Northwest France in brief: Brittany and Normandy
Easily accessible for visitors from the UK and from Northern Europe, Brittany and Normandy offer a variety of coastal and inland tourist destinations, with plenty of attractions. Situated a couple of hundred miles south of the English Westcountry, they are in many respects rather like a warmer sunnier version of the West of England.... with less crowds, notably inland! Historically, Brittany and Cornwall have a lot in common, notably their Celtic roots. The north coast of Brittany, with its rugged granite cliffs and little sandy coves, is fairly similar to North Cornwall, though a bit warmer and sunnier. The south coast of Brittany can be hot in the summer months.... though as with the West of England, rainy weeks remain a possibility in any season. Click here for more, including Brittany's heritage, tourist attractions and a regional overview. Normandy, from where William the Conqueror set out in 1066, has much in common with the south of England between Devon and Sussex: sandy beaches, rocky cliffs in the Cotentin peninsula, the famous white cliffs of Etretat, and an inland area full of wonderful small towns and villages, many boasting fine half-timbered houses. One such town is Bayeux, home of the famous mediaeval Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the Battle of Hastings. Off the coast in the west of the region - though technically in Brittany - lies the Mont St. Michel, the most visited historic site in France outside Paris. Normandy is also famous for its stables and racehorses. The Normandy Beaches, scene of the vital D-Day landings in the Second World War, draw many visitors, including a lot of American tourists. Local specialities include sea food ("fruits de mer") , famous cheeses like Camembert, and of course, like the S-W of England, cider. .. but also its more potent cousin "Calvados". If you want to experience the real France without too much driving, Brittany and Normandy are worth considering.
Main cities: Caen, Rouen, Rennes, Brest, Nantes Going further: Accommodation: | Votre bannière ici? Contact: info "at" about-france.com |
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