Train to Normandy
 

My wife and I are planning a trip to the Normandy - ROUEN - Bayeux area this September. we would like to take trains from CDG to the area, and then rent a car in the area, do our tour, leave the car there and train back to CDG for departure 8 days later. Any and all suggestions would be welcomed.

You'll have to go into Paris for trains to Bayeux area or Rouen - a hassle as you have to change stations if training in from CDG. I'd strongly suggest you rent car at CDG as the drive to Rouen is not difficult and not all that far. Could stop by Monet's Giverney enroute to Rouen. No direct trains from CDG.

We rented a car at CDG after flying from California, then drove about an hour to the lovely little village of Petit Andelys. There you'll find La Châine d'Or, a very pleasant hotel/restaurant right on the banks of the Seine--fine views from some rooms and from the dining room. It's a nice introduction to Normandy.

Hello:
Last May we took the train from Paris to Normandy - Caen to be precise.

We picked up our car at the Caen train station (from the trainmaster on a Sunday - which I didn't know you could do, but thanks to a Fodorite, I found out this was possible.)

We then based ourselves in Balleroy, just outside of Bayeaux at a WONDERFUL B&B (run by American expats) - L'Atre Fleuri. I HIGHLY recommend this place, especially if you have a car. It was the nicest (and cheapest) place we stayed on our last trip to Europe - beautiful antiques, incredible linens and fantastic hosts.

Their website (which doesn't do the place justice) is (kind of a funny name):

www.nighty-night.net

If you want to read about our travels in Normandy, please look at our journal at:

www.davidandcarol.com

Normandy is part of our 2005 trip.

Happy travels,
Carol

All - good stuff so far! thank god for fodorites. Loved Giverny last time we were there (2002) The CDG to Caen sound sgreat was it direct? or did we have to switch in Paris?
I hope the driving from CDG is not too daunting - Is there a ring road highway around the outskirts or do we have to drive into City. Thanks again. Tkeats

Trains to Normandy out of Paris-Saint Lazare station.

We were in Normandy 2 weeks ago. We took the train from Gare St. Lazarre in Paris to Caen. We then rented a car. All of the rental agencies are across the street from the train station. The train takes about 2 hrs.

A tip on finding the track for the train: Trains for Caen leave on the far right of the train station. The track number wasn't listed on the big board. As soon as we walked to the far right, there was another board posting the track number.

This was a helpful tip to us from another Fodorite.

katie2 and all
Thank you for input. Katie, was the car rental more expensive in Caen? Who did you rent from? Just curious. Tkeats

Rent the car at CDG and take off. You are on the "right" side of Paris. It is easy. You can drop it in Caen and train back to paris--or do a bit of driving, maybe to Chartres and then Orly.

We rented from Auto Europe. My husband did all of the research on the car rental. We stayed in Paris before we went to Normandy.

You may print your train tickets on line.

I'll ask him to give you the information tomorrow as he has to look it up.

clehrman - the B&B L'Atre Fleuri looks wonderful. Did you have dinner there? How long a drive into Bayeux? Just curious about what else was closeby for dining or what else to do in the evening. We are planning a trip for next May. I had thought we would stay 2 or 3 nights in Bayeux, but this B&B looks great!

Hi blh:
The drive into Bayeux was about 10-15 minutes - very easy.

As far as eating at the B&B, no we didn't do that so I can't tell you what it is like.

There is (at least when we were there) a Michelin-starred restaurant in Balleroy where we would have loved to have dinner but they were closed the nights we were there. Margaret, the owner of the B&B knows the name.

As far as at night - Balleroy is a small town and by the time we got back to the B&B - after full days of driving sightseeing - we were too tired to do anything but have a glass of wine and maybe chat with some of the other guests. I don't know that there's really any nightlife in Ballery and it didn't seem like there was much in Bayeux.

At night, we'd sleep with the windows open and listen to the frogs - it was incredible. (By the way, we were in the
Yellow Rose Suite which is wonderful.)

But, this is such a relaxing spot - and the weather was fabulous when we were there, rain, then beautiful blue skies and sun - it didn't matter that there was no night life. And my husband and I are definate people watchers but we didn't feel deprived!

I hope that answers your questions - this is a special spot.

Enjoy your trip!
Carol

May of '05 we did exactly as Underhill did, above; rented at CDG and drove to Le Petit Andelys and stayed at charming Chaine d'Or.

On the return from Normandy we dropped car off in Caen across the street from the train station and took the train into Paris.

Prior to doing research for our trip, I assumed one could take the train from CDG to Normandy, also, but no can do.

In case you've gotten confused from the various postings, I'll put it plainly - you cannot get from CDG to Normandy direct on a train. So drive. Pick up a rental car at CDG and drive to Bayeux or wherever you've decided you're going to stay. It's easy, even after an overnight flight, unless you suffer terribly from jetlag...and even then it's an adventure.

Thanks, clerhman, for the information. It looks like such a wonderful place to stay. We are not really interested in "nightlife", but more concerned with eating dinner, etc. But it sounds like it stays light so late that time of year that it wouldn't be a problem driving to the B&B after dinner in Bayeux.

all you fodorites are great, thanks for all the info re: trains to Normandy. We will file a trip report when we return in Septembe to let you all know how it turns out.
tkeats