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Archive for the ‘normandy’ Category
Best French beaches for families with small children
From the wide, sandy beaches of the north to the wind-swept coastline of the West and sun-kissed shores of the South, France is blessed with a bounty of beautiful beaches.
But it pays to be in the know when planning a holiday with young children…is the nearest beach a hike down steep cliff paths, the sea a bubbling cauldron of tempestuous tides and the only place to eat an expensive bistro?
Fear not bathing beauties as we’ve done our research so you don’t have to. From calm waters to easy access, fine sand castle-building matter to rich rock pool pickings, here’s our guide to the top toddler friendly French beaches.
Brittany beaches for… sandcastle competitions
Visitors to Brittany are spoilt for choice in terms of family-friendly beaches. Top picks for sandcastles and safe swimming include:
La Grande Plage de Goas Lagorn, Baie de Lannion (or ”La Plage de Tresmeur”) – this sheltered, West facing beach offers suitably safe swimming and a mile of white, un-crowded sand. The nearby marina is home to a range of eateries including child-pleasing creperies.
La Grande Plage de Goas Lagorn
The Quiberon Peninsula – this coast, known as the ‘Cote Sauvage’, tends towards wilder beaches, but La Plage Conquel has one wild side facing the Atlantic and another overlooking sheltered Quiberon Bay. This sandy beach is ideal for children, with plenty of shallow rock pools to explore at low tide.
La Plage Conquel
Plage du Trez, Benodet – affording a pretty, sandy beach, and easy access as well as excellent facilities, Benodet is often cited as one of the most family friendly destinations in the region. The heart of the resort is Plage du Trez, which is supervised by life-guards during summer months and has a large variety of places to buy snacks and drinks just behind the beach. Nearby Plage du Letty and Plage Saint Gilles are ideal for rock pooling.
La Grande Plage, Carnac – Carnac’s South facing beaches are beautifully sheltered with miles of soft sand and pretty dunes at the eastern fringe – a classic seaside resort.
Pierre & Vacances accommodation in Brittany
La Grande Plage, Carnac
Normandy beaches for… the white sands which inspired Monet
Described as ‘non-stop beach’ the coast of Normandy offers a plentiful selection of fabulous sandy beaches – many rich in World War II associations, from Utah to Omaha, Juno to Sword.
Trouville Plage – immortalised by Monet, quieter and more relaxed than neighbouring Deauville, Trouville offers an immense sweep of white sand, a great beach for families with younger children.
The Boardwalk on the beach at Trouville
For more relaxed, inexpensive options head to Houlgate or St-Germain-sur-Ay. Houlgate is a nice, compact, clean resort whilst St Germain offers a vast beach, perfect for picnics (but worth noting that part of the beach is reserved for naturists, so pick your spot carefully!).
The department of Manche is blessed with 330 kilometres of stunning coastline, with the greatest number of European blue flag beaches in France. Sciotot Beach at Les Pieux offers fine sands and a rock pool for paddling in.
Pierre & Vacances accommodation in Normandy
Sunset on Sciotot Beach
Aquitaine beaches for… beachcombing and crab hunting
Renowned as a surfing Mecca for the wild Atlantic waves, Aquitaine also has some hidden gems for families with tiny tots.
Saint-Jean de Luz – adjacent to the charming town by the same name and on the border with Spain, Saint-Jean de Luz beach is compact, pristine and perfect for seaside thrills. There are even bathing tents for hire so you and your little ones can escape the sun.
Saint-Jean de Luz
Just around the coast, Socoa Beach, beneath Socoa Fort, is a tranquil spot for undisturbed beachcombing and crab hunting.
Lake Biscarosse – of course, beaches aren’t restricted to coastal areas. The lakes of Landes offer some excellent beaches for warm, shallow water and shady pine trees. There’s the Lake of Cazaux-Sanguinet to the North and the Lake of Biscarrosse-Parentis to the South
Children looking out at Lake Biscarosse
Moliets Plage – a golden sandy beach meets pine forest and lake, this resort is popular with locals and visitors alike, the beach bordered by the Courant d’Huchet nature reserve.
Pierre & Vacances accommodation in Aquitaine
Mediterranean beaches for… hidden gems and blue lagoons
The French Riviera, blessed with year-round sunshine, holds an eternal appeal for holidaymakers. You’ll have to go a long way to beat the bevy of beaches available on France’s Mediterranean coast. Here’s just a few of our favourites.
Port de Crouton Plage, Juan-les-Pins is something of a hidden gem. The fine sand slopes gently towards the calm shallows on this tranquil beach, a world away from the busier main strip at Juan-les-pins. The entrance to this sheltered cove can be discovered via the public pathway through the Hotel Belles Rives or 300 yards beyond Le Meridien Hotel.
Villefranche-sur-Mer – a charming, good old fashioned seaside town, far less crowded than much of the Riviera. There are two beaches to choose from, Plage des Marinières and Plage de la Darse. Marinières is the big, sandy beach, whilst la Darse is a mix of sand and pebbles. Both are popular with families but far less crowded than other beaches surrounding Nice.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Plage de la Gravette, Antibes – sheltered by a breakwater, forming a safe enclosure for swimming, the ‘Old Antibes beach’ is compact and sandy.
Plage de Notre Dame, Ile de Porquerolles – sometimes it’s worth going the extra mile to discover idyllic beaches. This is such an instance. The Ile de Porquerolles is the largest of the group of islands known as the Iles d’Hyères or ‘Les Iles d’Or’, the Golden Isles. Eucalyptus and pine scent the air and the crescent of white sand is framed by aqua blue water. Not for the faint hearted, the beach is a 20 minute cycle ride from the ferry, so only tackle this if little legs are up to a big adventure. Whilst there are no facilities in the immediate vicinity, pack a picnic and you’ll enjoy a day in paradise.
Plage de Notre Dame, Ile de Porquerolles
Plage de L’Estagnol, Bormes-les-Mimosas – one of the most beautiful white sandy beaches on the Med, the big draw for L’Estagnol is the quarter of a mile long sand-edged lagoon, which provides a haven for safe swimming. That and the chance to spot the Sarkozys – the president of France has use of the Fort de Brégançon.
Pierre & Vacances accommodation on the Mediterranean
Things to see and do in France for 2011
There’s always something slightly out of the ordinary happening in France, some quirky local festival or carnival full of colourful floats and characters. So whether you’re looking for an excuse for a quick hop over the channel or seeking fun days out during your holiday, look no further than our month-by-month guide.
March
78th Fête du Citron, 18 February – 9 March, Menton
Situated in the far South East of France in the Alpes Maritimes region, the charming seaside city of Menton provides the ideal sub-tropical climate for growing orange and lemon trees. Which is no doubt the inspiration behind the fabulous Fête du Citron, when some 145 tons of lemons and oranges are brought in to town for a spectacular citrus-fest.
This year’s festival is running under the theme of ‘the Great Civilisations’. Highlights include the Parade of Golden Fruit (complete with citrus-laden floats and sumptuous costumes) along with the Moonlit Parade and fireworks. Then there’s the Citrus Exhibition – travel to all four corners of the globe in one city, as rendered by (yes, you guessed it) citrus fruits.
Accommodation for the event.
Festival Guitares du Monde, 18-26 March, Troyes
This showcase for guitarists from around the world takes place each March at the Espace Culturel Gérard Philipe in St-André-les-Vergers on the outskirts of Troyes, in the Champagne region.
This year sees the 15th edition of this popular strum-off. Six concerts culminate on 26th March with one of the best French blues guitarists, Fred Chapellier.
Just don’t request Stairway to Heaven!
Accommodation for the event
Festival du Boudin, 19-21 March, Mortagne-au-Perche
Lovers of le boudin noir, or black pudding, should head to Normandy for this spring food fest. Highlights include the fiercely fought international black pudding contest and cookery demonstrations based around the celebrated blood sausage. More than 100 exhibitors, butchers and chefs showcase their wares, with over five kilometres of sausage sold annually at the three day event.
Accommodation for the event.
Choco’Croc Expo, 19-20 March, Strasbourg
If your perfect pudding is all about the sugar rush, then the Choco’Croc fair in Strasbourg, Alsace, will be more appealing. One of the largest dedicated chocolate forums, the show attracts experts from the worlds of chocolate, candy, nougat, gingerbread and pastries…perfect for sweet-toothed travellers and the ideal antidote to Lent. Learn tricks of the trade, taste the goodies and indulge your inner coco fiend.
Accommodation for the event.
April
Spi Ouest-France, 21-25 April, La Trinité-sur-Mer
Salty sea-dogs flock to La Trinité-sur-Mer in Brittany each Easter for the largest gathering of yachts in Europe. Sailing enthusiasts have been enjoying this regatta in the beautiful Quiberon Bay since 1978. Thousands of sailors and hundreds of spectators come together for a spectacle at sea and a party atmosphere on shore.
Accommodation for the event.
Biarritz Easter Egg hunt, 24-25 April
Easter bunnies in search of a more traditional fest should head to Biarritz in Aquitaine for organised chocolate hunts in parks and open spaces across the city over Easter Sunday and Monday. There is also a cavalcade which takes to the streets on the Sunday with dancers, musicians and singers.
Accommodation for the event.
Plein Vent, 29 April – 1 May, Houlgate
Let’s go fly a kite…on the beach at Houlgate in Normandy! The annual festival sees kite-flying enthusiasts from all over take ‘to the skies’ above the wide, sandy expanse of this wind-swept coast.
In fact, anything powered by the wind and you is welcome here…kites, para-gliders, buggies…
Accommodation for the event.
May
Pierres en Lumieres, 14 May, Orne
Strike a light! The monuments and buildings of Orne in Normandy are lit up at sunset for the third year of ‘Stones in Lights’. Candle-lit tours and performing choirs celebrate the heritage of this ancient town.
Accommodation for the event.
Festival of Brittany (‘Gouel Breizh’), 14 – 23 May
The whole region of Brittany puts on a show during the Gouel Breizh – which marks the feast day of its patron Saint, St Yves – with concerts, markets, exhibitions and street theatre. A land of tradition and folklore, Brittany or the ‘biniou koz’ (Breton for ‘the old bagpipe’) demonstrates its cultural vitality and unrivalled talent for making something new from something old.
Accommodation for the event.
June
Les Fêtes du Bouffon, 10-12 June, Saint Quentin en Tourmont
The Jester Festival in Saint Quentin in Picardy revives an old tradition as Herbert the giant walks through the streets, keeping an eye on the local residents. The jester himself is responsible for organising a host of street parties.
Accommodation for the event.
July
Red Fruit Fair, 3 July, Noyon
Strawberries, cherries, raspberries… Not to be outdone by their citrus cousins, the red fruits have their own festivities, in Noyon in Picardy the first Sunday of the month each July. In fact, Noyon is the red fruit capital of France! Notre Dame Cathedral square comes alive with street entertainment and markets bursting with jams, syrups, coulis and compotes.
Accommodation for the event.
Fête de la crêpe, 30-31 July, Gourin
What could be more French then a pancake festival! The flat delicacy takes pride of place in Gourin in Brittany with dancing, Breton pipe bands, games and of course the pancake-makers competition.
Now I wonder if we couldn’t combine ingredients with the Red Fruit Fair for the perfect desert…
Accommodation for the event.
August
Fête des Menteurs, 7 August, Moncrabeau
Liars, boasters, blaggers and storytellers can celebrate the art of tall tales at this international Festival of Liars in Moncrabeau in Aquitaine. The biggest liar with the greatest gift of the gab is crowned king (not unlike the British political voting system…).
The Academy of Liars was established in this town in 1748 and its officials, who swear to parody the truth, are the judges of the competition.
Accommodation for the event.
Carrot Festival, 13 August, Creances
The second Saturday of August is dedicated to honouring the carrot in Creances in Normandy. A parade of floats piled high with the redoubtable root are topped off with music, markets and a contest for the finest – judged on taste, not size. Indeed, carrots from Creances have a ‘label rouge’ of excellence.
Accommodation for the event.
Twins Festival, 15 August, Pleucadeuc
You’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re seeing double at Europe’s largest twins’ festival, held in Pleucadeuc in Brittanyeach August 15th. The ‘Deux et plus’ or ‘two and more’ gathering sees around 1,000 sets of twins descend on this north western town. Apparently the town’s deputy mayor was the driving force in instigating the event. Himself the father of twin daughters, he was inspired by the high occurrence of twins in the region.
Accommodation for the event.
September
Coupe Icare, Mid September, Saint Hilaire du Touvet
The oldest free flight festival in the world, the Icarus Cup takes place in Saint Hilaire du Touvet in the Rhône-Alpes region. Participants demonstrate their prowess in ‘air skiing’ as they compete for the cup by hurling themselves off the cliff. There are also displays by top hang glider and paraglider pilots, kites, boomerangs, gyrocopters, birds of prey…anything goes for the pure joy of flight.
Accommodation for the event.
October
Deauville car rally, 1-3 October, Deauville
Regarded as the “queen of the Norman beaches” and one of the most glamorous and prestigious beach resorts in France, Deauville in Normandy has been a fashionable holiday resort for the international upper classes since the 19th Century. Started in 1967, the Paris to Deauville vintage car rally aims to recall the spirit of the “roaring twenties”, when lovers of elegance flocked to this charming watering hole.
Accommodation for the event.
Honfleur Shrimp Festival, 8-9 October, Honfleur
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…
This shrimp festival pays homage to everything ‘of the sea’ from boats to fishermen, shanties to prawns and pirates! Music, tastings and plenty of fishy goings on are guaranteed in the harbour town of Honfleur in Normandy.
Accommodation for the event.
Vimoutiers Annual Apple Festival, 19-20 October, Vimoutiers
Every third weekend in October is given over to honouring apples, cider and calvados in the little market town of Vimoutiers in Normandy. Pommtastic!
Try and buy local apples and watch growers compete for titles such as ‘most beautiful apple’. There’s also a huge exhibit made entirely of apples. Don’t forget to try a tipple of the local brandy – calvados is drunk between courses, a tradition known as the ‘trou normand.’
An ‘apple a day’ translates into “eat an apple on going to bed, makes the doctor beg his bread” in local lore…
Accommodation for the event.
The Espelette Pepper Festival, 29-30 October, Espelette
The Espelette Pepper (Piment d’Espelette) is of the chilli variety and has its own festival in October each year in Aquitaine in the Basque region of France, where it is a culinary and cultural icon. The two-day event consists of music, dance, strong-man challenges, awards, and plenty of eating and drinking.
This not so hot chilli pepper (rating only a four on the ‘Scoville’ pepper strength scale) is more renowned for its smoky tang which complements everything from mustard to marmalade.
Accommodation for the event.
Deauville Vintage Car Rally 2010: French cars with Va Va Voom
Vintage French Cars with Va Va Voom
With the annual Paris – Deauville rally coming up in October we’ve started feeling all nostalgic about classic cars of yesteryear. This year the dates for the Deauville Car Rally are from 1st-3rd October 2010.
If ever a nation has injected romance and elegance into their cars it is the French. From the Bugatti Grand Prix Racer to the Renault Sedan, ‘L’automobile’ has had a triumphant and rich history on Gallic shores.
So grab your goggles, buff your bonnets and prepare to be inspired.
Let’s all go to Deauville
Regarded as the “queen of the Norman beaches” and one of the most glamorous and prestigious beach resorts in France, Deauville has been a fashionable holiday resort for the international upper classes since the 19th Century.
Today it’s the home to the Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (and sits at the heart of the premier horse breeding region in France), as well as the International American Film Festival, which takes place in September each year.
Started in 1967, the Paris to Deauville rally aims to recall the spirit of the “roaring twenties”, when lovers of elegance flocked to this charming watering hole.
Places to stay for Deauville Car Rally
Prices for a long weekend at Deauville Golf Resort start from only €258 for a studio apartment sleeping four people in during the rally from 30th September- 3rd October 2010.
What’s on at Deauville Car Rally
During the rally weekend you can expect to drool over the likes of the Citroen CV Torpedo and the Bugatti 35C Grand Prix.
Headscarves essential, goggles de-rigueur, beards optional.
Citroen really is one of the grand daddies of automobiles. Founded in 1919 by André Citroën, it was the first mass-production car company outside of the USA. Within eight years Citroën had become Europe’s largest car manufacturer, and the fourth largest in the world. Producers of the world’s first mass produced front wheel drive car (gotta love them), the Citroën boys earned a reputation for innovation and revolutionary engineering.
Forget the 2CV, if Citroën were to be remembered for one model only it should surely be the DS with its curious yet compelling self-levelling suspension and super-stylish look (and we’ll forgive and gloss over the Xantia).
Say the word Bugatti and you immediately conjure up another era, one of fast cars, fast living and derring do. Legendary for producing some of the most exclusive cars in the world, the company was founded by an Italian immigrant, Ettore Bugatti. And although the brand itself has long since turned to rust, the name will live on (not least in part thanks to Volkswagen who are now producing limited production sports cars under the Bugatti name).
Think Renault, think Nicole. How’s this for passion and intrigue – The 4CV was originally conceived and designed covertly by Renault engineers during the German occupation of France in WWII, when the manufacturer was under strict orders to design and produce only commercial and military vehicles. An economical “people’s car” inspired by the Volkswagen Beetle, it was the first French car to sell over a million units. Vive la revolution!
Last and by no means least we pay homage to Peugeot. The Peugeot family tree can be traced back to 1810 although the lion trademark didn’t come into being until 1858 and the first Peugeot car didn’t hit the streets until 1891. This feisty auto is loved by everyone from Colombo (who drove a 403 convertible in the TV series, to Mark Gené).
The ‘Classic Peugeot’ award goes to the 403 and 404 models.
Where can I get more of these beauties?
The Paris to Deauville Rally isn’t the only place you can get an eyeful of these driving delights.
The snappily titled Cité de l’Automobile, Musée national de l’automobile or the National Automobile Museum is the place to head to indulge your Bugatti passion, describing itself as “being to cars what the Louvre is to art”. Fritz Schlumpf was a wealthy French industrialist who, along with his brother, Hans, spent the post war years collecting classic cars. In the summer of 1960 they acquired ten Bugattis, including two Type 57s and one Type 46 5-litre model, three Rolls-Royces, two Hispano Suizas and one Tatra. By the end of the summer, they had purchased a total of 40 cars. In 1965 Fritz transformed one of his mills at Mulhouse in Alsace into a restoration shop. Today the Schlumpf Collection here houses 437 cars, representing numerous famous carmakers as well as Bugatti. http://www.collection-schlumpf.com/en/schlumpf/
You can also visit the Car Museum at Loheac in Brittany, Le Manoir d’Automobile, housing over 400 vintage cars from the likes of Renault, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche and more.
If you’re looking for more than a museum, The Peugeot Museum of Adventure at Sochaux in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France claims to offer just that, a celebration of the heritage of a family and firm.
Finally, no automobile pilgrimage would be complete without a visit to the racetrack and car museum. Le Mans in the Loirewhere the world-renowned 24 Heures du Mans car race takes place each year in mid-June. The first big race at Le Mans was the Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest in 1906, initiated by the newly formed automobile club. The museum documents the early history of car racing, “automobile anatomy and automated assembly”.
Accommodation for the Deauville Car Rally
Pierre & Vacances still have a small selection of accommodation available for the Deauville Car Rally. Find our remaining availability on the Deauville Page on PV-Holidays.com.
Make a week of it and explore the local area of Deauville . Stay at the new Pierre & Vacances Premium Residence & Spa Normandy in Houlgate which opened in 2010 and offers a luxury self-catering base for those wishing to explore the local region. Looking over Deauville Bay, there is also a spa and outdoor heated pool on-site allowing guests to relax after a busy day.
P&V: His ‘n’ Hers Holidays in Normandy
For him and for her, Normandy has it all. There are plenty of things you can enjoy together like strolling the promenades, relaxing on the beaches and exploring the very best of the local restaurants. And when he heads for one of the golf courses, she can hit the chic shopping or opt for a pampering treatment at a spa.
Doing Deauville
Deauville has grown from humble beginnings into a stylish resort town famous for its elegant high life. It was the racecourse that first brought Parisian aristocrats here, and racing is still a very popular sport throughout the entire region.
Elegant villas, chic shops and stylish cafes, restaurants and bars are the hallmarks of the town. Take a stroll along its wide beachside promenade and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped straight out of the pages of a belle époque novel.
During the summer it’s all beach and parasols, and in September you may bump into a Hollywood movie star on their way to the casino, here for the annual Film Festival.
Try out Trouville
Trouville rubs shoulders with Deauville just across the Touques River, but in contrast it’s far less formal betraying its roots as a fishing village. Here, you’ll find bustling quays, busy markets and narrow streets full of quaint shops to explore.
However, the one thing Trouville does share with Deauville is a very impressive beach. For the more actively inclined there’s also sailing and horse riding. Nothing beats a good early morning gallop along the beaches in Normandy.
Arty Honfleur
Honfleur is another delightful harbour town which as well as attracting holiday visitors has long been a magnet for famous French artists, drawn by the scenic views and beauty of the light. It made a big “impression” on Monet, Renoir and Cezanne amongst others.
So it’s no coincidence there are 15 art galleries in the town. Nowadays, you’re more likely to see wealthy yachtsman thronging the town squares and pavement cafes enjoying the fresh seafood rather than struggling artists. But the atmosphere is still as charming as it was a hundred years ago.
Love Le Touquet
They call Le Touquet “Paris bythe-sea” and you’ll quickly see why. It may not have an Eiffel Tower but otherwise it certainly looks the part as many of Frances’s most famous architects have erected buildings here.
During the 1920s Noel Coward and his smart set of literary chums took over at weekends, but now Le Touquet is popular with couples from all over the British Isles who are drawn by the beach, the wild dunes, casino, and walks amongst the elegant villas of a bygone era in shady woodlands.
The beach at Cabourg
Considered by many to be the most spectacular beach on the entire Normandy coast, Cabourg is also famous for two other things: its racecourse, and that the famous French writer Marcel Proust used to visit here.
Proust came here for his health, but today’s visitor can enjoy a great deal more including golf, tennis, mini golf, sailing, horse riding and there’s also a swimming pool and a casino.
And if you fancy a bet of a different kind, the racecourse is just opposite the Mercure Hotel.
Chic boutiques
You’ll find shopping with a certain “je ne sais quoi” in all the chic resort towns of the Normandy coast, and the area continues to attract the stylish and the fashion conscious, just as it always has. All a girl has to do is find something else for him to do for a few hours.
Golf
Golf is played widely throughout Normandy and to all standards. The Deauville area has some of the best courses, including Champ de Bataille, known as Normandy’s Wentworth.
Spas
Many of the larger resort hotels have spas that are open to the public. The Algotherm Thalassotherapy Spa in Deauville is especially well recommended being centrally located and offering a wide range of treatments.
Getting there
Normandy has more cross-channel ferry routes than any other region in France and is easily reached from the UK via ferry from Portsmouth, Newhaven and Poole.
Brittany Ferries prices Portsmouth to Caen and Poole to Cherbourg are as follows:
17 July – 27 August: £142 return based on a car plus 2 and a stay of up to 5 days
Portsmouth to Cherbourg:
1 July – 24 July: £152 return based on a car plus 2 and a stay of up to 5 days
Air France, Ryanair and Sky South also operate regular flights to the region from a number of UK airports.
Ryanair return flights London (Stansted) to Dinard and London (Luton) to Brest from £99.
Where to stay
European self-catering accommodation specialist P&V will op
en its brand new four star property, Residence MGM de Houlgate, overlooking Normandy’s Deauville Bay in August 2009. Those who book now for a stay during the residence’s first month will receive a discount of up to 20 percent.
Situated 600m from the beach, Residence MGM de Houlgate features 82 apartments and 44 cottages, many with capacity for up to eight guests. All properties are self-catering with fully equipped kitchens, WiFi Internet connections and LCD TVs. Onsite facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, health spa and children’s activity area. Find out more about the property by visiting P&V’s website, PV-Holidays.com,.
PV-holidays have also just launched the Beat The Euro campaign, where customers can claim at least an extra 22% discount and in some cases even up to 45% off on their summer holidays. To help out families the discount can also be used on peak dates during school holidays. To claim your discount, customers need to visit here:
www.pv-holidays.com/beatstheeuro_ms
And enter the code 8258
PV-Holidays have also just launched their golf brochure for 2009. If you are considering a golf holiday in France please click on this link to view the brochure and find out more information.
PV-Holidays: Holidays for Boys: Normandy
Camembert, cider, charming fishing ports and sheltered bays are just a few of Normandy’s star attractions. Yet for those with a passion for history and war stories, a tour of Normandy’s famous ‘Landing Beaches” offers a seaside break with a difference.
Whether you’re looking for a boys’ own holiday adventure or would like to trace the footsteps of your grandfathers or great grandfathers who fought in WWII, a tour of the museums, memorials and military cemeteries along the northern French coast makes for a genuinely unforgettable experience.
History watch
The Allied Forces’ Operation Overlord began on the 6th June 1944, when in just one day 130,000 troops landed on the Normandy coast at Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah beaches – a mass deployment of troops famously known as the D-Day Landings.
First an air-based landing took place very early in the morning, with both British and American troops being parachuted in to occupied France, followed by a sea-based invasion.
Despite a great deal of lives lost (50,000 in Calvados alone), these battles represented the turning point of the Second World War in Western Europe.
Museum pieces
Start your history tour in the town of Caen – the gateway to the beaches – at The Memorial Museum (Esplanade Dwight-Eisenhower). Officially named Le Mémorial de Caen, un musée pour la paix – “The Caen Memorial, a Museum for Peace,” this modern, hi-tech building is built over what was the Command Centre of the German defences of Normandy after D-Day. Widely considered to be the best World War II museum in France, since its opening in 1988, it has become the second most visited site in Normandy after Mont-St-Michel.
Here, you’ll discover all the key events leading up to and after D-Day and the Battle of Normandy via compelling interactive exhibitions and two powerful video presentations.
The museum also runs daily guided tours of the D-Day beaches by minivan, which depart from the museum and Caen station. Visit here for information and reservations.
Normandy Beaches
If you’d rather take an independent tour, hire a car and follow the coast road to Sword, Juno, Gold and Omaha beaches – and Utah beach is just a little further afield.
Walking on the Normandy Landings beaches, and reading the inscriptions on the headstones in the vast cemeteries containing thousands of graves, laid out in well tended lines is an extremely moving experience.
Mulberry Harbour
Just off Gold beach at Arromanches you can see the remains of the floating ‘Mulberry Harbour” used during the landings. Mulberry Harbour was towed from England and erected on the floor of the seabed after the beachheads had been secured. Many of the iron floats still lie on the beach today, as well as the harbour itself.
At the nearby 6th June 1944 Museum you can discover how this amazing feat was planned and executed, including how the floating roads took the lorries out to load up from the ships. The museum has an excellent scale mode of Mulberry Harbour and shows two good films showing incredible live footage of the invasion.
At Arromanches, you’ll also find the fabulous 360 Degree Cinema. This cinema gives a graphic idea of the events of 6th June 1944 and the battles that ensued. Using original footage and sound, you can almost feel like you’re in the thick of the fighting.
Visit The Pointe du Hoc and you’ll see that the cliffs are still pitted with German bunkers and shell holes. These cliffs were captured using London Fire Brigade ladders to ascend the sheer cliffs under enemy fire.
Omaha Beach
Known as the ‘beach of blood” Omaha Beach was one of the key battlegrounds of WWII. American Allied forces showed incredible bravery in securing Omaha Beach, the events of which have been immortalised by Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan”, which tells the story of how the beach was captured and the ensuing Battle of Normandy.
The nearby American Military Cemetery is a poignant memorial to the fallen soldiers, and on the beach itself history buffs with metal detectors still find shrapnel, buttons and bullets.
Other attractions
Make your way to Pegasus Bridge, where you’ll find Cafe Gondrée, the first house to be liberated by the British soldiers during the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944. It’s still a bar today and features a small exhibition of photos and memorabilia.
Bayeaux, renowned for its famous tapestry was also the first city to be liberated after the Normandy Landings. The Battles of Normandy Museum in Bayeux brings history to life with 21st century technology to offer a better understanding of this decisive action in the liberation of Western Europe.
Situated in the outskirts of the town, The Allied Cemetery Bayeaux is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France and contains 4,144 Commonwealth burials, 338 of them unidentified. There are also 504 war graves of other nationalities, the majority German. The Bayeux Memorial stands opposite the cemetery and bears the names of more than 1,800 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died in the early stages of the campaign and have no known grave.
Where to stay
The charming resort town of Deauville with its boardwalk, casino, hippodrome and chic boutiques is the perfect base for exploring the landings beaches, memorials and museums
with the promise of café and nightlife buzz when you return from your days touring. And the exceptionally picturesque ports of Honfleur and Trouville are also nearby.
PV-Holidays has a wide choice of affordable self-catering apartments in Normandy including the Pierre & Vacances – Deauville Golf Resort in Deauville which offers comfortable studios with fully equipped kitchens from just 310 Euros for seven nights from 7-14 March 2009. For further information on all apartments, special deals and availability, visit here
Current Special Offers
PV-Holidays have 12 properties available in the area, and have studios situated in Deauville, Branville, Omaha Beach, Trouville Cabourg, Honfleur and Mont St Michael, with many of these properties currently offering 15-20% off, especially when booked early.
PV-Holidays have also extended this offer during June, to allow customers to experience the anniversary of the landings.
You can find the selection of properties in the Normandy area here
Branville holiday village has been completed in time for 2009, so for families who wish to take a cultural break, this is the perfect base. Find more information here
*PHOTO CREDITED TO NORMANDY TOURIST BOARD, FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE: http://www.normandy-tourism.org
Thanks for reading,
PV-Holidays
