Normandy
Honfleur - Central North Coast

			Rouen Cathedral

Mont St. Michel - NW Normandy

Fécamp - NE Normandy Palais Bénédectine

INTRODUCTION TO THE REGION

The ancient duchy of Normandy became a french province at the end of the XV century.

Today it includes the departments of LA SEINE-MARITIME (76), LE CALVADOS (14), LA MANCHE(50), L' EURE (27) and L'ORNE (61). The province of Normandy is also subdivided into : la Basse Normandie - which includes Caux, the lower Seine Valley, Rouen - and the Haute Normandy which includes Caen, Falaise, Alencon and Cotentin.

There is a high geographical contrast between these two regions: whereas the Cotentin and the Basse Normandie is mountaineous and rich of beautiful green waters - where canoeing is a favourite sport - the Haute Normandie is a large plateau producing excellent agricoltural land. The aspect of Normandy' s coastline with its chalky cliffs is truly enchanting and the coast stretching from Deauville to Cabourg offers numerous stretches of sandy beaches , rich of highly appreciated summer resorts. The coast that stretches from the north of the river Orne to that of the river Vire, is flat and linear which accounts for having been chosen for the " D day" landing. In comparison, the Cotentin is , instead, much wilder.

The climate: Normandy is a region that shares both the European continental weather and the influence of the Atlantic , with and alternance of rainfalls and sunny spells. This type of weather favours the growth of pastureland and animal farming. The forest is also very much a part of Normandy - Birch, Chestnut, Beech and polar trees can be found in its protected - regional parks - forests. All superbly kept and all offering magnificient game reserves and really splendid beauty spots. Deauville, Trouville and Cabourg gained their fame in the last century. Deauville became the place to go for the rich , because of the presence of its casinos and golf course. Trouville is where the people first came to bath whereas Cabourg is linked to Marcel Proust.

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