Normandy in fall

I'm assuming you're talking about Oct/Nov?

Paris, Normandy, and Brittany all have crazy wet during the autumn. And it's usually about 50-60 degrees. So cold and wet. But the crowds are almost at their lowest.

Paris is also wet this time of the year, but the crowds aren't too different around the main attractions. Although, the lines for some things are smaller.

And for something like Mont St Michel, that is a very welcome thing. I once had to take some family visiting me to Mont St Michel in the summer.....I nearly killed my own family and every tourist there. La Mère Poulard's omelette is unique and good. Expensive but it's like eating history. Usually the wait can be hours upon hours, but should be better this time of the year. Make sure to check the tide schedule here

St Malo is a nice town, and worth a day or so. Weather is the same as the rest o

Definitely rent a car. Normandy is not that big (takes 10-15 min to go from town to town), and it can be a nightmare traveling with a tour group. Since a good bit of stuff is outside, I agree with the poster above that rain could definitely derail your plans.

On your way from Paris, I would suggest stopping in Giverny to see Monet's house and gardens. It's 10-15 min of the auto route, only takes a couple of hours to visit. You can walk around the ponds where he painted water lilies. LINK /

I've stayed in both Caen and Bayeux, and would suggest Bayeux. We stayed here: LINK /. You're a five minute walk from the Bayeux tapestry (LINK ). If you're into history, definitely go.

You can hit up most of the WWII stuff in one day, but I would block off two. The museum in Caen is excellent; I would stop there first as it gives you a good background of D-Day (which would be useful if you or anyone you're traveling with needs some context). (LINK /).

IMO, the only must see for D-Day is the American cemetery. Pointe-du-hoc would be my next recommendation. Other than that, there are a bunch of memorials/museums that you can do; those are simply dependent on your taste/interests.

You need a full day for Mont St. Michel, especially if you're staying near the D-Day beaches (it will take some time to travel there and back).

Also have some recommendations for Provence if that's what you decide to do.

Thanks so much--the Normandy option definitely will involve renting a car, and a stop at Giverny on the way out of Paris is on my potential itinerary.

Still trying to decide whether I want another cool & wet vacation (went to Dublin area in February; it pretty much drizzled the entire time & never got above 50 degrees), or if the sunny South is calling my name.

Part of me wants to go to St Malo, simply because my Acadian ancestors boarded a ship there and landed in Louisiana 80 days later....but I don't necessarily want to build a whole vacation around it.

RE: La Mere Poulard, I actually have a Poulard cookie tin on my office bookshelf, full of nespresso pods.

MajorTiger, pick one: 10 days in Provence or 10 days in Normandy....

quote:

---

MajorTiger, pick one: 10 days in Provence or 10 days in Normandy....

---

My gf and I did a roadtrip from Geneva thru la Provence, hitting up all the great towns, and ended in Nice. That's a pretty great roadtrip. And yes, skip Marseille.

quote:

---

Tough choice...visiting the American cemetery in Normandy is one of the few things I think all Americans should do before they die. That said, I think there's more to do/see in Provence. Just IMO, I think 10 days in Normandy might be too long.

---

Not a bad choice at all.

You received some excellent responses here. It does rain a lotin the fall. I personally enjoyed normandy better than provence since i am a history buff. My wife liked provence better since she likes wine. I still get goosebumps thinking about my walk on omaha beach. We took a viking cruise up and down the soane and rhone. Very good food. Marseilles can indeed be skipped although a side trip to nice and monaco was worthwhile. Driving in normandy was easy. Bayeux is the perfect centerpoint.

In October 2015 we went to Normandy. Landed in morning in Paris, stayed the day, then hopped on train the next morning to Caen. Rented a car in Caen, stayed at Chateau du Sully just outside of Bayeaux. Fantastic place. Drove and toured the D-Day sites ourselves. The beaches were surprisingly beautiful. I had always imagined it being murky water, but it was quite nice. Weather was dreary – foggy, misty temps in the 50s.

I highly recommend Pointe du Hoc. The bunkers and craters, plus the story of Rudder and the army rangers scaling the cliffs, combined with the scenery – really is a must see. From Normandy we drove to Burgundy.



Then in October 2016 we went back and spent more time in Normandy. This time rented car at CDG and drove. Weather was prettier – sunny with highs 60s to low 70s. Stayed in Honfleur for two nights then again at Chateau du Sully outside of Bayeaux. In Honfleur we stayed at a B&B called La Cour Sainte-Catherine. Loved it. Had some really amazing fish soup at two different restaurants in Honfleur. Can’t remember the names, but I can look back at credit card if requested.



Spent a day in Rouen, then spent a day in Etretat (beautiful, but possibly weather dependent). Then drove the Route du Cidre. I highly recommend that if you like Calvados (and you should). Calvados is amazing, and my regret is 1) not stopping more along the Route, and 2) not purchasing more. My parents are going back this year, and I have put in my request. The apples were just beginning to ripen when we went, which was mid-October. Go in late October, and there will be even more available.

I really really wish we had more time in this area, and when we go back it will be a higher priority. It’s quintessential Normandy. Stop in Pont-l’Eveque and Pierrefitte-en-Auge and partake in les produits du Normandie, namely Calvados et les fromages. Pont-l’Eveque is the popular regional cheese (aside from Camembert), but there are so many others to try. And there’s so much more along the Route du Cidre in the tiny towns and villages that we didn’t get to. Let me know if you’re interested in some more specifics, and I can look up the names of the places we went.

Juice, the Calvados & Camembert are definitely part of the attraction for me; better half wants the military history, I want the cheese/butter/apples. I looked at the pics of Etretat--lovely--and I definitely want to seek out small producers on the byways.

Sorry, Provence, maybe next time.

Trying to decide if the first leg should be a train to Rouen or Caen, then pick up the car....or just rent the car directly at CDG & swing by Giverny on the way. Concerned about my jet lagged self driving too far on the first day.....so might just stop in Giverny for the night & set out for Etretat/Honfleur the next morning. (But I like planning almost as much as I like traveling.)

quote:

---

Concerned about my jet lagged self driving too far on the first day.

---

Definitely a concern. I tried to do that this past summer and was super tired. Like dangerous tired, and my wife kept falling asleep when she was supposed to help me. But we just stopped often. Given, I had flown through Dublin to Heathrow so we didn't arrive into Heathrow until 1pm. If I had landed at 8am or whatever a more normal direct flight time it would of been better IMO.

But, it does save you time and money. Getting the rental car directly from the airport is more expensive as far as the rental car goes but it saves you time and money as far as transportation to and from the airport goes in my experience.

in normandy beware of the salads. their custom is to crack a raw egg over the top!!!! otherwise the food and drink is fantastic. best roasted chicken in the world. butter butter butter.