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The cathedrale of Bayeux
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Le
Calvados
Caen :
The abbey "aux Dames" (founded by queen Mathilde) and the abbey "aux
Hommes" (founded by Guillaume the Conqueror), which actually houses the town
hall are a must when visiting Caen. It is a harbour city crossed by the Orne River. In its
castle (12th, 14th and 15th centuries) you should visit the fine-Arts and Normandy
museums. Do not miss the Escoville’s mansion (Renaissance), the
Notre-Dame-de-la-Gloriette church (17th century).
Leaving Caen, you should stop at Bayeux
(famous tapestry relating the battle
of Hastings ). Then you ought to discover the sea front ; the Côte fleurie
(Flowered coast) from Honfleur to Cabourg ; do not miss Deauville ; the Côte
de Nacre (Mother of pearl coast) with its cliffs from Ouistreham
to Courseulles-sur-mer. On your road, you should also see the D-Day
beaches, the spit of Hoc, the typical manors and the "Brèche du
Diable" - Devil gap (deep gorge where the Laizon river pours). |
Mont-Saint-Michel |
La
Manche
Saint-Lô :
As many cities, Saint-Lô was a battle’s theater during D-Day in 1944. Most
of these cities have a war museum like Cherbourg also well known with the
famous musical comedy "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" of Jacques Demi and a music
of Michel Legrand.
Do not miss the highest cliffs of Europe (Nez of Jobourg), the lakes
of Vezin, the castle of Matignon. Visit the museums in Mont-Saint-Michel, Hambye (Abbey,
folklore), Cherbourg (paintings of Millet), St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (Barbey d'Aurevilly),
Villedieu-les-Poêles (brass)...
Nearby Mont-Saint-Michel.
Mont-Saint-Michel :
From the carolingian abbey it remains nothing.
Then the Mont Saint-Michel extended by successive constructions with the Romanesque abbey,
the choir (flaming gothic), the "Merveille" (chaplainery, Hosts’ hall,
Knights’ hall and cloister), the "Châtelet". With its towers (Perrine,
Claudine, Gabriel, Beatrix), and its ramparts, it becomes an impregnable fortress.
In the 8th century, a cataclysm destructed the arounding forest and endanger the mount to
the sea,
in the middle of quicksands. It is quite a symbol here,
like a sentinel on the Bretagne's border. |
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L'Orne
Alençon :
The town of Alençon gives its name to a lacemakery stitch (Alençon stitch). The
nicest pieces are exhibited in the "École dentellière" (Lacemakery school)
museum.
The Guise’s mansion houses the actual prefecture.
At just a stone's throw of there, you ought to visit the Ozé house with its paintings
works, ethnographic arts and Antiquity’s pieces. You should see the Saint-Léonard
district, by Jeudi and Bercail streets (Libert’s mansion), the old mansions, the
public library (ancient chapel of Jesuits college - end 17th century) and the old
Dukes’ castle with its Couronnée (Crowned) tower (14th and 15th centuries). Do
not miss the Painting museum (in the town hall from 18th century) and the house of
Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant Jesus.
This region has reputable bocages. You
should also visit the natural regional park of Normandy.
Bellême is a famous gastronomic center. You can sample here the
black pudding of Mortagne-au-Perche, and the delicate pork butcheries. Do not miss Mortagne
(Perche's historical center).
More in the North, you could drive on
Vimoutiers, Gacé
and Camembert (famous
with the same named cheese). And you could visit Argentan. On your road, you should see
the castles of Carrouges or Flers. |
