We are travelling to Paris in January and want to do one day trip away from Paris. We will be taking the train. It has basically been narrowed down to a cider place near Caen/Lisieux http://www.calvados-dupont.com/index.htm (because of personal connections) or a visit to Epernay or Reims for a tour/tasting. I am not particularly interested in either WW II stuff or St. Therese and I am not finding much information about what else there is to see if we go to Caen/Lisieux. In addition to drinking cider or champagne we are interested in exporing an interesting town.

Also, I am wondering about the train trip itself. Of the two trips, which countryside is more worth seeing?

Thanks!

Great screen name!
Tough choice between those trips. Both are great but different.

Champagne is nice because it's closer.

THe Normandy coast is gorgeous! I know you say you're not into the WWII stuff but every AMerican should go to see the Invasion beaches. The trip the the cemetary will move your soul!

We stayed in Bayeaux (Hotel Churchill in the center of town). The Bayeaux tapestry is very famous and worth seeing. The people are some the most friendly in France (they know they'd be speaking German if it weren't for the American - sorry my political commentary ends there !)

Reims/Epernay are also great. VERY easy to do winery tours, the Brie is the world's best, and the people are friendly.

ANyway, take your pick; both are great. If you need a suggestion for a reasonably priced hotel in Paris with a ***** star location let me know.

Brian

Thanks Brian! Actually, I'm not American (born in Scotland, raised in Australia, now living in the States!) and I think the beaches and cemetary sound worth a visit....I was referring to the WWII museum in Caen--is there more to see in the actual town of Caen?

Also, if travelling to Caen or Lisieux by train, how easy is it to then travel to the coast (which sounds wonderful)--doing this all as a day trip. Realistic?

Thanks!

There's plenty to see in Caen, even if the Mémorial doesn't interest you (for my money, it was one of the most amazing museums I've ever been to): despite the WWII destruction, much remains of William the Conqueror's and Queen Matilda's favorite city. The two great abbeys these monarchs built are still standing (Abbaye aux Hommes and Abbaye aux Dames), as well as their Château de Caen. There's also a Musée des Beaux Arts, a Musée de Normandie, and the beautiful romanesque Eglise St-Etienne. The rue de Vaugeux in the Vieux Quartier has some beautiful half-timbered dwellings.
There are bus tours to the beaches and cemeteries run out of the Mémorial, I believe. There's probably also public transportation, but I've always driven so I'm not familiar with it.

You can't lose with either destination, however for me, a day trip to Normandy would be MUCH too rushed. I would definitely go to Champagne for the day.

Thanks for your input. These lists are wonderful!

It sounds like Normandy might be best done with a car, and in more than one day!

What about just the landscape of each area--as far as what will be seen from the train windows--anything particularly spectacular?

Honfleur would be a good choice.

Definitely the Normandy!

I agree with cigalechanta, Honfleur is good place and there is no rush in january!

bye


Seb
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