Spend a Week in Normandy and visit the D -Day Beaches.

 A Week in Normandy, with its Stunning rural locations and history.

We have just spent a glorious Week in Normandy and have been to Lots of museums restaurants and beautiful sights. There really is so much to do in the La Manche region of Normandy. I am sure once you have visited you will want to return

This region also happens to be the home to one of the top most visited places in France, Le Mont Saint Michel.

The stunning Mont Saint Michel is a whole village and commune standing on one rock. Being one of the worlds Unesco sights it really was first on the list to visit. You can easily spend a morning afternoon or a day here and get lost.

Our next day we took a trip to Granville where we attended an art exhibition, the artists of Granville. Allan Stephens was showcasing his work on his paintings of Normandy.

Picorette was next on the list for one of their famous Strawberry Pavlova’s, simply irresistible.

Last but not least a meander through the gardens of the Cristian Dior museum. A glimpse in the world of Christian Dior, his inspirations and his family home.

Visit the D-Day Landing Beaches

One of the most important things I wanted to explore this time was the D Day landing sites. Normandy honours many war veterans from all over the world. There are museums, cemeteries, bomb sites and memorials dotted all along the coast. It is hard to believe this beautiful region was once the site of so many atrocities in the second world war. Because of this Normandy is one of the best places to visit to remember the lost and learn the history of the d day landings.

My grandad Bob arrived in Normandy on the Mulberry harbour of Gold Beach. We wanted to get an insight in to what went on here in 2nd world war. The best place to start was one of the largest War memorial cemeteries, The american cemetery of Colleville-Sur-Mer. Followed by the Museum of disembarkation, which left us with some sobering thoughts.

The Pointe Du Hoc and the Maisy Battery are not far from each other and easily doable in a day so they were next on our list. To explore bunkers and craters is exciting for the kids but at the same time you can not help but be reminded by why they are actually there. Both  near Grandcamp-Maisy it makes for a lovely day out with cafes and restaurants in the town too.

Thursday called for a break day we had done so much already.

A walk in our pretty little town of Villedieu le Poeles for a crepe and a spot of shopping was really refreshing. It is so pretty here, it is well known for its bell foundry and its making of copper pots hence the name Village of the frying pans.

The 6th Airborne Division on D-Day

I had already explored my grandads side of the war so I was interested to see what my uncle Albert got up to. As a parachutist in the 6th airborne division he came in to Normandy in the early hours of D Day.

The Caen memorial is the perfect place to go to see just about everything there is to know about the war so the best place to start. It takes at least 4 hours to visit it properly and see all what this place has to offer.

I had to fit in the Pegasus memorial Museum as this was where the parachutists where heading. Pegasus Bridges has lots of history but also a few cafes to stop and really take in this little town. Whether my uncle made it or not too Pegasus bridge I do not know, but he did survive the war and had a few stories to tell.

With still a few bits left to do before we go home I do not want to leave.

I could spend hours wandering the streets of these quaint villages. Sit in cafes drinking coffee and eating pastries. How can you ever tire of the relaxing feel of France.

If you liked this why not pop over to Mini Travellers and see how they got on in Brittany for the weekend.

D x