Welcome to Normandy
Welcome to Normandy, a region globally renowned as the site of the historic D-Day landings in 1944, where Allied troops from the United States and the British Empire launched the liberation of Western Europe.
Inland from the beaches lies the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a centuries-old artifact that tells the story of another invasion—William the Conqueror‘s conquest of England over 1,000 years ago. Normandy’s rich countryside is dotted with resilient cities, towns, and villages that withstood the devastation of war. Though largely destroyed during World War II, the region rose from the ashes, transforming itself into a vast open-air museum that preserves its history and heritage.
This picturesque region of lush green meadows and scenic beaches—whether sandy or pebbled—is the historic Duchy of Normandy, established in the 10th century. From 1956 to 2015, during a period of regional administrative reorganization, Normandy was split into two separate regions: Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie.
Basse Normandie-Lower Normandy comprises three departments:
- Calvados (14): The capital is Caen.
- Orne (61): The capital is Alençon.
- Manche (50): The capital is Saint-Lô, located on the Cotentin Peninsula.
This area is famous for its traditional bocage landscape, characterized by a patchwork of lush meadows separated by hedgerows. The region thrives on cattle and horse breeding, as well as agriculture, maintaining its rural charm and pastoral heritage.
It is widely known for its apple orchards and the traditional production of cider and Calvados, a delightfully rich apple brandy.
Haute Normandie-Upper Normandy includes the departments of:
- Eure (27): The capital is Évreux.
- Seine-Maritime (76): The capital is Rouen.
This area is more industrialized compared to its southern counterpart. Rouen serves as the prefecture of Normandy, while Caen is home to the Regional Council.
The whole of Normandy enjoys an oceanic and temperate climate, much like its neighbor, Hauts-de-France, with mild temperature variations but abundant rainfall—earning it the humorous nickname “the chamber pot of France.” The River Seine flows east to west across the region. It enters Normandy at Vernon, near the famed Monet’s house in Giverny, winds through Rouen and the scenic Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine, and finally empties into the English Channel at the picturesque Baie de Honfleur and the bustling port city of Le Havre.
The region features an impressive 630 kilometers of coastline along the English Channel, much of it dedicated to fishing, seafood production, and a vibrant tourism industry supported by numerous marinas. The popularity of sea bathing surged in the 19th century, spurring the development of charming seaside resorts. This boom was catalyzed by the opening of the first railway line connecting Paris to the Normandy coast, making the region a favored destination for coastal retreats.
The coastline showcases a variety of breathtaking landscapes. In the north, from Caen to Dieppe and along the Cotentin Peninsula, you’ll find the dramatic high cliffs of La Hague and the expansive sandy shores of the Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel.
The Côte d’Albâtre is famed for its striking white chalk cliffs (inspiring its name) and pebble beaches. Over time, erosion has carved deep canyons into these cliffs, creating natural harbors in towns like Dieppe and Fécamp. On the Côte Fleurie and Côte de Nacre, vast sandy beaches gave rise to prestigious seaside resorts such as Deauville and Trouville, renowned for their elegance and charm.
Normandy in numbers:
Area: 30,100 km2
Population: 3,450,388 which represents approximately 5.5% of France’s population
