12 Towns You Can’t Miss in Normandy

A selection of some of the must-see destinations to explore on your next trip to Normandy…

1. Avranches

Come here for the view of Mont Saint-Michel and visit the Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs, huge for the size of the hilltop town. It is the final stop for pilgrims en route to Mont Saint-Michel. The Scriptorial is unmissable, too.

2. Granville

Spot the smart villas, which hosted wealthy families in the Belle Epoque. Granville remains a popular seaside resort thanks to its vast beaches. Don’t miss the Musée Christian Dior.

3. Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue

On the northeast coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, this fishing port is where to catch the boat to I’lle Tatihou. While in town, shop at the iconic Maison Gosselin.

4. Bayeux

With its cream-stone architecture, Bayeux oozes elegance. Check out the Gothic splendour of Bayeux Cathedral, visit the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire and don’t miss the famous tapestry at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux.

5. Beuvron-en-Auge

A Plus Beau Village within the Pays d’Auge and also a good entry point for the Route du Cidre, this charming village of half-timbered buildings is full of cafés and restaurants and interesting shops.

6. Touques

This Petite Cité de Caractère is not one of Normandy’s better-known towns, overshadowed by neighbours Trouville and Deauville. It has a delightful main street and a lively artistic community.

7. Honfleur

Honfleur’s famous Vieux Bassin, with Quai Sainte-Catherine, draws crowds all year round. For the best experience, visit in shoulder season when it’s pleasantly bustling but quieter than in the peak summer months.

8. Étretat

Etretat is famous for its chalk cliffs, including the ‘smiling elephant. dipping his trunk into the sea’ (a cliff arch). Walk the cliff paths for views of the Côte d’Albâtre but beware the steep parking fees.

9. Les Petites-Dalles

This tiny village is tucked into a steep-sided valley filled with beech trees. Villas look over the Côte d’Albâtre, while its chalk cliffs were the subject of Monet’s paintings. Pissarro, Delacroix, and Morisot also painted here.

10. Saint-Valery-en-Caux

Within the Pays de Caux, this pretty port town has plenty of cafés to enjoy a drink overlooking the marina. Keep an eye out for the impressive 16th-century. Maison Henri IV, which houses a museum about the town.

11. Rouen

There’s plenty of history to see in Rouen, from the place where Joan of Arc was bumed at the stake, to the Gros-Horloge, the cathedral (painted repeatedly by Monet) and La Maison Sublime, the oldest jewish monument in France.

12. Caen

Celebrating 1,000 years in 2025, Caen, the capital of Calvados, has a packed cultural programme of events throughout the year. Look out for fun exhibitions, and many other festivities to celebrate the city’s millennium.