The wonders of rural France: Normandy

Leaving the bustling city of Paris with its dense traffic, big crowds, and bright lights behind and heading just one hour North, the scenery changes as it were from day to night. The busy roads full of traffic jams make place for small country roads in between the fields, the big crowds disappear and you’ll be lucky to see another driver once every hour, and the only bright lights are the ones of the beautiful and bright starry night.

The French countryside

Normandy, known for its culinary treats as the galette, cidre, pomme aux galette, delicious cheeses, and of course its rich history playing a crucial part in the second World War. All this making it not only a magnificent but utmost interesting region that deserves a place amongst your must-visits.

With only three days to spend in the French country side, the town of Bayeux serves as the ideal outpost to explore the farther area of Normandy.  Not only as a starting point, but the town is worth a visit on its own as the medieval centre has much to speak for. Stroll through the old cobblestone streets and enjoy the picturesque scenes of the classical half-timbered houses.  Overlooking the average four-story high buildings, you can spot the famous Norman-Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame which is just one of the many attractions. Another must-see is the Bayeux Tapestry, portraying the story of the conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy.

When searching for a place to stay, the gorgeous Château St. Gilles popped up in my quest. An old manor that houses several rooms as well as a tree house for the outdoorsy guests. In Guéron, just 10 minutes from Bayeux, the hotel offers ultimate serenity as besides the manor, the townhall, the church and perhaps a house of two utmost make up the village. The staff is friendly and no request is too much. Focussing on local and fresh produce, the breakfast is a diverse offer of high-quality Norman products as well as the menu of their table d’hôte in the evening where French classics are served to guests only.

After a good night sleep, the undiscovered secrets of Normandy are calling as the road leads to one of the most unique sites; Le Mont Saint-Michel. An island at the mouth of the Couesnon River on which the first spiritual community settled around 700.

Le Mont St. Michel

Over the centuries, several groups of monks built the abbey into the present masterpiece. For a long time, the island was only reachable during eb and thus inhabitants were dependent on the rhythm of the sea to get to the continent. Nowadays, a walking bridge is built and it’s easy to walk to the island for tourists. However, once arrived at the gate, it remains a tough walk all the way up to the abbey and around. A true test whether your cardio training has paid-off, but whether your fitness level can handle the steep climb or not, stopping along the way is highly recommended as the various views deserve a moment of appreciation. Realising the history behind the abbey’s origin, it’s simply a piece of art and a riddle on how humanity has been able to build such a construction is such a remote area.

Moving from manmade wonder to natural wonders, the coast of Normandy reveals surprise after surprise. Before heading home to the Netherlands, a stop at Etretat is a must.

Parking the car on the edge of one of the main roads, doubt starts to slip into my mind when approaching the seaside, passing the small and almost ghostlike town. Questioning if the infamous images of magical steep chalk white rock walls are true or just an illusion. Once on the boardwalk, looking left and right, all questionable thoughts immediately disappear. The large white cliffs surrounding the small seaside village and the sharp edges in contrast with the soft blue and calm sea, leave you in pure awe.

The cliffs of Etretat

Europe continues to surprise with its rich history, culture and diversity of nature. Each travel across the continent is a reminder that wonders, whether manmade or nature’s creation are never far for discovery.

(for more pictures check my gallery)

Liefs,

Bente