Though the once-powerful Duchy of Normandy is no more, you can still patrol the north of France and take in venerable Norman culture. The modern regions of Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) and Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), smack between a Bretagne (Brittany) and Picardie (Picardy) baguette sandwich, roughly correspond to the traditional area of yore and command a lot of tourist attention.

Étretat – Photo credit

A gorgeous enclave of France full of bucolic, pastoral countryside scenery, inspirational La Manche/English Channel coasts and picturesque villages, Normandy is regrettably too big to tackle with only 24 hours to spare. After all, put together, Upper and Lower Normandy is the same size as the entire nation of Armenia, or, to cite a closer, more relevant comparison, Belgium. Still, you can always give it a go. Check out our Normandy top 10.

10. Giverny

The tiny commune of Giverny has one whopper of a claim to fame: the home and garden of Claude Monet.

Where to stay: Domaine De La Corniche Rolleboise

9. Barfleur

Barfleur, a real honest-to-goodness maritime village that lives off the sea, is a breath of fresh air from the past.

Where to stay: La Granitière Hotel Cherbourg

8. Lyons-la-Forêt

The old Vexin county market town of Lyons-la-Forêt proves why it pays dividends to escape the coast and explore the interior of Upper Normandy. The wee village still has intact period Norman architecture and the former mansion of composer Maurice Ravel.

Where to stay: Le Domaine Du Clos Des Fontaines Hotel Jumièges

7. Étretat

The spectacular Pays de Caux has been a famous muse to artists and writers big and small. Flaubert and de Maupassant did it with words, Renoir and Monet did it with paint. Scores of tourists come to Étretat every year to capture the beautiful coast with the tools of modern technology and, indeed, paper and canvas as well.

Where to stay: Jardin Gorbeau Guesthouse Étretat

6. Fécamp

Fécamp is a lively town of 20,000 people with a wonderful landmark in the Abbaye de la Trinité de Fécamp, the birthplace of Bénédictine liqueur.

Where to stay: Domaine du Chateau de Sassetôt

5. Dieppe

The port and legacy seaside resort of Dieppe has a worthwhile 15th century castle-museum. Old town restaurants cook up some of the best scallops in France.

Where to stay: Mercure Dieppe la Présidence Hotel

4. Deauville-Trouville

The twin communes of Deauville and Trouville deliver a one-two punch of fashionable society, beau monde gentility and gritty, fishmonger charm.

Where to stay: Royal Barrière Hotel Deauville

Deauville-Trouville

3. Rouen

One can easily spend a week in Rouen alone. Once a major capital in medieval Europe, the modern city of 110,000 people hosts points of interest like the awesome Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Musée des Beaux-Arts and Jardin des Plantes.

Where to stay: Suite Novotel Rouen Normandie

Rouen City Guide

2. Caen

The Calvados department capital of Caen is flush with gems like the famous 11th century castle of William the Conqueror, exquisite Abbaye aux Hommes and Abbaye aux Dames and the grand Église Saint-Pierre. If time permits, try to mix in a visit to nearby Bayeux to see a world class cathedral and the nonpareil Bayeux Tapestry.

Where to stay: Holiday Inn Caen City Centre

Caen City Guide

1. Mont Saint-Michel

UNESCO World Heritage Mont Saint-Michel is a singular spot in Normandy. The tidal island citadel village of less than 50 people, some 350 km from Paris, is one of the most extraordinary wonders in France.

Where to stay: Best Western Hotel Moulin de Ducey

Mont Saint-Michel City Guide

Normandy honourable mentions: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret; Belle Époque architecture of Bagnoles-de-l’Orne; village of Le Bec-Hellouin and Bec Abbey; Granville, birthplace of Christian Dior.

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