Regions of France : Normandy

Haute Normandie is easy to reach from its ports Le Hâvre and Dieppe although, thanks to the improved motorway network, Rouen is only a little over two hours from Calais.

Arriving in Basse Normandie across the mammoth Pont de Normandie, the road leads straight to the painters’ paradise Honfleur with its picture book harbour. Along the coast, Deauville still attracts the Paris crowds. Ferries from the UK sail to Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg making it easy to head south to the jewel of Mont St Michel.
 

Best Western Art Hotel Le Havre   Located at the heart of the centre town, Best Western Art Hotel Le Havre is a historical building of the District Perret, Vis-a-vis Theatre of the Volcano. The hotel has easy access to SNCF railway station, the Ferries terminal for England with the Port authority (P.A.H.) and the industrial parks. The hotel offers 30 comfortable guestrooms that are well equipped with numerous modern amenities. Guests can dine at the onsite restaurant and also start their day with the delicious breakfast being served at the hotel. Well-equipped conference room accommodating up to 20 people are also available onsite.

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Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

One of France’s best-known attractions, the abbey is situated on a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was founded in 708 by the Bishop of Avranches, who built a chapel here. Construction of the current abbey began in 1023 but was not finished for 400 years. Built with granite, it encompasses a range of architectural styles, from Norman to Gothic. The abbey was a place for pilgrimages for centuries and also served as a monastery, a prison and a fortress against the English. There is still a Benedictine monastery within the abbey, which can be visited on a guided tour. Among the maze of cobbled streets within the walls of the abbey are a number of other attractions including a maritime museum and a multimedia museum that tells the story of the island. The abbey is connected to the shore by a causeway, but there are plans to construct a bridge to it so that the sea will again flow freely around the island.

Restoring Mont-St.-Michel

At Mont-St.-Michel, the rocky tidal islet off the Normandy coast that is crowned by a medieval Benedictine abbey, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin opened a vast engineering project yesterday to remove centuries of silt, Agence France-Presse reported. The picturesque abbey, founded 1,300 years ago, is the most-visited tourist attraction in France outside Paris. For centuries it was accessible by land only during low tide, but the encroachment of surrounding mudflats has kept it cut off only at very high tides. With the new project, which is expected to take six years to complete and cost $190 million, a 19th-century dyke linking the mount to the mainland will be replaced by a bridge, and a sophisticated new dam on the Couesnon — a tidal river that flows into the bay — will be used to flush mud and silt out to sea. While climbing the 360 steps leading to the summit of the mount, Mr. Villepin said, "It is a small piece of eternity you can touch with your finger."

Hotels Mont St Michel

Le Relais Saint Michel  The 4-star hotel boasts a tremendous location, facing Mont Saint-Michel. Relais Saint-Michel features cosy and well-equipped rooms, a panoramic restaurant, terraces and gardens full of flowers, a piano bar as well as spaces dedicated to relaxation. Enjoy a breathtaking view from your room and its private terrace: the sea, the beaches, the polders, and –last but not least- imposing Mont Saint-Michel. The refined décor, the quality of the facilities as well as the most modern comforts contribute to making an unforgettable stay in this luxury hotel. Moreover, you will benefit from a unique setting with a landscaped garden, the strand and the ebb and flow, overlooking the bay of Mont Saint-Michel.

Cathedral Chartres

Officially known as the "Cathedral of Our Lady in Chartres", it is ranked as one of the finest examples of Gothic French architecture. The original structure dates back to 1145 and was rebuilt in 1194 after a devastating fire. It was completed over a 26-year period. The cathedral was consecrated under King (Saint) Louis and Pope Alexander IV on October 17, 1260. The 106 stained glass windows, including the three rose windows, are its crowning glory. Made during the Middle Ages and dating from the beginning of the 12th century, they cover an area of 3150 m. Standing before the strange beauty of a Gothic cathedral, one cannot but appreciate the artistry, skill and sacrifice of the medieval stonecutter. The stone has weathered with vicissitudes of Nature making the monument more romantic.

Rouen

 "City of Hundred Spires", is also the seat of the Archbishop of Rouen and the capital of Normandy. Looming over the quaint town with cobbled streets and an air of quiet and leisure is the tower of the Notre-Dame de Rouen or the Rouen Cathedral considered the highest spire (490 ft.) in France. It contains the tomb of Richard Lion Heart. The English burnt Joan of Arc at the stakes in 1431 at Rouen and an elegant church was built in remembrance. The city, including the cathedral, was heavily damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt later. In 1894, the artist Claude Monet completed a series of 40 oil paintings of the cathedral. For two years, the aging visionary kept peculiar hours, rising before dawn and retiring just after twilight, in order to capture the transient effects of light and atmosphere on this great old church.

Hotel Rouen St-Sever   Nestled in a meander of the River Seine, this hotel is well located in the heart of Rouen, in northwestern France. Cross over the river for the impressive Rouen Cathedral, once the tallest building in the world, and the Gros Horloge, the 16th century astronomical clock. Walk into the historic city centre to see the sights, including pretty streets, half-timbered houses and attractive squares. Sit back in a cafe and watch life go by in this charming city. More Hotels Rouen

Amiens

north of Rouen, is a big town with a small population. As one approaches, spires seem to dominate the skyline. The first sight of the cathedral is breathtaking as one is dwarfed by its awesome size, the largest and most Classical of French cathedrals. Built in 1152, it stands majestic beckoning the visitor to step beyond into its interior. The space inside engulfs and drowns — the ceiling is 42.3 m high compared to Chartres, which is 37 m.

The solemn majesty of these cathedrals with their soaring spires, the experience of space within, the ingenuous flying buttresses, the artistic rose windows, the monumental soaring lines and the sculptured procession of saints in their regalia make them an exhilarating and awesome experience. One does not simply walk out of the cathedral saying one monument over; rather its experience lingers to create a mental serenity and aspiring for another experience.