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!
Normandy Region France

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 France Google map

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

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.
Road trip in Normandy
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 dieppoiserecipe is based on local fish and seafood of superior quality
  • Mirlitons de Rouenpuff 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 ciderRabbit casserole with apple, cider and tarragon
  • Duckling à la RouennaisePressed duck, a traditional French dish

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