From Giverny to D-Day

A 3-day discovery of the astonishing Normandy

Our short tour starts on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday depending on our availability: please inquire by mail.

During this short program of 3 full days, you will discover and enjoy the multi facetted jewel named Normandy. Land of Impressionist painters from the Channel coast with their impressive clay cliffs, and the banks of the Seine to the Monet's private gardens in Giverny.

D-Day will be one of the highlights of your tour: our guide born in Normandy will make you discover what they have learned from their grand-parents and parents who had lived D-Days as they were adults and young.

The « Wonder of the Western World » forms a tower in the heart of an immense bay invaded by the highest tides in Europe.  This is the Mont Saint Michel: UNESCO has classed the Mont Saint-Michel as a world heritage in 1979 and this mecca of tourism welcomes more than 2,5 millions visitors a year. 

Famous for its dairy products, like butter, milk, cream and cheese, the region is also world wide renowned for its apples. Most restaurants in Normandy will use locally sourced products and some producers are delighted to welcome visitors. Normandy is haute-cuisine heaven for food lovers and visitors seeking authentic culinary experiences.

Day 1: From Giverny to Honfleur

• Paris to Vernon (Giverrny) by Train

• Visit of Giverny and Monet's gardens

• Lunch in Giverny

Giverny and Monet's gardens

Welcome to the world of the painter and gardener Claude Monet. For over 40 years, until his death in 1926, Giverny was his home , his site of creation and his masterpiece .

A world of senses, of colors and of memories, the house in which the artist and his family lived notably contains his studio-sitting room and his exceptional collection of Japanese prints.

The gardens are composed of the Clos Normand, with its flowerbeds, and the Water Garden, planted with oriental vegetation and weeping willows, its Japanese bridge painted green and its waterlilies.

(C) Fondation Claude Monet.

Lunch in Giverny

Lunch in a typical "auberge" in Giverny

(restaurant may vary depending on season)

On the cliffs of Etretat

The cliffs steal the show at Etretat, thanks to their exceptional natural drama and aided by the fact that famous Impressionists painted them so memorably. Erosion has created extraordinary arches in the chalk either side of the resort. There’s also an amazing needle-like structure, known in French as an “aiguille”.

There is more to Etretat than the cliff formations and the thick pebble beach, though. The small resort behind is full of charm. Along with some extravagant hotels, the remarkable wooden covered market stands out. Le Clos Lupin, a typical old villa in town, conceals mysteries for visitors, while the churches around Etretat stand out more prominently.

Back with the cliffs, you can go for some stunning walks along the cliff tops, where further surprises await, including a breath-taking golf course. Return to the famous cliff formations on the beach at night and you can see them magically lit up.

Setting up at your hotel " Le Manoir des Impressionnistes "

The "Manoir des Impressionnistes", a XVIIIth century Norman manor; is tucked into a wooded hillside overlooking the Seine estuary, just outside the old port of Honfleur. The manor proposes ten charming bedrooms, each individually decorated. The restaurant faces the sea and its spectacular sunsets.

After a long day of touring among the magnificient gardens and sightseeings of the "Côte d'Albatre"  (Alabaster Coast), you will have timeto set up and rest before going to Dinner. Enjoy the tranquility, peace and privacy of our spa located in the former farm of the Manor.

A warm family welcome awaits you.

Dinner in the old city of Honfleur

In this small street in the center of Honfleur, close to the Vieux Bassin, the gourmet restaurant “La Fleur de Sel” welcomes you in a warm interior. In the bright room, photo montages of dishes on the walls make your mouth water. The cook is a young man who awakens the recipes of Norman grannies with unprecedented and successful associations, who draws with full hands from the local soil but has the know-how and the style to reinvent the bases.

Day 2: Medieval times is Normandy

• The Tapestry of Bayeux

• Lunch in the countryside

The Tapestry of Bayeux

The Bayeux Tapestry gives information of a historical nature that no other source has provided. It begins with the description of Harold's eventful journey to Normandy (landing in Ponthieu, meeting with the Duke William, expedition in Brittany and oath on the sacred relics of Bayeux). It then depicts Harold's return to England and his coronation after the death of King Edward the Confessor. Finally, it describes the preparation for William's expedition, the crossing of the Channel, and the Battle of Hastings.

The story, as described in the Bayeux Tapestry is broadly in keeping with the account made by authors of the 11th century: William of Jumièges, William of Poitiers and Orderic Vitalis. William Caillou,a monk at the abbey of Jumièges, wrote in 1060-1070 a history of the Dukes of Normandy, which ends with an account of the conquest of England. William of Poitiers, one of the Duke's knights, who then became his chaplain, wrote around 1070-1075 a biography of William, which ends just after the conquest. As for Orderic Vitalis, he was born in England in 1075, of an English mother and a French father who fought in Hastings. He arrived in Normandy in 1085, became a onk at the monastery of Saint-Evroult (Orne) and spent much of his life compiling a voluminous History of the Normans, an important part of which is devoted to William the Conqueror. One should also mention the poem written by Guy of Amiens, chaplain of Queen Mathilda, which is an epic account of the different phases of the Battle of Hastings.

Compared to these written sources, the Bayeux Tapestry offers original information, found nowhere else.

Lunch in the countryside

In Normandy, not far from the Mont-Saint-Michel, la “Bâtisse des Chevaliers de Malte” situated in a remarkable spot with a green backdrop overlooking the roofs of Villedieu-les-Poêles await you. You can relax in the tranquil surroundings of the park, in absolute calm where only the chime of the church bells and the song of the animals dare to disturb the tranquillity (geese, chicken, ducks and pigs). Sébastien Lana and his team give a warm, convivial welcome, a regional tasty cuisine and have a superb wine cellar.
In the summer, if you wish, you will be served on the terrace and in winter in a cosy spot next to the fire. You can prolong the evening, well positioned in the refuge of the little recesses of the pub where you can drink your coffee.

Visit of the Mont Saint Michel

The worship of Saint Michel was introduced on the Mount in 708, and it became one of the most important places of medieval pilgrimage. Benedictine monks started building an abbey here in the 10th century.
Withstanding the assaults of man, time and the elements. The heroic resistance of the Mount to English attacks during the Hundred Years’ War (14th and 15th centuries) made it a symbol of French national identity. Monks left the abbey in 1790, and it was listed as a historic monument in 1874. The whole site has been returned to its former glory thanks to on-going restoration work.

Situated in the middle of a bay, the Mont Saint-Michel  welcomes nearly two and a half million people every year this includes visitors, pilgrims and tourists. At the entrance of this medieval town is the ancient Burgher’s Guardroom now the Tourist Office. After going through the Boulevard Gate and then the King’s Gate fortified with its portcullis, you will find the « Grande Rue » or main street wih its museums, shops and houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The parish church consecrated to St-Pierre, the patron saint of fishermen is a small edifice from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Finally, we get to the « Grande Degre » or Grande Staircase whose majesty is a prelude to the « Marvel ». After admiring the Abbey church, you can enjoy the beautiful and matchless view over the bay when going down the ramparts path.

Dinner in Bayeux

We will end our long day in an intimate restaurant in a small path, in the downtown of Bayeux. Linda, Simon and their team are happy to welcome you in a cozy atmosphere, where you'll be seated in a natural stone room from the 16th century. We offer a simple but gourmet food, inspired by the traditional french cuisine, made with quality and seasonal products. 

Day 3: D-Day (2)

• Visit of Arromanches Museum

• Discover Longues s/mer gun battery

• Lunch in Port en Bessin

Visit of Arromanches Museum

The permanent exhibition on the Normandy Landings was officially opened on June 5th 1954 in Arromanches by Monsieur René COTY, then the President of the French Republic. It was the first museum to be built in commemoration of June 6th 1944 and the Normandy Campaign. The D-day Museum overlooks the very spot where one of the Mulberry Harbours was constructed and where its remains can still be seen today, just a few hundred metres from the shore.

In the gallery of working models, directly overlooking the remnants of Mulberry B, our guide will tell the remarkable story of this artificial port, from its design and construction to its subsequent use.

The combination of commentaries and practical demonstrations brings the whole operation to life and makes it easier to understand the role of each piece in this vast jigsaw puzzle.

Discover Longues s/mer gun battery

The German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer may not have been the most powerful in Normandy, but it was one of the best located to oppose the landings of 6 June 1944. Installed slightly back from the edge of a sixty-meter-high cliff, it was positioned directly opposite the Allied fleet and right between Omaha and Gold landing beaches.

The coastal battery at Longues-sur-Mer, part of the Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications, was built by the German navy in the first half of 1944 and completed in four months. It consisted of four 150 mm guns in concrete bunkers, and one 120 mm gun. In May 1944 the battery was operational, but the firing command post built on the edge of the cliff did not yet have all the equipment necessary for calculating effective fire against naval targets.

On D-Day, the Longues-sur-Mer battery delivered a protracted duel with the Allied fleet, forcing some of the vessels to retreat in order to avoid being hit. However, the five guns of the battery were gradually silenced, some being destroyed by direct hits. Finally, British troops landing at Gold Beach took over the position on 7 June, capturing the survivors of the garrison of 180 men.

Today, the site is one of the best preserved in France and the only onewhere you can still see some of the original cannon, capable, at the time, of firing shells weighing 45 kg at a distance of 22 km. The view from the firing command post, dug into the cliff, offers a vast panorama over the Bay of the Seine.

Lunch in Port en Bessin

“Sweeping views across the sea…”

The stunning backdrop is like a breath of fresh air…a place where culinary delights are served overlooking the inviting sea.  Whether you are eating alone, as a couple, with friends and family or on business, each table is designed to be secluded and private. Come and enjoy a relaxing experience overlooking the sea!

On Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach is one of the two American landing areas in Normandy. 5.9 kilometers long, this beach is 12 kilometers east of Utah Beach. It consists of the towns of Vierville-sur-Mer in the west, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer in the center and the villages of Colleville-sur-Mer and Le-Grand-Hameau in the east. This beach is originally called the Côte d’Or (golden coast). A plateau overlooks the shore and four valleys allow to reach the interior.

The 16th Regiment of the 1st US Infantry Division and the 116th Regiment of the 29th US Infantry Division are designated to attack this beach, divided into four major landing areas. They are named, from the west to the east: “Charlie”, “Dog”, “Easy” and “Fox”. Depending on the progress of the Pointe du Hoc attack programmed at the same time, these units can be reinforced by the 2nd and 5th battalions of Rangers.  These military formations are under the command of Major General Leonard T. Gerow, commander of the 5th US Army Corps, and General Omar N. Bradley, commander of the 1st US Army.

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Pay tribute at the US Cemetery of Colleville s/ mer

The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur- Mer is situated on the top of the cliff overlooking the famous Omaha Beach. The cemetery, 172 acres in extent, is one of fourteen American World War II Cemeteries constructed on foreign soil. Beyond the reception building, you will see a magnificent semi-circular memorial. Centered in the open arc of the memorial is a bronze statue which represents “The Spirit of American Youth rising from the waves”. In the extension of the ornamental lake there is a central path leading to the 10 grave plots where 9 387 soldiers are buried among which are 4 women and 307 unknown soldiers.

Train back to Paris at the end of afternoon