Normandy – History and Best Things to do in Normandy

Normandy-French region in the north of France

Normandy (Normandy in French) is a French region in the north of France, bordered by the English Channel (La Manche) and facing the United Kingdom. Normandy offers visitors beautiful beaches, beautiful harbors and beautiful seaside resorts. The city of Normandy is also fun to visit, with castles, castles, beautiful villages and the beautiful holiday resorts of Swiss Normandy.

Normandy is also the country of Impressionism, a movement that originated from Monet’s “impression” of the sunrise at Le Havre. The history of Normandy will appeal to history buffs, exploring the D-Day Landing site, the old streets and cathedrals of Rouen, and Mont Saint-Michel, the Wonder of the Western World.

Normandy was also the land of King Richard the Lionheart, William the Conqueror or Joan of Arc. Normandy is divided into five departments: Calvados (14), Eure (27), Manche (50), Orne (61) and Seine-Maritime (76). The capital cities of Normandy are Le Havre, Caen and Rouen. There are so many things to do in Normandy that you shouldn’t miss this beautiful region when visiting France!

History of Normandy

The Seine and Eure valleys have been inhabited since Paleolithic times. Julius Caesar defeated the Celts in 56 BCE, and the region eventually became Gallia Lugdunensis Secunda under Roman rule. It was inhabited by Christians in the third and fourth centuries AD and came under the Merovingian Frankish rule at the end of the fifth century, becoming part of the Frankish kingdom of Neustria.

The Vikings, or Northmen, repeatedly raided the coast of Normandy from the 8th century onwards and, as the Carolingian Empire grew stronger, the Vikings moved into the countryside during the recession. their hearts. Finally, the King of France Charles III the Simple gave the territory around Rouen and the mouth of the Seine to Rollo, the leader of a large group of Vikings, in the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte .

The Scandinavian Rollo people immigrated in large numbers to rule the country, and adopted the French language, culture and religion. These Vikings became known as the Normans and the region they settled in became known as Normandy.

Rollo’s Christianized successor Duchy of Normandy gained neighboring territories in several wars, becoming so powerful that their control over their domains was almost independent of the French crown. William, Duke of Normandy and Rollo’s successor, invaded England in 1066, and became William I of England (William the Conqueror) and thus united the kingdoms of England and Normandy in himself.

With William’s death in 1087, Normandy’s alliance with England was severed, with his sons scrambling for a successor. Their fraternal feud ended in 1106, when one son, Henry I, King of England, defeated his brother, Robert, Duke of Normandy, at the Battle of Tinchebrai, after which Normandy temporarily represented England.

However, in 1144, Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, conquered Normandy. In 1150 he handed over the duchy to his son Henry, who later became King of England as Henry II in 1154.

In this way, Normandy became part of the so-called Angevin Empire (of Anjou), which was a series of distant territories ruled by Henry II and the kings of England. But Normandy thus became the main objective for the Capetian kings of France in their fight against the Angevin Plantagenets of England. The military and political efforts of the Capetian kings of France Louis VII and Philip II Augustus to gain control of the region from the English Angevin rulers led to Philip’s victory and complete annexation of Normandy in 1204.

However, it was not until the Treaty of Paris (1259) that the English crown under Henry III annexed Normandy, thereby recognizing the loss of the duchy to France. The English conquered Normandy in the early 15th century during the Hundred Years’ War, but the French retook it, gaining permanent control in 1450 when they won the Battle of Formigny.

Best Things to do In Normandy

Rouen

Walking through the old town of Rouen, visitors will appreciate the historical nature of the cobbled streets with half-timbered houses. Gothic churches can be found in every era, and many of them are gems of ancient architecture. Claude Monet depicted the city’s beautiful Notre-Dame cathedral in a series of paintings that show intricate details of the cathedral’s facade at different times of the day.

Another monument of Rouen is the Gros-Horloge clock tower in the center of the city. One of Rouen’s main attractions is the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which ranks as one of the most outstanding art museums in France. The collection includes fine European paintings, as well as famous Impressionist works.

Rouen is also well known as the place where Joan of Arc was tried. Tourists can see the tower where this courageous girl stood before her judges and where she was burned at the stake. He later became a saint, and now there is a contemporary church (the Church of Joan of Arc) dedicated to his invincible spirit, at the site where he was killed.

Caen Memorial Museum

In Lower Normandy near the English Channel, Caen played a critical role during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Caen is an excellent starting point for visits to the beach and the Normandy landings memorial.

Three-quarters of the city was destroyed during the Allied invasion in June and July 1944 (although its historic church survived almost entirely). Created in honor of the suffering of Caen during the war, the Memorial de Caen tells the story of the Second World War, the Landings and the Battle of Normandy.

Beneath the Caen Memorial Museum is the site of General Richter’s headquarters, which was the official headquarters during the German occupation. The Caen Monument is also the Center for History and Peace in Normandy, which seeks to raise public awareness and promote the idea of ​​peace. The center hosts events such as temporary art exhibitions and human rights competitions.

Deauville

Since the 19th century, Deauville has been a seaside resort in Normandy. This beautiful resort is still considered one of the best on the French coast.

The beach includes two kilometers of sandy beach and a promenade (promenade) for walking along the beach. Lifeguards work every day during the high season (July and August). Set on a beautiful beach, amenities abound, including an umbrella stand, lounges, and cabanas with vintage signs.

Vacationers can take a break from swimming at the beach to browse the beautiful boutiques, enjoy the spa, or dine at one of the many gourmet restaurants. Other things to do include sailing, golfing and participating in equestrian competitions.

Deauville lives up to its reputation as a popular seaside resort with its many events, including the International Polo Championship, held on Deauville’s nine-hectare modern racetrack, and the Deauville American Film Festival.

Mont Saint Michel

The peak of medieval tourism, Mont Saint-Michel is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abbey of Saint-Michel and the water of Saint-Michel are protected by this appeal. Rising more than 100 meters above sea level, Saint-Michel Abbey has a legendary character.

The majestic Gothic spiers seem to reach into the sky as the site invites pilgrims to cross the majestic river of Saint-Michel. At low tide, it is possible to do a “traditional crossing” (hiking) to reach Mont Saint-Michel. Approved guides are available for accompanying pilgrims across the bay. During heavy rains, Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island accessible only by road.