Where to sleep in Normandy - nights
 

I will be in Normandy for 5 nights in October 2012. First, 2 nights in London, then Eurostar train to Paris, catch the train to Caen, pickup rental, drive to Bayeaux. I am thinking 2-3 nights in Bayeaux (WWI sights a must). Then I am looking for suggestions from there. I was thinking 2 nights in Honfleur, then I need someplace to drop the car off to train back to Paris for 3 nights. Maybe, drive to Rouen, spend 1 night and drop car there? I want to see the WWIi sights, and am interested in a Ciderie tour, but other than that, just want to soak up the Normandy countryside/coastal vibe. Any ideas on intinerary/pacing for this region for 5 nights? I think we're going to leave Mont St. Michel and Brittany for another trip.

If you are there in October you might be in time for the Cider Afestival in Beuvron sur Oise. We had a grat time there doing tasting and enjoying the various parades and food stalls. I have picture somewhere . We stayed in the countryside and did the various Normandy places from then < Moulin de Vey

Sorry that shoulkd be Beuvron -en-Auge!

I have been researching the Cider and Calvados estates where you can tour. Beuvron sur Oise and the cidre trail look enticing.

Oh, I did it too... Beuvron en Auge!

If you're going to be in Beuvron-en-Auge you'll be in a region of Normandy known as the Pays d'Auge and you can indeed follow the cidre and cheese trail there. It's also really pretty countryside and there are some charming villages you can visit there, even if just to drive through to smell the flowers. Here's a website you'll find useful to discover that region:

http://www.madeinpaysdauge.com/en/

Beuvron-en-Auge is a considered the highlight "cute" village of the Pays d'Auge and if you go there you'll notice some designated scenic roads in that area that have some nice countryside. Pont l'Evêque is a nice town and so isn't the tiny village of Blangy-le-Château nearby. If you are here and have time further east is Cormeilles, which is also nice. Below are some links to the tourist websites for the places I mentioned and other places in that region.

http://www.blangy-pontleveque.com/

http://www.pontleveque.com/web/index.php

http://www.office-tourisme-cormeilles.com/

http://www.office-tourisme-cambremer...s-de-france-53

Here's a cidre place that might interest you:

http://www.chateau-breuil.com/index2.asp?id_langue=15

And a cheese place:

http://www.graindorge.fr/

There's also the cheese museum in the village of Camembert:

http://paysducamembert.unblog.fr/cat...de-vimoutiers/

And a few kilometers south of that is the last farm in Normandy where Camembert is still made by hand using traditional methods. Get there first thing in the morning and you'll see Monsieur Durand pouring the cheese into moulds (through a window):

http://www.normandiealaferme.com/nor...-durand-135078

A few kilometers south of Lisieux is a place I love. The Domaine Saint-Hippolyte is a 16th century manor/estate converted into a cidre and cheese farm. Bring some bread and fruit and buy all your other picnic supplies in the shop and have a great picnic lunch on the grounds:

http://www.madeinpaysdauge.com/en/f-...hippolyte.html

http://www.lisieux-tourisme.com/Doma...te,3,0,94.html

And here's a link to a photo album I made exploring that region and you'll see Monsieur Durand, Camembert, Saint-Hippolyte and the beautiful countryside there:

http://tinyurl.com/7xhz6v5

If you go to Rouen from Honfleur you can drive the Abbey Route--a string of medieval Abbeys just north of Rouen.
And then if you are in Rouen, you could even continue on down toward Paris and go to Giverney.
Just one night in Honfleur might be sufficient--it is cute and picturesque and good food, but we found it enough and moved on to other things.

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We spent a week in Normandy a couple years ago and loved it. Stayed at the Manoir de Quesnay, a lovely old farmhouse whose owner, Jacques, spoke excellent English and who was a huge help to us, even taking me to the train station to sort out a ticket problem. We visited a bunch of WWII sights - don't miss Utah Beach and Pointe du Hoc, plus a day in Rouen, the Bayeux tapestry, etc. Plenty to see and fantastic food everywhere, as you would expect. Had just an afternoon in Honfleur on the way back from Rouen, but it was charming and an overnight there is not a bad idea. But everything was within reasonable driving distance so the Manoir worked out great for location and atmosphere.

Upon leaving Normandy we did continue on to Mont St Michel, it was not a difficult or particularly long drive, and were rewarded with stunning views of it as we approached the causeway (although the rock itself was quite crowded - I think it is the second most visited place in France). Spectacular despite the tourists (which included us, of course).

Then we dropped the rental car in Rennes and took the train to Paris from there - a piece of gateau, as it were. One of my favorite trips with something for everybody to enjoy. Tried the Calvsdos and it was a bit harsh for me, but useful for recipes at least!

Thank you all for your responses. FrenchMystiqueTours, I would like to explore the Pays d'Auge area, as I am a cheese and cider lover. Thank you for the links.

I'm still just unsure how to pace the trip as far as where to sleep at night. I don't want to move around two much, but don't want to backtrack needlessly.

Maybe 2 nights in Bayeaux, 1 night in the Pays d'Auge, 1 night Honfleur, 1 night Rouen? That's planning the trip from west to east. I suppose I could do it in reverse as well. Argh.

I'd like to do as you did ClarkB, and drop the rental someplace easy...I definitely don't want to drive into Paris.

After you train to Caen and get your car head to Bayeux to overnight. Depending on what time you get to Bayeux maybe you'll have time to visit the Tapestry Museum or drive to some D-Day sites. Do a D-Day tour the next day and stay in Bayeux again the 2nd night. Next morning see the Tapestry Museum if you didn't the day before, explore more D-Day sites on your own or head to Caen for the Museum/Memorial. Another option is to visit Deauville/Trouville. Your destination for your 3rd overnight should be Honfleur. If you get to Honfleur early you'll have time to do your exploration there for a few hours. Next day do the Pays d'Auge and head back to Honfleur for your 4th overnight.

For your last day head in the direction of Rouen and there are several things you could do in this area. Make Rouen your last overnight but if you can save your visit of Rouen for after you drop your car the next morning that will give you a full day of exploration on the day before you drop the car.

You might want to do some more cheese/cidre stuff this day or south of Rouen you might visit the little medieval village of Le Petit Andely and the imposing Château Gaillard perched on a hill above the town (Richard the Lionheart's Fortress ruin).

http://www.ville-andelys.fr/Tourisme_cms182.aspx

http://office-tourisme.ville-andelys...ue_cms274.aspx

http://lesandelys.com/chateau-gaillard/

Monet's House and Gardens in Giverny are an option:

http://www.fondation-monet.fr/fr/
http://giverny.org/giverny/giverny.htm
http://www.vernon-visite.org/rgb4/who_we_are.htm

There's some real pretty countryside near Giverny to explore and if you read the trip report I wrote about exploring that area you'll see lots of photos of that area and descriptions of the villages/châteaux/sites that I saw:

http://tinyurl.com/362xrle

Just re-read your last comment and instead of staying a 2nd night in Honfleur you could indeed spend it in a nice quiet place in the country in the Pays d'Auge. Might be a nice relaxing break from the other places that will have lots of tourists.

Alos south of Liseaux and a little ways south of Domaine St-Hippolyte is the cute, checkerboarded chateau of St.-Germain-de-Livet: http://www.informationfrance.com/tow...rmain-de-livet

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Thank you all for your help! I have a lot of links to peruse now, and then I'll report back!

I am trying to put the finishing touches on this trip, and am still seeking advice on where to stay.

We have decided on 3 nights in Bayeux at the new Hotel Villa Lara. This will give us plenty of time to do all of the D-Day sites and the Catherdral and Tapestry museum without rushing.

THEN I have two more nights before dropping off the car and heading to Paris. My main goal is to the drive the Cidre route and stop by some producers. This will be in late October, so should be cidre making time.

Should I spend the two nights in Beuvron en Auge (looking at Le Pave d'Hotes), or should we overnight in Honfleur and do the cidre trail as a day trip from there? Or should we spend one night in each place? I know Beuvron en Auge is very small, but it might be quiet as opposed to the other areas. I think we'll skip Rouen on this trip. Not sure what the weather will be like, of course, but if its cold and rainy, maybe the inland option would appeal?

I just can't decide, so any help is appreciated!

Haven't been to Beuvron en Auge but I loved my two nights in Honfleur!

Sorry that you will be missing Rouen... another town that I very much enjoyed. But, then again... I am a Joan of Arc fan! LOL!!!

Loved Honfleur - stayed at a great B&B - see maitaitom's thread for details -

http://www.coursaintecatherine.com/GB_maison.htm

surfmom, that's the B&B I want to stay at if we go to Honfleur. Maybe we should do 1 night in Beuvron en Auge, and 1 night in Honfleur.