Lower Normandy is located on the North Coast of France. To the North is the English Channel and on the East Upper Normandy. To the South, Lower Normandy borders Brittany, Western Loire and Centre regions. A predominantly rural area favoured by British buyers. There are 3 departments: Orne, Manche and Calvados.
Lower Normandy Landscape With about 600 kilometres of coastline there is a wonderful mixture of cliffs, pebbly coves and long stretches of golden sands - this has always been a popular destination for holidaymakers. The Cherbourg peninsula is renowned for family holidays - the most top destinations being Deauville, Trouville, and Cabourg. The Gulf Stream warms the sea here! Inland the sparsely populated rural area is home to apple orchards (Calvados) and other fruits. There are many sleepy market towns to wander around and enjoy the local foods - including fresh bread, cheeses, fruits and a glass or two of calvados!
Lower Normandy Attractions Apart from the many and varied beaches around the coastline, there are plenty of activities to enjoy. The D-Day landings in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 were the focus of the largest and most complex invasion ever attempted. There are many D-Day sites to be visited including: Memorial at Caen Remnants of "Port Winston" - an artificial harbour built in England and floated to the bay at Arromanches. Longues-sur-Mer - fortified German gun emplacements.
Bayeux Tapestry - is a 50 cm by 70 m (20 in by 230 ft) long embroidered cloth which depicts scenes commemorating the Battle of Hastings in 1066, with annotations in Latin. The tapestry presently exhibited in a museum in Bayeux.
Other lovely coastal attractions are Honfleur and Deauville. In particular, Honfleur is a popular destination. A quaint fishing port with a thriving "artist" element and lovely small shops. The restaurants are well frequented too!
Mont-Saint-Michel This is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area, the wide bay of Mont- Saint-Michel, abutting Brittany and Lower Normandy, claims the strongest tides in Europe. This "Wonder of the Western World" towers above the vast mud-flats that surround it. Do not miss : Visit to the abbey.
Weather/Climate Weather is similar to the South of England with distinct seasons. Perhaps slightly warmer and sunnier in the Summer! The countryside is green so it does rain.
Getting there By road: From Calais ferry port / Eurostar driving times are about 5 hours. You can travel by Autoroute (tolls) all the way. By Ferry: Caen and Cherbourg ports are located in Lower Normandy so you can arrive in the heart of Lower Normandy from the UK. St Malo, Dieppe and Le Havre are also close by. By Plane: Dinard (Brittany) - flights arrive form East Midlands, Stansted and Luton. You can also fly to Paris and get to Lower Normandy in 3 hours.
Population Just under 1.5 million inhabitants
Major Towns Caen Caen is famous for its historical buildings built in the time of William the Conqueror, who was buried here, and for the Battle for Caen - fighting that took place around Caen during the Battle of Normandy. Cherbourg Cherbourg is a commercial and military port, but none the less one of the most popular ports in France. Deauville Deauville is a glamorous seaside resort, symbolising elegance, prestige and sophistication. Nearby the Polo and Horse Racing re-enforces its tradition. Alencon Alencon is synonymous with lace and once was the lace capital of Europe. The industry has long since departed and Alencon is now the centre of manufacture for Moulinex! North of Alencon is Sees with its gothic cathedral Saint Lo Saint-Lo is perched on a rocky outcrop in the heart of the Cotentin peninsular. The town is surrounded by ramparts and overlooked by the Notre Dame cathedral.
Prices (August 2006) Coastal properties are more expensive. Inland village, town and rural properties are much cheaper. Unfortunately the days of bargain barns for renovation are long gone. There is still a strong demand for properties at the cheaper end of the market.
Price Guideline Apartments: 60,000 euros (Coast) Farmhouses: 30,000 euros (needs renovation) Townhouses: 30,000 euros Coastal Houses: 100,000 + euros Land: from 6 euros per sq. m
Upper Normandy Landscape The Northern coast is typically limestone (chalk) cliffs with long beaches. Inland the countryside is dominated by the meandering Seine. The estuary is just south of Le Havre. Inland there are huge tracts of agricultural land which are not inspiring. Several rivers punctuate the landscape and these areas are attractive. Typified by the Monet Gardens at Giverny on the banks of the Seine near Vernon.
Upper Normandy Attractions One of the big selling points is the Gastronomy of the region - lovely open air markets to sample the wide range of foods: produce from local farms (selling cider, ostrich meat, snails, Calvados, foie gras, and much more). Water is a distinctive element - from the beaches and cliffs in the North to the rivers that meander throughout the region: rivers, with vast meadows, offering a taste of paradise to all fly-fishermen. The towns of Pont-Audemer and Bernay are surrounded by water and the ever present Seine is a feature in the Regional Nature Park.
There are visits to the archaeological gardens at Vieil-Evreux, medieval fortresses in Chateau-Gaillard, Harcourt, and centuries-old abbeys (in Bec-Hellouin, and Fontaine-Guerard). In the forests of Normandy - Lyons-la-Foret, Ferriere-sur-Risle - one can explore quaint towns and villages.
Fishing boats still land their catches at Fecamp, so that one can savour fresh seafood in the harbour-front restaurants. Further along the coast the large town of Dieppe is well worth a visit. There is plenty to see, with a good choice of shops and excellent restaurants along the quays.
Rouen, the capital of Normandy, is a delight. Its pedestrian centre allows easy access to Rouen's history. There are walks through the historical centre, past half-timbered houses, discovering Gothic treasures like the Notre Dame Cathedral, St Ouen abbey, Saint Maclou church and the Palais de Justice or the Renaissance style monuments such as the Saint Maclou ossuary.
Monet's Gardens Last, but by no means least, are the beautiful Monet gardens at Giverny. The village alone is a delight to walk through but Monet's Gardens are ablaze with colour during the summer and cannot be missed. Sample the bridge over the Lily pads. These are images that you will treasure.
Weather/Climate Weather is similar to the South of England with distinct seasons. Perhaps slightly warmer and sunnier in the Summer! The countryside is green so it does rain.
Getting there By road: From Calais ferry port / Eurostar driving times are about 2 to 3 hours. You can travel by Autoroute (tolls) all the way. By Ferry: Upper Normandy is well served by the Ferry Ports of Dieppe and Le Havre so one can arrive in the heart of Upper Normandy from the UK. Other nearby ports include Caen, Cherboug ports to the West and Calais and Boulogne ports to the East. By Plane: Beauvais airport is short distance away in Picardy. One can also fly to Paris and get to Upper Normandy in less than 2 hours.
Upper Normandy Population Just under 2 million inhabitants
Major Towns Dieppe Major port on the coast - lovely harbour with restaurant on the quays. Good selection of shops and monuments to visit. Evreux Evreux is situated on the river Iton just a 100 km from Paris. XII century cathedral with impressive stained glass windows. Fecamp Popular harbour town on the coast - between Le Havre and Dieppe. Rouen The capital of Normandy and full of history. Sited on a river, this city is well worth visiting for its architectural treasures.
Prices (August 2006) Property prices are affected by the proximity to Paris. Many Parisians buy weekend retreats in this region and contribute to property inflation. Price Guideline Apartments: 65,000 euros (Coast) Farmhouses: 120,000 euros Townhouses: 110,000 euros Villa: 160,000 + euros Land: from 10 euros per sq. m