Need Help With Paris-Normandy Trip
Nov 14th, 2006, 03:57 AM
#22
If you are driving to Mont St Michael then try to visit St Mere Eglise. It is the village from "the longest day" I think John Wayne defended it for 36 hours or so.
No seriously it was the glider landing point in the invasion and the museum is a must.
Just so you Know St Malo is a fake as the German's burnt it down at the end of the war. Still it looks good
Finally look out for the "route de fromage" and try to buy some seriously smelly camembert
No seriously it was the glider landing point in the invasion and the museum is a must.
Just so you Know St Malo is a fake as the German's burnt it down at the end of the war. Still it looks good
Finally look out for the "route de fromage" and try to buy some seriously smelly camembert
Nov 14th, 2006, 05:25 AM
#23
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Bob has enough to contend with in managing time for his target destinations without adding to the itinerary!
There is not a lot to see in St Mere Eglise, although the model paratrooper hanging from the church spire is a curiosity and, of course, the town has the usual war museum (just about every Norman town has one, and the one in St Mere Eglise is better than many others). The real longest day village is St Marie Le Mont, not far away.
Coming back to Bob's questions, I would say that the Mont St. Michel is a must. It's one of the most special places I know. I don't believ that it is necessary to stay overnight. Sure, the village is busy all day, but so what? The Abbey itself is not always overcrowded. With some imagination you can filter out the crowds in your mind's eye. Yes it is manageable en passant on the way to St. Malo. Allow three hours.
Yes, St. Malo was destroyed during the war, but I would not describe it as fake. It has been rebuilt. To me, and to many French people, it is a symbol of recovery. Perhaps you should opt to do much of your programme out of Bayeux, but make an overnight stop at or near St. Malo on the way back to Paris.
Honfleur is pretty, well worth seeing, but does not require too much time.
Don't miss the cathedral at Bayeux (It's hard to miss!)
There is not a lot to see in St Mere Eglise, although the model paratrooper hanging from the church spire is a curiosity and, of course, the town has the usual war museum (just about every Norman town has one, and the one in St Mere Eglise is better than many others). The real longest day village is St Marie Le Mont, not far away.
Coming back to Bob's questions, I would say that the Mont St. Michel is a must. It's one of the most special places I know. I don't believ that it is necessary to stay overnight. Sure, the village is busy all day, but so what? The Abbey itself is not always overcrowded. With some imagination you can filter out the crowds in your mind's eye. Yes it is manageable en passant on the way to St. Malo. Allow three hours.
Yes, St. Malo was destroyed during the war, but I would not describe it as fake. It has been rebuilt. To me, and to many French people, it is a symbol of recovery. Perhaps you should opt to do much of your programme out of Bayeux, but make an overnight stop at or near St. Malo on the way back to Paris.
Honfleur is pretty, well worth seeing, but does not require too much time.
Don't miss the cathedral at Bayeux (It's hard to miss!)
Nov 14th, 2006, 06:20 AM
#24
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As Padraig, neither would I call St. Malo a "fake". It was faithfully reconstructed to its pre-war state after its near-total destruction during the war. A Disneyland castle is a fake. St. Malo is real.
I would also disagree with bilboburgler on the cause of its destruction. Rather than being "burned down by the Germans" for two weeks it was bombarded by allied forces from the land and air before the 83 US Infantry Division finally brought about the surrender of the German garrison. Incidently, U.S. sponsors contributed to the town's reconstruction.
I would also disagree with bilboburgler on the cause of its destruction. Rather than being "burned down by the Germans" for two weeks it was bombarded by allied forces from the land and air before the 83 US Infantry Division finally brought about the surrender of the German garrison. Incidently, U.S. sponsors contributed to the town's reconstruction.
Nov 14th, 2006, 08:38 AM
#25
Hey I live and learn. Though the bombard bit was not supported by the local french I talked to 20 years ago. What ever
Yes Compared to Disney it is not a fake and I do like St Malo after spending many weeks there as a kid. It is just a bit .... consistant in the centre.. like a a paris banlieu dumped inside city walls.
But for anyone visiting great fun.
Yes Compared to Disney it is not a fake and I do like St Malo after spending many weeks there as a kid. It is just a bit .... consistant in the centre.. like a a paris banlieu dumped inside city walls.
But for anyone visiting great fun.
Nov 14th, 2006, 03:26 PM
#26
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Ah yes, filtering out the crowds. You know, I can do this; my DH can't.
Just at Sunset at ??? point at the Grand Canyon a busload of camera toting tourists appeared. I told my husband "stand by the rock wall; pretend they're not here". He couldn't do it!!
Just at Sunset at ??? point at the Grand Canyon a busload of camera toting tourists appeared. I told my husband "stand by the rock wall; pretend they're not here". He couldn't do it!!
Nov 16th, 2006, 01:01 PM
#27
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swagman and all
The hotel we stayed at in Andelys was La Chaine D'or, in Les Petite Andelys.
Lovely hotel, right on the Seine river, about 90 minutes from Paris. We stayed there our first night, and our last night
The hotel we stayed at in Andelys was La Chaine D'or, in Les Petite Andelys.
Lovely hotel, right on the Seine river, about 90 minutes from Paris. We stayed there our first night, and our last night
