Normandy

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
A Liberation ball in Carentan by the dancers of the “Flying cool cats” troupe.

© Thierry Houyel/Normandy Tourism

Overview

From the Norman invasion of England in 1066 to the D-Day landings of 1944, Normandy has long played an outsized role in European history. This rich and often brutal past is brought vividly to life by the spectacular and iconic island monastery of Mont St-Michel; the incomparable Bayeux Tapestry, world-famous for its cartoon scenes of 11th-century life; and the transfixing cemeteries and memorials along the D-Day beaches, places of solemn pilgrimage.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Le Mont Saint-Michel tidal island in beautiful twilight at dusk, Normandy, France 679580596

    Abbaye du Mont St-Michel

    Mont St-Michel

    Mont St-Michel's one main street, the Grande Rue, leads up the slope – past souvenir shops, eateries and a forest of elbows – to the star attraction of a…

  • CAEN, FRANCE - OCTOBER 22, 2016: The Memorial de Caen is a museum and war memorial in Caen, Normandy, France commemorating the Second World War and the Battle for Caen.; Shutterstock ID 511924579; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: BiT Normandy POIs

    Le Mémorial – Un Musée pour la Paix

    Caen

    For a very insightful and vivid account of the entire war, with special focus on the Battle of Normandy, Le Mémorial is unparalleled – it's one of Europe…

  • GIVERNY, FRANCE -3 JULY 2016- The house of French impressionist painter Claude Monet in Giverny is now a museum. It includes a beautiful garden with a nymphea waterlily pond and Japanese bridge.; Shutterstock ID 649707625; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet POI

    Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet

    Giverny

    Monet’s home for the last 43 years of his life is now a delightful house-museum. His pastel-pink house and Water Lily studio stand on the periphery of the…

  • Falaise d’Aval, the famous white cliffs at Etretat in Normandy.

    Falaise d’Aval

    Étretat

    It's impossible to miss this cliff, as the shingle beach bends around off to the southwest, with its natural arch and solitary needle. You will spy…

  • The Erik Satie house in Honfleur, France.

    Les Maisons Satie

    Honfleur

    This unusual and intriguing complex captures the whimsical spirit of the eccentric avant-garde composer Erik Satie (1866–1925), who lived and worked in…

  • The inner wall and keep of Château-Gaillard medieval fortified castle, built in Normandy by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century, seen from the barbican.

    Château Gaillard

    Normandy

    Under Richard the Lionheart's command, Château Gaillard was built with unbelievable dispatch between 1196 and 1198, securing the western border of English…

  • Museum of Modern Art Andre Malraux in Le Havre, France.

    Musée Malraux

    Le Havre

    Near the waterfront, this luminous and tranquil space houses a fabulous collection of vivid impressionist works – the finest in France outside Paris – by…

  • The Great Hall with famous bathyscaphes in the maritime museum La Cite de La Mer in Cherbourg, France.

    Cité de la Mer

    Normandy

    Cherbourg’s art-deco Gare Maritime Transatlantique (Transatlantic Ferry Terminal), built from 1928 to 1933, was designed so travellers could walk from…

View more attractions

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Home to a rich history, vast sandy beaches and the iconic Mont St-Michel, there are many fantastic experiences to have in Normandy.

Read article

Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Normandy

Filter by interest:

Take in some of Brittany's majestic coastline at Pointe du Pen-Hir on Crozon's peninsula or indulge in the picturesque Mont Sainte Michel in Normandy.

Beaches

Brittany vs Normandy: which region in the west of France wins?

May 21, 2025 • 7 min read

Read more articles

Build a memorable collection

Get to the heart of Normandy with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Go Beyond

Normandy and beyond

Beyond Normandy