Best places to visit in Normandy

Editor's Choice Highlights

This selection highlights the architectural and cultural heritage of Normandy, focusing on the historic centers of Caen and Bayeux. It features the Romanesque ruins of Abbaye de Jumièges and the medieval timber-framed houses of Quartier du Vaugueux. Cultural institutions include the fine arts and history museums housed within Caen Castle, alongside specialized sites like the Baron Gérard Museum and the lace-making conservatory. Natural spaces range from the medicinal Jardin des Simples to the expansive sands of Montmartin-sur-Mer.

Editor's Choice Highlights — Map

Elke Wetzig / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Abbaye de Jumièges

Former Benedictine monastery ruins dating back to the 7th century, with the remaining 11th-century Romanesque towers reaching 46 meters in height.

Mairie de Bayeux / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Jardin botanique de Bayeux

The Jardin botanique de Bayeux, also called the Jardin public de Bayeux, is a botanical garden and municipal park located at 53, route de…

M.Strīķis / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen is a fine arts museum in the French city of Caen, founded at the start of the 19th century and rebuilt in…

Karldupart / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Quartier du Vaugueux

Historic medieval district in Caen featuring narrow cobblestone streets and traditional 16th and 17th-century timber-framed houses.

DennisPeeters / Public domain

E

Normandy Museum

A museum housing an exhibition on the history of Normandy and William the Conqueror.

Teko25 / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Parc de la Colline aux Oiseaux

A 17-hectare landscaped park created on a former landfill to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day, featuring a large rose garden and a labyrinth.

Girolamo Marchesi / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Musée d'Art et d'Histoire Baron Gérard

Housed in the former Bishop’s Palace, this museum displays collections of Bayeux lace, local porcelain, and European fine arts from the 15th to the 20th centuries.

Roi.dagobert / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Jardin des Simples

A medieval-style garden located within the walls of the Château de Caen, featuring a collection of aromatic and medicinal herbs.

Marianne Casamance / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Conservatoire de la Dentelle de Bayeux

A small workshop where visitors can find around four to five women working on their craft of handmade lace.

Romain Bréget / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Memorial des Reporters

A memorial path in Bayeux dedicated to journalists killed since 1944, featuring white stone stelae engraved with over 2,000 names.

K

Place Saint-Patrice

Saturday markets are a must in the city of Bayeux. Sellers offer local produce, including cheeses, Calvados and Cider from the area.

L

Montmartin-sur-Mer Beach

An expansive sandy beach on the western coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, known for its high tides and protected dune ecosystem.

Other Lists

Normandie's Absolute Essentials Normandy's Heritage Trail Castles and Manor Houses Historic Churches and Abbeys of France Normandy Museums & History WWII Normandy Sites Ancient Megaliths and Monuments Parks and Gardens Iconic Beaches & Cliffs