisieux, but do not take the D579. Wait and turn left onto the D48, opposite the police station. This is a pretty counry lane following the River Touque.

Head west out of Lisieux on the N13 [direction Caen]. After passing the Chateau de Crevecouer-en-Ague, keep your eyes peeled for Carrefour-St-Jean, and turn right on to the D16 and then left on the D49 to Beuvron-en-Auge. Get the camera ready, because this town is so picturesque it looks like a movie set.

Follow the D49 to the N175, turn left and then immediately right on the D400 to Dives-sur-Mer. From here it’s east along the coast on the D513 past Houlgate, Deauville and Trouville on the way back to Honfleur.

Before you reach town, there will be a sign and a right turn to the Manoir du Butin. We stopped to check it out, and enamored with the lovely dining room, we returned that evening for one of the best dinners of our trip.

Thank you for your suggestions. Ron, thanks for the driving tip. I'm planning on spending time driving through some of the countryside, and this looks interesting. Jean, I will look into your ideas; they sound interesting, and a good break before returning to Paris.
Paule

Great itinary but I think you have given Bayeux and the beaches a fast shuffle. The tapastries in Bayeux are enough for thew trip alone plus the cathedral and the town itself (the only undestroyed town in the battle area.)And so many WWII sites aside from the cemetary and a peek at the beaches.

>>The tapastries in Bayeux are enough for the trip alone <<

Isn't there only one tapistry??

Stu Dudley

Bigal,
I appreciate what your saying, but I'm concerned about arriving at Mont St-Michel in the middle of the day amidst the hordes. I'm happy to spend a long afternoon/early evening at the beaches just to arrive late at MSM.

Does anyone know anything about Alencon or the surrounding area? That looks like it might be a good place to stop between Dinan and Paris. I like Underhill's suggestions; however, they are close to Paris and I'd prefer to stop mid-way.
Paule

Avranches is a very nice town to stop and visit and have lunch, etc. It is near the Mont and would be on the way if you are driving from Bayeaux.

Bigal,

I have to confess that the embroidery at Bayeux didn't especially appeal to me, even after having read a good fictional book about how the tapestry was made. Maybe it's because viewing the embroidery requires a lot of standing in order to appreciate each little section, and that's hard on my back.

Have you considered maybe taking a couple of those days, renting a couple of bikes, and cycling around the countryside? No better way to see the country and meet people; you gain an intimacy that just isn't available from an automobile and still retain a measure of mobility. There are plenty of resources available on the 'net to help plan such a thing.

Hi Paule,
We took the train from Brugge (after 3 days in Amsterdam) last summer to Paris and picked up a car. We stayed in Honfleur, lunched in Trouville, saw the museum in Caen, and then Bayeux--WWII sites, tapestry, then went to MSM late in the day, stayed at Auberge St. Pierre, left by 10 or 11 the next morning, drove to Brittany, ending up in Dinan for the evening. You will love this itinerary! (We went to meet friends after this near Nantes, so I can't recommend a stop on the way to Paris.)

We must have similar tastes, b/c I remember we had similar itineraries 2 summers ago! Have you almost finished school?

Jeffrey, Funny you should recommend a bike tour. I actually did a bike trip around Brittany with a boyfriend, but that was -- ahem -- 25 years ago. I agree that it is a great way to see the countryside, and will consider it for a day. It's a good suggestion, and will consider it.

Wren, it's great to hear from you, too! Actually, I planned this trip last year sometime,after reading your planning posts! I thought it was a great itinerary, and hit a number of areas that interested me a lot. I was interested in seeing how you solved the getting-from-Brugge-to-Normandy problem, and think that your solution (train to Paris and then rent a car) makes a lot of sense. Is there a car rental near the train station? And, I graduate this spring (I'll be a young-looking 50+ MSW, if I must say so), so this is a graduation gift for myself! Can't wait! I plan on dealing with all my reservations before I have to go into the tunnel of classes. By the way, how's your husband doing?

Thanks, all, for the good suggestions.
Paule

We had to meet our daughter at CDG, so we took a train from Brugge to Brussels-Midi and then to CDG. That was really not a big deal at all, but you really do not need to go to the airport. I bet there would be a car rental place at Gare du Nord, which, I think is where the other train comes in. Because of his broken elbow, we lost our day at Giverny, Les Andelys, and our time in Honfleur was cut short. Another trip! His arm is still a bit of a mess, as he doesn't have the strength or range of motion he once had. The physical therapist thinks this might be as good as it gets...thanks for asking!
From one 50+ to another, you are giving yourself a great graduation gift!!!

Thanks, Wren, it is a good graduation gift! Not that I need any excuses, mind you...I'm sorry to hear that your husband's arm is still having problems. I give him a lot of credit, he really was a trooper on that trip.

So for the rest of you...I think I've got my plan worked out. Instead of picking up the car in Brugges, I will pick it up in Lille, which is a short hop on the train. The advantage will mean that we can drop the car in a French city with no dropoff fee. Actually, the cost of the tickets from Brugges to Lille is about equal to the drop off fee to get the car to Paris.

I am still considering the train from Brugges to Rouen, but that is 1) expensive and 2) inconvenient. Once you arrive in Paris, you have to change train stations to get the train from Paris to Rouen.

So balancing things out, my current plan is to pick up the car in Lille and drop it off in Rennes, staying there the last night. I'm still tinkering with it (and will continue to tinker), but I like this one so far. Any thoughts?

Paule

Tell your husband not to give up on regaining full range of motion. I broke my right shoulder almost a year ago and am still doing exercises, and things keep improving in tiny increments.

That's encouraging, Jean...I will tell him!

Paule...you have the makings of a wonderful trip!

Paule - your itinerary looks terrific. I've a suggestion for day 8. If you are planning some time in Fougères, I'd skimp a bit to add Vitré, just to the south. If anything we liked it even more than Fougères. Vitré has a charming, "feel-good" center with well-preserved 15th and 16th century houses and an imposing fortified château. Just to its south is also the Château des Rochers Sévigne, one of the country homes of 17th century French society figure and commentator, Mme de Sévigné. Guided tours are available.

STUDUDLY.......The tapestry at Bayeux is no wider(from top to bottom) than a foot or so but extends snakewise around the rooms for quite a distance. No question they are many that are pieced. together. So plural or singular what's the difference?

I know I'm getting a little obsessive here, but I've decided to add a day to Bayeux after all. I figure it's not worth feeling rushed trying to see the tapestry and WWII sights.

Now for the fun stuff...I've begun to book my hotels and B&Bs! Wren, if you are reading this, you will definitely be laughing...I think I"m following your itinerary to a tee!
So far, I've booked the Maes B&B for Amsterdam, the Absoluut Verhulst for Brugges, the Gaglis for Honfleur. and Hotel Monge for Paris. I'm waiting to hear from the Logis des Remperts in Bayeux. I'm not worried about the other spots, I'll work on them gradually.

Does anyone have any recommendations for Rouen, Le Mont St-Michel, Dinan and Rennes? I'm looking to keep our budget down, and would prefer to stay in a B&B under 80 euros when possible in these places. A basic hotel in MSM would be fine.
It starts to feel real when the accommodations are booked!
Paule

Hi Paule! We loved Absoluut and Maes...of the places we stayed they were our favorites! Logis de Jerzual in Dinan was a nice place as well. I think you could get a room there for less than 80 euro. Our place at MSM was ok, nothing special really, just on the mont...over your budget. The magic was just staying right there and being there when the crowds left...I should add that they began bright and early the next morning! Others may be able to suggest something else that is less expensive or off the mont.