Even though tour operators and tour guides can highlight many popular venues and locales once you’re in Normandy, learning about the details ahead of the trip with the help of a guidebook or history book can help enhance the experience. Popular background reading materials include Michelin Travel Publications, Lonely Planet Regional Guides and publications from the Normandy tourist offices.
The FactsThere are hundreds of Normandy tourist publications and guidebooks available , but no single publication can cover the diverse array of cultures, norms, traditions and sites found in this historic area. Consulting several books and publications can provide a good overview of what Normandy has to offer; maps, short stories, firsthand reviews and guidebooks will offer the traveler a true sense of the region’s history and culture.
TypesPopular basic guides include “Brittany and Normandy” from the Lonely Planet Regional Guide collection; “Top 10 Normandy” by Eyewitness Travel Guides/DK Publishing; and “Michelin Normandy” by Michelin Travel Publications. Each of these guidebooks contains easy-to-read maps that can help with trip planning. Specialized books and reading materials can foucs on a particular area, event or locale; books such as “Major and Mrs. Holt’s Battlefield Guide Book” and “Holiday Walks in Normandy” offer unique perspectives on the historic sites and cultural attractions around the region (see Resources below).
ConsiderationsIn addition to guidebooks, maps and tourist brochures, taking a self-guided tour with an audio accompaniment can provide an even more enriching experience. Many books are designed with a CD or access to audio files to take along during a walking tour of the area. Another option is to purchase books while in Normandy--almost all of the museums and tourist offices publish their own guides, magazines and publications that can provide more details about a particular place or venue. Some books can be purchased in electronic format for downloading, offering a convenient alternative to purchasing the complete text from a store.
BenefitsDoing some background reading prior to a trip to Normandy offers several benefits in addition to enhancing the overall experience. Books that contain maps and authors’ perspectives on their firsthand experiences can serve as the blueprints for a self-guided tour or excursion; travelers who do not want to rely on tour guides for their trip can experience Normandy from an entirely new perspective using history books and publications as a guide.
EffectsBackground reading about Normandy can reveal several details and insights not otherwise available in the average tour or tourist publication. Countless historians, archaeologists and travel experts have compiled their own unique experiences and perspectives in guidebooks, novels and short stories, and these can help enhance the experience and make it easier to learn about different sites and venues.
Resources: Michelin Normandy
Top 10 Normandy
Holiday Walks in Normandy
Battlefields of Normandy
By: Sabah Karimi
Sabah Karimi has been writing for the Web for over 3 years, and some of her work can be found in "Dining Out," "Papierdoll" magazine and on Zappos.com, Associated Content and several blogs. She enjoys traveling, shopping, reading and running (not all at once), and currently works as a freelance writer and online marketing strategist in Orlando, Florida.Read Next 5 Articles
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