Territory of Normandy. Regions of France: Normandy

to be in Rouen international Airport. From Rouen to Le Havre, the journey takes about an hour, the fare is about 15 euros.
From Paris, high-speed trains depart every hour to Rouen, Deauville, Le Havre. Travel time will take approximately 1-1.5 hours. The fare is from 20 euros.
The ferry can be reached from English city Portsmouth to Deauville.
Also, you can rent a car.

Climate

The climate of the region is temperate continental. Summer is warm and dry average temperature air is +25°С - +28°С. Winter is cold and damp, the average temperature drops to +3°С - +5°С. The water temperature in the resorts in the summer months is only +18°C. Heavy rains fall in January, March and October. Farther from the coast, the climate is drier.
by the most best months for visiting Normandy are July and August.

Kitchen

Normandy is a paradise for seafood lovers. The extended coast completely provides the region with them. Mussels, lobsters, oysters, shellfish - are a huge variety of dishes.

The peculiarity of the preparation of fish and meat dishes is the abundant addition of butter and cream.
Fruits are used not only in desserts, but also as a side dish for any meat dish.

Most popular dishes:
- fish soup with onions;
- sea tongue with truffles;
- stewed lobsters "Mademoiselle de Cherbourg";
- shrimp with apple wine;
- baked oysters;
- Mother Pulyar's omelet;
- duck with apples.

Attractions

Upper Normandy

Château Gaillard Castle is the first attraction that meets on the way of tourists who travel by car from Paris.
This former fortress with towers, underground labyrinths, and fortified walls was built in the 12th century. It was built in order to close the road between Paris and Rouen. But later the warrior, the castle was destroyed. Now, only ruins remain in its place, but even they make a strong impression on all visitors. Driving a little down the river, you can see the bell towers of the famous Rouen Cathedral.

Most of the monuments of the city are dedicated to Joan of Arc (cathedral, church, street, square, house, museum). So the city seems to want to smooth out its guilt, for the fact that in 1431 on main square The old market burned a warrior woman Joan of Arc.

The city has well-preserved monuments from the Middle Ages: old quarters, wooden half-timbered houses, the Old Market Square.

The Old Market Square (Place du Vieux Marche) is located in historical center cities. It has a stone cross with a memorial plaque. Also, on the square there is a church and a museum in honor of the national heroine. In addition, you can visit the tower where the last interrogation of the Virgin of Orleans was carried out.

Rouen Cathedral Notre Dame is one of the important monuments of the whole country. It is made in the Gothic style. It took the artist Claude Monet almost two years to capture the cathedral on his canvas. Now, the cathedral is the residence of the Norman archbishop.

Between the Old Market Square and the Rouen Cathedral is the street of the Big Clock. It has a tower with an astronomical clock. This medieval clock is the oldest clock in all of Europe.

Ships to America have been sailing from this port city for more than a hundred years.
During World War II, the city was almost completely destroyed. But still, in Le Havre it is worth visiting the Malraux Museum, the Saint-Joseph Church, city ​​hall, Japanese garden, stroll along the promenade, taste delicious cider at the bar.

In the central part of the region is the city of Caen, which is very similar to. Because of the same strict architectural similarity, they are often referred to as twins. The main monuments of the city: the male abbey, the church of Saint-Etienne, the Koupsart estate.

In addition to beautiful scenery and rich history, Normandy is also popular for its health resorts.
Along the English Channel there are many small resorts where you can visit the balneological thalassotherapy resorts. The resorts of the region are often called the Norman Riviera.

Deauville - luxury resort, which was built in 1859 for the Parisian nobility. Since that time, nothing has changed. The resort remains a place of rest for movie and pop stars. Most often people come here to relax on weekends. Close quarters to Paris is very conducive to this. Basically, the resort is treated with baths from sea ​​water, mud and algae. The peak season is in August.
More Deauville resort can be called the gaming capital of Normandy. Here a large number of casino. Horse races are often held at the city hippodrome.Also, a wave lover will be interested in visiting windsurfing centers.

In Deauville, you can walk along the Le Planche promenade, which offers amazing views of the sea coast.

Every year the city hosts cultural and sporting events:
- parade vintage cars(May);
- international equestrian competitions, polo, auctions (June-October);
- jazz festival (July);
- yacht racing (August);
- American Film Festival (August);
- rally (October);
- bridge championship (October).
The prices at the resort are very high, but compared to the rest on Cote d'Azur, in Deauville it will be much cheaper.

Trouville is a seaside resort, twin of Deauville.
Thalassotherapy centers, several casinos, hippodromes, windsurfing centers, golf courses, gourmet restaurants, good hotels There will always be something to do at the resort.
It is also worth visiting the fish market, where you can see a huge number of sea inhabitants, including marine reptiles.
As in Deauville, Trouville also hosts various festivals and parades (jazz, cinema, automobile, horse).
The beaches of the resort are sandy, wide (this mainly depends on the tide) and well equipped (sunbeds, umbrellas, rental of gaming equipment, attractions, volleyball courts, first-aid posts, rescue towers, cafes).
Accommodation in hotels compared to neighboring resort, it's much cheaper here.
A huge number of shops and cafes are concentrated on the waterfront.

Honfleur is located 10 km from Deauville. It's very picturesque seaport. Embankment, Church of St. Catherine (the largest wooden church in Europe), harbor, half-timbered wooden houses in the Old Town, the Gothic church of St. Stefan Museum of the History of the City - here are some reasons to visit this wonderful city.
Also, in Honfleur every year in July they hold international festival author's cinema.

Lower Normandy

The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is located on an island rock. Already for a long time two regions of Normandy and Brittany are arguing over who owns this island.
The abbey was founded in 708, after Saint Michael appeared in a dream to Bishop Ober. The archangel ordered him to build a monastery on a rock surrounded by water. For many centuries the island has been a place of pilgrimage. In the Middle Ages, this was the sacred obligation of every believer. The island has a very inhospitable climate: frequent rains and storms, strong gusts of wind, cold and dampness. Many pilgrims died in the stormy waters of the sea.
Now, most tourists visit the island only during the warm months, in winter it is empty.
Ancient fortifications, towers, long stairs leading to the sea, a knight's hall, galleries, a monastery courtyard - all this is open to the public.

French region Normandy is a historical region located in the north-west of France, consisting of two regions - Upper and Lower Normandy.

The area is known for its farms, apple orchards and dairy industry, especially cheeses: Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Evêque. The total population is approximately 3.2 million.

The main cities of the region are: Caen, Cherbourg , Evreux, Rouen, Le Havre And Dieppe. For the French, the region of Normandy (Normandie), above all, is associated with the sea, picturesque rural landscapes and centuries of history.

This territory of the northwestern part of France in the 10th century was conquered by the warlike Vikings - the Normans - who had previously captured East Anglia in the 9th century, and subsequently even reached North America. So the province of Normandy, which received its current name from the conquerors, became an integral part of the Anglo-Norman power.

For a long period of time, this territory was the main irritant in relations between England and France. And only at the end of the Hundred Years War in the XV century, Normandy finally became a French province.

The French region of Normandie has several major ports: through city ​​of Rouen, a thriving port on the Seine, has a shipping route to Paris, and Dieppe, Le Havre and Cherbourg are of great transatlantic importance. In addition, agriculture is quite well developed in the province, since the region is located in a very favorable for cattle breeding. climate zone. Also, many tourists will be interested in visiting one of the colorful local restaurants, for example, in such an area as Ozh.

Along the perimeter of the entire coast around Trouville and Deauville, where the last French monarch in the second half 19th century created the "Norman Riviera", the spirit of pretentiousness is clearly felt. However, the oldest harbors, such as Honfleur or Barfleur, remain intact to this day. As for the local seaside villages, they are not crowded, and they completely lack urban pretense.

History of Normandy

Around 27 BC, the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus undertook a massive reorganization of the Gallic lands, adding Caletes and Veliocasses to the province of Lugdunian Gaul, centered on the city of Lugdunum (today's Lyon). The Latinization of Normandy was achieved through methods that were simple for the Roman Empire: the construction of Roman roads and an active urbanization policy.

The French region of Normandy (Normandie) was part of the Frankish empire of Charlemagne, which in the 10th century was transferred to the Normans (Vikings). Thus, Normandy as a duchy was formed by the Viking leader Rollon (Robert of Normandy). The name "Normandy" reflects the origin of Rollon from the Vikings, that is, the Normans.

One of Rollon's descendants, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, became monarch of England in 1066 during the Norman Conquests after the decisive Battle of Hastings. After the conquest of England, the Normans invaded modern Wales and Ireland. A lot of time has passed since then, but Normandy to this day remains the subject of disputes and wrangling between England and France.

In 1204, during the reign of the English king John the Landless mainland Normandy was conquered from the British by French troops, commanded personally by the monarch of France, Philip II, while the island part (Channel Islands) remained under the control of imperial England. In 1259, King Henry III of England officially recognized the legitimacy of France's possession of Normandy in accordance with the Treaty of Paris to cease hostilities.

However, his successors made repeated attempts to regain control of continental Normandy. French Normandy was occupied during the Hundred Years' War in 1346-1360 and in 1415-1450, and on June 6, 1944, American, British and Canadian troops began landing in Normandy, which marked the opening of the Second Front, as part of the Second World War.

Sights and cuisine of Normandy

In addition to the picturesque nature, Normandy is also famous for its luxurious centuries-old architectural heritage. In the provincial capital of Rouen, overflowing with masterpieces of Gothic architecture, quarters have survived to this day. medieval era .

Every year millions of tourists come here to see the most beautiful architectural monument in Europe, the Abbey of Saint-Michel, built on a rocky island. The monasteries of Zhyumezha and Kan are also very popular; cathedrals Bayeux and Coutances, and, of course, the castle of Richard the Lionheart in Les Andelys, on the Seine.

IN Bayeux Cathedral there is an amazingly beautiful tapestry telling about the deeds of William the Conqueror. Moreover, it is worth noting Monet's gardens at Giverny and the world famous collection of Dufy, Boudin and other Impressionists in Le Havre. Traveling long distances inland, one should pay attention to the luxurious mansions lined along the country roads, created half of wood, half of brick.

Most military graves and memorial monuments in Normandy remind of the Allied Landing Day, which began the rapid liberation of the countries of Western Europe from the fascist invaders. This page of the history of the French province of Normandy is also reflected in some local military museums.

As for gourmets, in Normandy they will be able to fully enjoy the variety of local cheeses (for example camembert) and also try Norman brandy calvados, apple cider, and, of course, to appreciate the unsurpassed seafood dishes.

Cuisine of Normandy quite diverse and based primarily on the riches of local nature, but the main emphasis is on dairy products. Separately, it should be noted that in last years a serious blow was dealt to the developed dairy industry of Normandy. Dairy production quotas imposed by the European Union and stricter sanitary standards have led to the closure of several large dairy farms and small cheese factories.

Normandy is one of the most poetic corners of France with pastel-colored landscapes, centuries-old trees, idyllic villages and cliffs along the English Channel. Flaubert, Corneille, Proust painted his paintings here. What is interesting about Normandy? You will find sights, photos and a description of the region in this article.

viking land

Normandy is a modern region of the French Republic, as well as its historical region. It is the birthplace of Gustave Flaubert, Claude Monet, and other famous personalities.

The region is located in the north of the country, it is crossed by one of largest rivers France - Seine. From the northwest it is washed by the English Channel, on land it is adjacent to Brittany, Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France.

The first known peoples who settled on these lands were the Gauls. As often happened, they were captured by the Romans, and later by the Frankish state. In the 9th century, Charlemagne gave the territory to the Vikings or the Normans. The Viking leader Robert of Normandy turned the lands into his duchy. Thanks to him, the name "Normandy" was fixed for the region for a long time.

The sights of Normandy will appeal to many. This and seaside resorts Dieppe, Deauville, Fécamp with beautiful beaches, expensive restaurants and yachts, and modest villages and medieval cities Vernon, Louvier, Honfleur, Evreux. Only in Normandy they make real apple cider Calvados and mold cheeses Camembert, Pont-l'Eveque, Livaro.

Normandy, France: attractions

Now Normandy is an integral region with the capital in the city of Rouen. Historically, it is divided into two separate regions called Lower and Upper Normandy. The sights of Lower Normandy are very contrasting. The region includes the departments of Calvados, Orne and Manche. The main city is Caen - the abode of William the Conqueror, where his castle still stands.

The communes of Trouville and Deauville are popular for their luxurious beaches, festivals and fine dining in restaurants. Calvados is also famous for its beaches, although history buffs are more likely to come here. On the coast of the department in 1944 there was a battle for Normandy. The memory of this is kept by the memorial, the Battle Museum and military cemeteries.

The sights of Upper Normandy are no less interesting. The region includes the departments of Eure and Seine-Maritime. Administrative center Rouen is the city where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Now there is a church dedicated to her at this place, after the church recognized its

Upper Normandy is known for its exemplary Gothic and half-timbered architecture, numerous museums and theaters, its dairy products, as well as parks and gardens, of which there are more than 50. Impressionism was born on its green valleys and rocky shores from under the brush of Claude Monet. His house and grave is in the town of Zhiveni.

Mont Saint Michel

The sights of Normandy can be explored for months. Among the most breathtaking places can be called Mont Saint-Michel - an island of rocks, turned into a walled city. Above sea level, it rises almost 79 meters. The city was built back in 709 on a natural granite formation.

Mont Saint-Michel seems to emerge from the ground in the middle of a flat coastal landscape. During high tides, it is surrounded by water for 8-9 hours, which rises up to 15 meters in height. At low tides, it leaves the cliff for 20 kilometers. Such natural protection served as a reliable ally of the ascetic city.

In early Christian times, hermits came here to devote their lives to prayer. Because of their numerous remains, the mountain was called Mogilnaya. Later, a monastery was built on the hillside of the cliff, which then became an abbey. Once it was completely burned down, then restored and turned into a political prison.

Now the abbey belongs to the Benedictines and is used for its intended purpose. And the scriptwriters of The Lord of the Rings even copied from him the image for the fortress of Minas Tirith.

Château de Beaumenil

The sights of Normandy are also represented by palace and park complexes. The Château de Beaumenil, located in the Eure department, is notable for its architecture and the adjacent park. It belongs to Upper Normandy and was built during the era of the King from 1633 to 1640.

Combining the features of the Renaissance and the then popular Florentine style, Beaumenil is in no way inferior to Versailles in beauty. It is built of pink brick, lavishly decorated with gables. various forms and mascarons, the plots for which are taken from the Italian comedy.

The castle is surrounded by a pond with fountains, symmetrical flower beds and sculptures. The complex also has a park with a boxwood labyrinth and a small garden, which can be accessed through stone arch entwined with greenery.

With this article, I begin a cycle of notes about the countries of the world, their traditions, customs and sights. The country I would like to start with is France. Why? In my opinion, this country is full of mysteries. As said Henri de Bornier: "Every man has two homelands - his own and France."

It makes no sense to tell anything about Paris, because, firstly, a lot has already been said about it, and, secondly, one can talk about it endlessly and even "... having lived in it for three years - completely do not understand it" (Kurt Tucholsky).

Therefore, I will start my story with one of the regions of France - Normandy .

We will make with you virtual journey through Normandy and its towns and sights. We will visit the place of pilgrimage for the Impressionists, look at the castle of Chateau Gaillard from the famous novel by Maurice Druon "The Prisoner of Chateau Gaillard", walk around Rouen, remember Joan of Arc and her treasury, walk through the ruins of the Jumiège Abbey. Then we will go to the coast and walk around the town of Etretat, passing over the bridge of Normandy, we will get to Honfleur and look at the "twenty-first district" of Paris. We will learn about the "cheese" road and the road of "cider" and "calvados" in Normandy. Then we will visit the town of Caen and see on the "Bayeux Carpet" tapestry, we will visit the American cemetery and finish our trip on the island-abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

The map shows: A - Giverny; B - Les Andely; C - Rouen; D - Jumiège; E - Etretat; F - Normandy bridge; G - Honfleur; H - Deauville; I - Camembert; J - Kan; K - Bayeux; L - Colleville-sur-Mer.

Normandy is a historical region in the northwest of France. Currently, it is divided into two regions - Upper Normandy and Lower Normandy. Main city - Rouen . Normandy is known for its farms, apple orchards and dairy industry, most notably cheeses such as Camembert, Livarot and Pont l'Evêque.

In the distant, distant past, Normandy was a special duchy, and later became one of the provinces of France. "Normandy" is the country of the Normans (terra Northmannorum), because it was on this territory at the end of the 9th century that the Norman tribe settled.

To really feel the beauty of Normandy, you should see the canvases Pissarro And Claude Monet .

Pissarro "Forest"

Pissarro "Orchard in bloom"

Pissarro "View from the Artist's Window in Eragni"

Monet "Poplars"

Monet "Waters"

Monet "Poppies"

It was Normandy that inspired their work.

Thanks to Monet, the whole world learned about a small village Giverny in Upper Normandy - Monet lived here from 1883 to 1926 and most of his paintings depict this particular place. Now crowds of tourists from all over the world flock here. We will follow their example.

Monet's house

Giverny is located 76 km northwest of Paris and 66 km southeast of Rouen, 7 km from Vernon. Here it is house of famous painter Claude Monet , there is also a garden with a pond, where Claude Monet painted his paintings. As a rule, no lover of Impressionism leaves France without visiting Giverny.

You can get to it by train Paris - Vernon (station Saint-Lazare (St Lazare), from 40 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Then by a special bus.

Giverny is also home to Museum of American Art , which presents a collection of works by American Impressionist painters. Address: 99, rue Claude Monet 27620 Giverny, France. When Monet's fame reached the USA, many artists began to come to Giverny to live and paint for a week, for a month. American collector D. Terra in 1992 opened the Museum of American Art in Giverny. It presents works from the collection of the collector, which has 600 works, the exposition changes every year.

From Giverny we will go to Rouen, visiting on the way to in Les Andelys and see the ruins there Chateau Gaillard castle built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196.

town of Les Andelys

In 1195, the British lost the Battle of Vendôme to Philip II Augustus and lost the important castle of Gisors under a peace treaty. In 1196, Richard the Lionheart began building a castle to protect the road to Rouen, opened after the loss of Gisors. In addition to the castle itself, a whole complex was built, including the fortifications of the town of Le Andely, several mottes in the district, a fort on an island in the middle of the Seine, a fortification on the other side of the river and a palisade of piles blocking the Seine.

In 1204, the castle was captured by the French after a 7-month siege. In the future, the castle was used by the French crown as a fortress and a prison for especially important criminals.

On July 18, 1314, the unfaithful wives of the sons of Philip IV - Margarita and Blanca - were imprisoned here. On August 15, 1315, Margaret of Burgundy was strangled by order of her husband, who by this time had become King Louis X of France.

During the Hundred Years War, his son-in-law Charles II of Navarre was kept here by order of John II of France.

At the end of the 16th century, after Henry of Navarre managed to take possession of it as a result of a siege, the future King Henry IV ordered the fortifications to be demolished and the ruins given over to a monastery. However, the destruction was not completed and was interrupted in 1611. A few years later, Cardinal Richelieu again orders the destruction of the castle.
In 1852 the ruins were included in the List of Historical Monuments of France.

Plan of the castle: 1. Donjon; 2.Inner courtyard; 3. Residential building; 4. Entrance to the courtyard; 5. Middle yard; 6. Chapel; 7. Gate; 8. Well; 9. Pigeon tower; 10. Drawbridge; 11. Outer courtyard; 12. Entrance to the castle; 13. Ditch; 14. Palisade across the Seine

The castle is located on a ledge of the slope of a limestone mountain above the Seine. The castle itself consists of three main parts - the outer, middle and inner courtyard, divided by moats.

So, Rouen ... is the capital of the Upper Normandy region. The city is located on the banks of the Seine. Rouen was supposedly founded by the Romans and was called Rotomagus in antiquity. In the 5th century AD, the city became the seat of a bishop, and under the Merovingians it received the status of the capital of Neustria. In the 9th century, Rouen was conquered by the Normans and has since become the capital of Normandy and the residence of the Dukes of Normandy.

Pissarro "Street in Rouen"

Monument to Joan of Arc

This city is reminiscent of Joan of Arc - it was here, in the market square of this city of Vieux Marche, that it was burned in 1431. The place of her fire is lined with mosaics and marked with a high cross .

Joan of Arc

After the Second World War in 1979, next to the square was built Cathedral of Saint Joan of Arc . This is a big modern architectural complex, which includes, in addition to the cathedral, also an indoor market. The roof of the cathedral resembles a bonfire, on which Joan of Arc was executed in this very place. One of the walls is made up of the surviving old stained-glass windows of the cathedral that stood on this site and was destroyed by Allied aircraft during the landing in Normandy.

On the other side of the church on Place Vieux Marche is . Address: 33 place du Vieux Marche - 76000 ROUEN - FRANCE.

The name of Joan of Arc in Rouen is found at every turn. Another monument with her name is Jeanne d'Arc tower . The only one of the eight that has survived to this day from the 13th-century castle of Philip II Augustus. It contained Jeanne. Now the tower itself is open to the public.

Not far from the square is the main pedestrian street of the old city - rue du Gross Horloge (Clock Street) . They compare their watches with the famous Big Clock (1389) fixed on the city arch - the oldest tower clock, which began to strike quarters of an hour.

At the beginning of Tower Clock Street is Rouen Notre Dame Cathedral . This is the Gothic cathedral of the Archbishop of Rouen and Normandy. It is classified as a French national heritage site. Construction 1145-1880. The facade of the cathedral is framed by two towers - the early, northern Roman (75 m) and the later, Oil Tower, built presumably with money from taxes on oil consumption in the city of Lan (77 m). The spire of the cathedral extends to a height of 150 m. It is the highest cathedral spire in France, weighing 1200 tons, and the tower leading to the top has 813 steps. In the cathedral is grave of Richard the Lionheart in which his heart is buried.

Claude Monet

Looks great in large numbers half-timbered houses in the historic center of Rouen. Fachwerk- a type of building structure in which the supporting base is a spatial section of diagonal (at different angles) beams made of coniferous wood. These beams are visible from the outside of the house and give the building a distinctive look; the space between the beams is filled with adobe material, brick, sometimes also with wood.

In addition, interesting gothic church saint ouen (XIV-XVI centuries) and Church of Saint-Maclou (1434—1470).

Church of Saint-Maclou , built in the style of "flaming" Gothic, is notable for its richly decorated western facade with a protruding porch and carved doors by Jean Goujon depicting biblical scenes.

Church of Saint-Ouen , which was once part of a magnificent Benedictine monastery, is a striking example of a solid Gothic church with a simple interior. It became even more beautiful after the restoration in the XIV century thanks to the mosaic windows.

Of course, it is impossible to tell about all the sights of Rouen. I have listed the most important ones. Other attractions in Rouen include Renaissance Hotel Burteruld (1501-1537), equestrian statue of Napoleon I (1865, sculptor Dubret) from the cannons of Austerlitz.

Among the museums of Rouen, it should be noted Museum of Fine Arts, Museum natural history, Museum of Antiquity, Flaubert Museum, Museum of Ceramics, Maritime Museum.

Further down the road along the Seine is the Benedictine Jumieges Abbey Or rather, its ruins. This monastery was founded by Saint Philibert in the 7th century, then destroyed by the Vikings, and rebuilt in the 11th century. After the French Revolution, the abbey was nationalized, then sold to a private person, and from 1795 to 1825 served as a quarry. In 1946, it was acquired by the French state and became an open-air museum.

The abbey is located 40 km from Rouen towards Deauville. The abbey is located in a bend of the Seine River, in fact, surrounded by it on three sides and to get there - you have to cross the river on a ferry.

Not far from Rouen on the coast is a small resort town - Etretat famous for its rocks. From Paris, you can get here by train Paris - Le Havre (2 hours), and then by bus.

Name " Etretat"has Scandinavian roots, and in translation means" the farm of the setting sun. Etretat is located on the coast of the English Channel and is widely known for its picturesque coastal cliffs that form numerous natural arches.

The first thing to do is to check the tide schedule. It is better to do this in advance if you plan to spend only part of the day in the city, because otherwise you might not get down. The tide schedule also hangs at the descent leading to the falaise d "Aval. This is not an extra precaution - the tides here are not instantaneous, but still fast and high enough, you can accidentally fall into a trap and spend a certain number of hours on a deserted pebble beach.

Compare these two photos above. The first is low tide, through the dark opening of the cave you can get to the beach between the falaise d "Aval and Manneporte arches, the second is high tide, the cave is inaccessible. On dark slippery stones covered with algae (first photo, low tide), connoisseurs collect oysters. Once upon a time, in 1777, for Marie Antoinette, a special nursery where oysters were grown.

Another unsafe activity is to climb huge ledges under the Manneporte arch (in the photo below - Monet's painting "Mannport Gate"). Behind it, another secluded beach will open, where locals collect oysters at low tide.

Another item on the program viewing platforms on the rocks . An amazing landscape opens up from above.

In the time remaining before departure, it is worth going to one of several fish restaurants on the waterfront . This is where you should try oysters - after all, they are collected here.

Going further along the coast, before reaching the town of Honfleur, there is another attraction of these places - Normandy bridge (1989-1995) - one of the longest suspension bridges not only in Europe but also in the world. The length of the bridge is 2350 m. It crosses the mouth of the river Seine between Le Havre and Honfleur. The construction of the bridge lasted 7 (!) years.

Next we will visit Honfleur - a small, picturesque port town with ancient wooden architecture that inspired many impressionist artists. It was here that Claude Monet found and developed this new style in painting. The famous "Norman light", present on the canvases of the Impressionists, can be seen here with your own eyes.

The city is located on the Blooming Coast ("Cote Fleurie") - the most attractive part of Normandy, 220 km from Paris and only 10 km from Deauville. "Sweetest of my dreams"- this is what Charles Baudelaire said about him. This city with wooden churches built 400 years ago by ship carpenters is the pride of the Channel Coast.

There are many art galleries here, the city to this day retains that natural attraction, charm and beauty that many masters of painting captured.

In the middle of the XII century, the city was an important transit point on the trade route from Rouen to England. Located at the mouth of the Seine - one of the main French rivers - Honfleur, with a safe bay and a suburb, became an advantageous strategic place with the outbreak of the Hundred Years War. The English occupied the city in 1357 and then owned it in 1419-1450. In the 1450s, when Honfleur came under the control of the French, raiding parties raided the English coast, as a result of which the city of Sandwich in Kent was practically destroyed. With the end of the 100 Years' War in Honfleur, the prosperity of maritime trade began, which continued until the end of the 18th century.

Now Honfleur is one of the most beautiful cities Normandy, a peculiar corner that has preserved the historical flavor, architecture and atmosphere of past centuries. Sea gate of Honfleur, old bay, St. Catherine's Quay - favorite place walks of citizens and tourists. The old bay with its picturesque unusually narrow, one room wide, 5-6-storey half-timbered houses, closely pressed against each other, was built in 1684 by order of Colbert.

Not far from the waterfront is one of the main attractions of Honfleur - St. Catherine's Stave Church (Sainte-Catherine) , built after the Hundred Years' War by the masters of the shipyard in the early Gothic style. Only the foundations for wooden walls and oak supports are made of stone; the vaults of the two naves are designed like a ship's hull, only turned upside down.

Walking through the city garden, you can see monument to the beloved literary heroine of the 19th century - Mumu (Yes, yes, this is not a joke!).

Further along the coast is famous resort Deauville , which is called the twenty-first district of Paris. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, casinos, a theater, a hippodrome, golf clubs, boutiques of famous brands are built here, giving it a special aristocratic chic.

Deauville is located just two hours by car or train from Paris. This is the closest French resort to Paris, created in 1859 by Napoleon's half-brother and the husband of Princess Troubetzkoy Charles de Morny. The city is a "gift" tired of the hustle and bustle of the aristocracy.

In Deauville it is worth visiting the world-famous Hippodrome "La Touques" . International horse races are held here, thoroughbred one-year-old stallions are sold, you can ride a horse team or on horseback.

Deauville is associated with the development of haute couture in France. One of his first salons opens in Deauville Coco Chanel .

Another of the most attractive sights in Normandy are the places where Normandy cheeses , famous all over the world - camembert, livaro, pont-leveque. All these names of cheeses are easy to find on the map, because these are the names of small villages and cities in which these cheeses are produced, located in area Pays d "Auge (Pays d" Auge) .

Camembert (camembert) A soft, fatty cheese made from cow's milk. Has a color from white to light cream. Outside, Camembert is covered with a fluffy white crust formed by a special cheese mold. Camembert is usually consumed with red young tart wines.

Camembert is believed to have been discovered in 1791 by a Norman peasant woman. Marie Harel . According to legend, during the French Revolution, Marie Arel saved a monk who was hiding from persecution from death, who, in gratitude, revealed to her the secret of making this cheese known only to him.

This legend about the origin of cheese was first presented to the general public by the mayor of the small French town of Vimoutier. It all started with the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, a doctor used Normandy cheese to treat his seriously ill patients. In gratitude, the cured patients erected a small monument in his honor near the village of Camembert. And then, rummaging through the archives, the mayor discovered that at the end of the eighteenth century, a certain Marie Arel lived in the village of Camembert, who sold unusually tasty and unusual-looking cheese in the market. And in 1928, on Vimoutiers Square, a grand opening of a memorial in honor of the girl and the famous cheese took place.

In 1992, the official opening took place in the village of Camembert. museum "Camembert Cheese" , which presents the history and process of making cheese.

Livaro - one of the most ancient cheeses of Normandy; it has been known since the 13th century.

Cheese is made from cow's milk; production season - from spring to autumn. An interesting feature of this cheese is that it is wrapped five times with sea cane, which is specially grown for this purpose. Five stripes correspond in France to the rank of colonel, so the people call the livaro "colonel".

The originality of the Livaro does not end there. During maturation, it is dyed a reddish-orange color with a special natural dye, which is obtained from the roku plant, which grows in South America. It turns out a very beautiful warm brownish color of a shiny smooth crust, thanks to which livaro is immediately recognizable among many cheeses.

Pont-l'Eveque (=Pont-Leveque) belongs to the family of soft cow's milk cheeses with a washed rind. The square shape makes it easy to distinguish it from other Normandy cheeses.

For the first time this cheese was mentioned in the monastery chronicles of the XII century. Perhaps the monks came up with it, as it often happened in history. Then it was called "angelon" or "angelot" - "angel" (an old French coin was also called). By the 16th century, its name had become "augelot" - "small" (that is, cheese made in the area of ​​​​Pay d "ozh"). Modern name Pont-l'Eveque, named after a small town in Lower Normandy, appeared around the 17th century.

"Cheese" roads intersect with numerous cider roads (apple sparkling "champagne") and Calvados (apple vodka).

Cider - This is a wine made from apple juice without the addition of water and yeast. Low alcohol drink. It is believed that real cider is produced only in Normandy. In other countries, according to the French themselves, under the name cider is hidden apple wine diluted with water.
The invention of cider is often attributed to Charlemagne (8th-9th centuries), who allegedly once sat on a bag of overripe apples, causing them to be crushed, and the result was cider.

The apple orchards of Normandy are unique because they consist of specially bred varieties of apples called "cider apples". Every garden grows all the necessary varieties: "sweet", "bittersweet", "bitter" and "sour". Officially, 48 varieties of apples are recommended for the production of cider.

Of all fruit and berry drinks, cider is the most consumed. Until the 20th century, it was a peasant drink.

Mounted Circular Apple Crusher

Calvados - apple brandy, obtained by distillation of cider.

The drink got its name from the same name of one of the departments of Normandy - first in colloquial speech in the middle of the 19th century, and later it was enshrined in the rules of the "Appellation d'Origine Controlee" (AOC) in 1942.

Associated with Calvados tradition "le trou Normand" ("Norman hole") - drinking a small portion of Calvados between meals with a very long intake of food. It is believed that it awakens the appetite.

Cylindrical distiller

Double distillation apparatus

Calvados is aged in oak barrels

The city's name is associated with William the Conqueror and his wife Matilda. It was he who founded and his wife women - Abbaye aux Dames . They were founded as a sign of recognition by the Catholic Church of their marriage and the remission of the sin of incest, although very distant, but still relatives.

IN male abbey Abbaye aux Hommes can be reached along rue St-Pierre. It was built where William the Conqueror once lived. Later, the buildings of the abbey were turned into a lyceum, and then the town hall was located in this beautiful hexagonal complex. The buildings were rebuilt by Abbé Tremblay in the 18th century. After the French Revolution, the abbey church of Saint Etienne became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey housed the prestigious Lycée Malbert.

Women's Abbey located east of the city center, rue de Chanoines leads to it. It is in the convent of Abbaye Aux Dames that the remains of Queen Matilda have been buried since 1083. The buildings of the abbey, rebuilt in the 18th century, were used as a barracks, and later a hospital and an almshouse, until the regional council was located here. The monastery church of the Holy Trinity (Eglise de la Saint Trinite) was built in the Romanesque era, its spiers were demolished in the XIV century during the Hundred Years War. In the 18th century they were noticed on the balustrades. The last restoration of the abbey took place from 1990 to 1993.

Another reminder of William the Conqueror is Caen Castle (Chateau de Caen) . It was built by order of William the Conqueror. After restoration, it is in very good condition and houses two museums. On the territory of the castle is the church of St. George (Saint-torges) XII-XV centuries, where there is a permanent exhibition.

Very interesting Kansky Botanical Garden(Jardin botanique de Caen) . It occupies an area of ​​more than 5000 m2. The garden also has an arboretum. The oldest trees in the garden date back to 1689, his first catalog was issued in 1781. The garden originally belonged to the university, but after the French Revolution it became a municipal park. In 1860, two large greenhouses were opened in the garden, then in 1891 a botanical institute. All this was destroyed during the Second World War. New greenhouses were built in 1988. Today the garden contains over 8,000 plants.

It is also worth walking here in the old quarters of Bore (Vaugueux), Froide (Froide), Caponiere (Caponiere) and Place Saint-Sauveur (Saint-Sauveur).

In the city of Caen there is an interesting World War II Museum . The memorial offers its visitors a journey through the 20th century, from World War II to the Cold War period. The purpose of this museum is to show the horrors of war, to make people think about peace and strive for it.

To the west of the town of Caen is another, no less interesting city - Bayeux , whose main attraction is the famous tapestry "Carpet from Bayeux" ("Tapisserie de Bayeux") , put on public display in a building specially built for him, which is located opposite the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Bayeux. According to one theory, this tapestry was woven by Queen Matilda and her court ladies, it has a length of 231 feet and two feet in height, dedicated to the scenes of the conquest of Brittany by Matilda's husband, William the Conqueror in 1066.

"Old Bayeux" Emelyanova N.D.

Bayeux is located in the fertile valley of the river Or, 12 km from the English Channel.

Another attraction of the city is Cathedral , the construction of which began in 1105 and was completed in 1497.

If you go back to the coast, you can visit a small town of Colleville-sur-Mer , located 50 kilometers northwest of Caen. It became a place of pilgrimage for a huge number of tourists due to the fact that it contains American cemetery.

It was here that on June 6, 1944, the allied troops landed as part of Operation Overlord, which hastened the defeat of Germany in World War II. This is a landing operation, unique in scope and degree of planning, which has not been and still is not equal.

It is the largest American cemetery located outside the United States. 9387 soldiers and officers are buried on it, 307 of them are nameless, four are women. Here lie such famous people like Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the son of the President of the United States, and the same ordinary Ryan, who was rescued in the film of the same name.

Heading west from Caen towards Brittany, we will visit Mont Saint-Michel , a 14th-century abbey located on a rocky mountain-island connected to the mainland by a small isthmus. This is one of the most famous architectural works of the world, as visited by tourists as the Eiffel Tower or Versailles. In 1874 the island was recognized historical monument, and since 1979 - recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site

On the map: A - Caen; B - Maine Saint-Michel

Mont Saint Michel is located in Normandy in the Manche department. It is a granite formation approximately 930 m in diameter and 92 m high above sea level. Here is the highest, about 9 meters, sea tide of the European continent.

This island is the only inhabited of the three granite formations of the Bay of Saint-Michel (Mont Saint-Michel, Tomblen and Mont Dole). The city on the island has existed since 709. It currently has 80 inhabitants. Since 1879, the island has been linked to the mainland by a causeway.

Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its Benedictine abbey. The abbey is a well-preserved example of a medieval French fortified monastery. The abbey is still in operation, with about 50 Benedictine monks permanently residing in it.
The construction of the abbey on the island was carried out from the 11th to the 16th century. Before the construction of the first place of worship in the 8th century, the island was named Mogilnaya Gora (Mont Tombe). According to legend, in 708 Archangel Michael appeared here to the Bishop of Avranches, Saint Aubert, to whom he gave the task of building a church on the rock. Three times the guards of the gates of paradise had to appear before the bishop, because he was not sure whether he had correctly interpreted the sign. And only after, according to one legend, the Archangel Michael tapped him on the head with his finger, and according to another, burned the cassock of the bishop with his sword, the Auber ordered the monks to begin construction. Mont Saint-Michel is also mentioned in the legends of King Arthur. In particular, King Arthur slew the giant who lived here. In addition, it was said that the Holy Grail was walled up in the thick walls of the abbey.

Patterns on the floor of the abbey

Hall of knights

Interesting Facts:
- Mont Saint-Michel served as the prototype for the fortress of Minas Tirith in the film trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" directed by Peter Jackson based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien.
- The famous English composer-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield dedicated the song of the same name to the island in the album Voyager.
- It was this island that the scammers tried to save in the movie "Incorrigible".
- Sandra's "Secret Land" video was filmed against the backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel.

This concludes our journey through Normandy. I think that of course we could not visit ALL interesting places this region, but I would like to hope that at least a small part of this we succeeded ...

Next time we will go on a trip to another region of France - .

To be continued...

(in principle, a very useful site for those who are going to France, a lot of advice, starting from the map Paris Metro and ending with how it is more economical to visit Disneyland).

Trip to Normandy takes a full day (separately, also a full day, a trip to Mont Saint-Michel) and is accompanied by a driver guide. Perhaps the only drawback was that we did not get to the rocks of Etretat, but the impressions were enough without them.

How to get from Paris to the English Channel: from the North Station by train to the cities closest to the strait. The schedule can be viewed at (link to the train schedule to Deauville, but you can type the city you need in the search, for example, Le Havre or Le Touquet).

Favorite beach of European aristocrats in Deauville

Deauville Beach (с) Sergey Anashkevitch

Deauville is one of the most prestigious European resorts, a favorite vacation spot for movie stars, aristocrats and wealthy pensioners. Most famous place Deauville is a beach with elite cabanas, many of which are inscribed with the names of the stars who actually changed here. By the way, this beach is the birthplace of the swimsuit: the fearless Coco Chanel appeared for the first time in an open bathing suit on vacation in Deauville and opened her first store here.

Tip: Prices in Deauville are very expensive, they are artificially high on purpose so that only the elite rest here, therefore, if you are not a movie star, but just a traveler who has looked into Deauville, then we advise you to dine in the city across the road - Trouville, where all those who work in Deauville's tourist establishments.

How to get from Paris to Deauville: again, by train from the North Station, having looked in advance

The most delicious in the world - Normandy oysters

Oysters are the hallmark of Normandy. They are large, meaty and very tasty. This is not the only place where they are grown, there are also oyster farms on the Adriatic and mediterranean seas, but it was Normandy oysters that became world famous.

Oysters come in different calibers (1,2,3) and different types. The most popular: Fin de Claire, Bellon, Black Noir. Finn de Claire is considered the most delicious.

You can eat fresh oysters in almost any restaurant you come across in Normandy or buy them at the market, the largest selection on the market in Trouville. In addition to oysters, there is a huge selection of seafood.

Sun-drenched harbor of Honfleur

Honfleur

Honfleur is a small port town. Small but just amazing. It seems that Sunday morning has frozen in him forever, he is so serene, idle and quiet. Cider, Calvados, caramel, homemade ice cream are sold here at every step.

There are many ancient buildings in the town, and the most unusual of them is the wooden church of St. Catherine.

How to get from Paris to Honfleur: We get to Deauville by train, from it by bus to Honfleur. Second option: by train to Le Havre, from there by bus to Honfleur. Schedule:

Norman cider

apple cider

If oysters are a must-eat in Normandy, then cider is a must-drink. Golden, bottled like a delicate Norman Sun, cider is a mild alcoholic drink made without the use of yeast. Traditionally it is made from apples, but we liked pear cider even more, it is so fragrant and unusual.

The majesty of Rouen Cathedral

Facade of Rouen Cathedral

Rouen (Rouen) - the capital of Normandy and, perhaps, French city with the largest number of cathedrals, they literally stand at a distance of several houses here.

The most majestic of course is Rouen Cathedral. He is almost 900 years old, he has repeatedly suffered from natural disasters and wars (during the Second World War, part of the cathedral was destroyed during the bombing), but this giant, the highest Cathedral in France (151 meters), continues to rise above the city.

It is in this cathedral, in a sarcophagus, that the heart of Richard the Lionheart is buried (such a tautology).

How to get from Paris to Rouen: From the St.Lazare station, the train schedule can be viewed at (journey time - 1.5 hours)

How to get from Paris to Chateau Gaillard: By train from Rouen, and from Rouen by taxi to the castle.

By car: Since there is no direct transport to this place, it is better to rent a car and drive to the castle on your own. Coordinates:

The silence of the narrow streets of Rouen

Rouen

The most beautiful (in some places quiet, in some not so) streets are located in the area between market square and Rouen Cathedral, a block to the right of the street. In addition, you can go down the Rue Joan of Arc to the Seine and walk along the embankment.

Etretat rocks

Cliffs of Etretat (c) Fabio Nodari

This is the most famous miraculous sight of Normandy. A chalk rock that looks like an elephant lowering its trunk to drink water from the English Channel is located on the Alabaster Coast, not far from the small town of Etretat. The rock-elephant is called Arch la Mannport, and besides it there are many others: Rock-Needle, Rock D'Amon, Rock D'Aval. In addition, you can soak up the Alabaster Beach between the rocks.

How to get from Paris to Etretat: From the St. Lazare station to Le Havre, then by bus 24. You can see the bus schedule of bus 24

Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel

The French modestly call this place the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The abbey is located on an island in the Bay of Saint-Michel, at the exit to the open Atlantic Ocean. Mont Saint-Michel is located 2 kilometers from the mainland and is unique not only for its graceful Romanesque architecture, but also for the fact that, depending on the time of day, the ocean waters either recede, exposing the land between the island and the mainland, then reappear, completely enveloping the abbey .

How to get from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel: From the train station to Rennes, then by bus (runs from Rennes railway station) to the abbey.