Road Trip in Normandy Region France: Scenic Drives
We loved driving around in Europe during our vacations in the previous years, one of the main reasons why we planned this road trip through Normandy France.
Normandy, in the western part of France, covers the region between Caen, River Seine and the sea. It is one of the most attractive regions of France; you may keep driving for a week through the region yet not see it all!
Road trip in Normandy
As per my planned road trip in Normandy, I drove through the region as I transited from Arras to Amiens to Liseux for night halt and then to Mont St. Michel and from there to Fougeres (Brittany) for night halt. That is just two days!
A hardcore traveler requires many more days. The route on google maps.
Road trip in Normandy
Yet, what I saw and experienced was very pleasing; one of the best drives ever! The roads are smooth with green covers from both sides; a luxuriant softness so typical of the region.
Sometimes we would cross long stretches plains, hillsides with plenty of cows and sheep grazing. As we paused to take their snaps, they too paused their munching to smile back.
Scenic routes in Normandy Region of France
There is plenty to see in terms of history and nature. The region is dotted with small towns rich with history, castles and chateaus. You can even stay in some of them.
Plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants offering tasty Normandy dishes. Traveling by car had its advantages, not getting bound to routes of buses and trains.
Several options are available to explore. We had the books by Lonely Planet and DK Back Roads France as guide. Different kinds of tours and trips are suggested to suit your taste. We often steered off to smaller road treating ourselves to unbearably scenic sights and just when we felt we were getting lost our GPS would rescue us.
Having said all these let me add: tourists from all over the world flock to France, most do so to visit only the Disneyland there! They don’t know what they are missing out. Road trip through Normandy is a must for nature lovers, outdoor sport enthusiasts, WWII history buffs and medieval architecture lovers. In ideal conditions one would need to plan for one week in Normandy and yet come back unsatiated.
It is possible to avoid tolls while driving through this region. We did that for a small stretch, and the roads took us through the peaceful country side. Small roads of villages lined with timbered houses, scenic canals and tall trees. It explains how many writers and poets got their inspirations here.
Cuisine of Normandy
Try these delicious dishes of Normandy:
- Andouillette d’Alençon – made with veal tripe, covered with a layer of waxy fat and grilled over a fire
- Marmite dieppoise – recipe is based on local fish and seafood of superior quality
- Mirlitons de Rouen – puff pastry tarts filled with an apparatus composed of eggs, butter, cream, sugar, vanilla and almond powder
- Escalope à la normande – Tender and creamy Poulet à la Normande (Chicken Normandy) brings apples, mushrooms, brandy, and cream together into one comforting and easy-to-make French dish
- Estouffade – a cooking technique which refers to a type of French Braise. The meat is marinated in wine before being seared and then very slowly braised in a small volume of liquid in a tightly covered pan
- Rabbit in cider – Rabbit casserole with apple, cider and tarragon
- Duckling à la Rouennaise – Pressed duck, a traditional French dish
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Some day I need to discuss my dream trip to Europe with you. You seem to do this so beautifully. I only remember taking the TGV to a station called Douai and driving to Ameins. Alas, i did no photography those times.
Born after World War II, I always pictured Normandie and Bretagne as "romantic." Hope you also drove to Southern France, like Arles, where van Ggfh lived?
Beautiful..!
Oh wow, driving through France… must be a dream come true. I can imagine how lovely it must be, nice pictures.
Great pictures of the area.
A nice day out in Normandy.
Beautiful pictures and story, Indra!
Love the sheep… ;))
Have a nice week and warm greetings, Anna
The countryside is lovely!
Love those sheep!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
I love how green everything is!
Lovely green Indrani. Those woolly sheep make me feel warm.
Lovely pastoral photography ~
(A Creative Harbor)
Disney?? Oh my! I would love to see that countryside and then visit the museums. Sigh!
Hugs
SueAnn
oh yes , come easter we have planned for driving from uk to italy and oh yessssssssssssssssssssssssss beautiful picture
do you know how and what areas we should drive through , if yes then do email and give me some hints .. first time we will be travelling
Bikram's
That's an area I have never been ! I have been in the Bretagne and in Paris of course and also the coast along Calais and of course the côte d'Azur, but that's it ! Nice pictures !
Green and beautiful!
Pretty shots from your drive, Indrani! I really love the sheep. Thanks for sharing, have a great week!
Tht seems so soothing!
We were in Normandy 3 years ago…it was absolutely lovely!!! We were on a cruise and didn't have much time to wander in the countryside…we headed straight for the American cemetery…a very moving experience. Normandy is definitely someplace I would like to go back to and wander about the countryside!!!
Looks like an awesome place with amazing scenery. The last picture of the chubby wooly sheep in the green field is superb.
How lush and green and gorgeous.
This sounds like a wonderful driving trip. Taking a car has many advantages. It's just too bad you didn't have more time.
Looks like a beautiful part of France to explore. Beautiful scenic shots.
thats a fun roadtrip.
Oh, nice…very nice. France, it's on my bucket list!
Looks like such a beautiful part of France and what a delightful trip you had! Thanks for sharing, Indrani! Have a great week!
Wow! That does sound amazing! And how many miles is that you covered? I haven't been to that part of france. But it sure is beautiful. Will add it to my bucket list!
Thanks for the wonderful day!
Aloha
cute sheep in the green. 🙂