NORMANDY

NORMANDY

Just over the Channel, Normandy is the perfect destination for history buffs, culture vultures and nature lovers. Follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror, walk along the D-Day Beaches or admire the Impressionist landscapes. Your bucket list should include the Mont-Saint-Michel, Rouen, Étretat and so much more… Home to camembert and calvados, Normandy is a real foodie delight!

TOP 5 FOR 2017

Le Havre 500th Anniversary

Founded in 1517, Le Havre is a hub for trade and travel. Celebrating its 500th anniversary from 27 May to 5 November, the UNESCO city will come alive with exhibitions, art installations, street parades and maritime festivities.

Picasso Exhibitions in Rouen

In 1930, Picasso bought the Château de Boisgeloup near Gisors and built his first sculpture studio there. From 1 April to 11 September, three museums in Rouen will exhibit over 200 works completed by Picasso during his time in Normandy.

70 Years of Dior in Granville

This summer marks 70 years since the founding of iconic fashion house, Dior. To mark the occasion, the Christian Dior Museum, the designer’s childhood home in Granville, will exhibit the 22 collections and new lines launched between 1947 and 1957.

Normandy’s First Designer Shopping

Outlet Opening in autumn at the foot of the Pont de Normandie, just off the A29 motorway, the Honfleur Normandy Outlet will be the first designer outlet village in western France, where visitors will be able to shop for top brands 365 days a year!

A Weekend on an Organic Saffron Farm

Between Paris and the Normandy coast lies the Domaine de Gauville organic saffron farm, which runs saffron-themed weekends. Take a cooking class, help with the harvest, sample scallops with saffron at a Michelin Guide restaurant then take some tasty treats home with you!

NEED TO KNOW

New Train Route: Paris to the Mont-SaintMichel  – Fancy visiting the Wonder of the West? You can now catch a train from Paris Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard Station to the Mont-Saint-Michel. One-way tickets start at €35 for an adult and €17.50 for a child (second class).

FOR THE DIARY

• 27 May – 11 June D-Day Festival commemorating the anniversary of the Allied Landings on 6 June 1944
• 07 – 09 July Beauregard Music Festival, with headliners Placebo and Phoenix July and August The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel by night, with night-time tours, concerts and lightshows
• 30 July – 06 August International Federal Week of Cycle Tourism in Mortagne-au-Perche
• 09 September – 08 October Monet’s masterpiece ‘Impression, sunrise’ comes to the André Malraux Modern Art Museum (MuMa) in Le Havre