Discover the region

Along the coastline are a multitude of seaside resorts with a wide variety of charming features. 

The mythical Deauville is well-known for its stars and American film festival. Trouville, on a more modest scale, is popular for the charm of its architecture and old fishing harbour.

A little further away, Cabourg is unique for its racecourse and golf course. Honfleur, near the Pont de Normandie (a famous bridge) is one of Normandy’s most attractive towns.

It was in 1943, at the Quebec Conference, that the final decision was taken to attempt a major landing operation on the French coast in order to open up a second front and reduce the number of German divisions fighting the Russians. Its code name was Overlord. The choice fell on Normandy, for several reasons: firstly the Brittany coast was too remote to be approached, Holland was flooded and the currents along the Belgian coast were too strong, but above all because the Germans were expecting the Allies in the Pas de Calais region because of its proximity to the English coast.

It was on the night of 5 to 6 June 1944 that three American and British airborne divisions were dropped into the Sainte Mère l’Eglise and Ranville area to take various strategic positions, followed between 6.30 and 7.30 am, to the great surprise of the Germans, by 135,000 men and 20,000 vehicles landing on the five beaches held by the Allies (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword).

The violent combat that ensued earned Omaha Beach the nickname of Bloody Omaha; by the time it was over the troops had created an 80 km front all along the five beaches, which allowed the Allied forces to bring in their equipment and thus push forward on two major fronts; on one side the British and Canadians, to take Bayeux, Caen and the sea, and on the other the Americans, to take Cherbourg (which was a strategic position in so far as it was the only deep-water port in the region).

Today we invite you to visit a number of different places to explore the museums and historic sites in three departments (Calvados, Orne and Manche). This will help you understand the unfolding of the huge battle that ultimately determined the outcome of the Second World War.

William was born in Falaise, the son of Robert the Magnificent, (also called Robert the Devil), and Arlette (Robert’s concubine). The fact that he was born out of wedlock gave him the name he was initially known by “William the Bastard”. When his father decided to join the Crusades, William was made, at the age of seven, successor to the throne. On the death of his father one year later, his rights of succession were contested by a number of other pretenders, the Richardides, sons or direct heirs of the former Dukes of Normandy. For several years a “war of succession” was fiercely waged with plots and conspiracies, a number of assassination attempts on William and the death of several of his close allies.

In the face of these repeated plots, William sought out powerful allies to bolster his authority; he turned to Henry I, king of France, whose vassal he was. After several battles, he managed to consolidate his territory and his authority, gaining a degree of power which was to make his powerful neighbours increasingly wary of him, particularly his former ally, the King of France.

Another high point of his reign was his marriage to Mathilde (at around 1050 in the region of Eu) which was opposed for some time by the church for reasons of consanguinity and of politics. William decided to ride roughshod over these. Mathilde was the daughter of the Count of Flanders securing William a substantial ally in this powerful lord.

William is best known these days for his conquest of England and for the betrayal of Harold. This conquest is remembered for the disembarkation of the Norman fleet of around one thousand ships which had set off from the beaches of Dives sur Mer to land at Pevesey. The army numbered some 8000 men, their horses and their provisions. The Battle of Hastings, on 14 October 1066, was to mark the victory of William and of the Norman cavalry thanks to the death of Harold.

William died on 7 September 1087 near Rouen and in accordance with his express wishes, was buried it the Abbey of Saint Etienne in Caen.

Much of Caen was destroyed by Allied bombing raids in the Second World War and it is a living testimony of this era.

From the memorial to museums and Normandy Landing beaches such as Omaha Beach and Sword Beach, visitors can see the vestiges of one of the most important events of the 20th century.

Mont Saint-Michel stands in the Bay where the River Couesnon runs into the Atlantic Ocean. Perched on a rock, once an impregnable fortress and important centre for pilgrims, it is an extraordinary testimony to medieval architecture. At the foot of the mount, the wall walk runs around the old town, ascending to the abbey rising up towards the sky. Here, visitors are astounded by the cloister seemingly suspended above the sea, the church, monks’ quarters and the buildings known as the “Merveille” or Marvel. The view opens onto the bay which can still be crossed on foot with a guide: it makes an incomparable walk.