Things to Do in Normandy France

There are fantastic buildings, and then there's Mont Saint-Michel. Perched on an island in the middle of a bay, this structure defines the term incredible. It's incredibly historic in nature too. It was first established for use as a military stronghold in the sixth century. By the eighth century, it became an abbey named after the archangel Michael. In 933 A.D., the Mont was annexed into Normandy and even appeared in the Bayeux Tapestry. It became rich and influential throughout the Middle Ages, but that popularity was reduced during the Reformation and Enlightenment. By the nineteenth century, it was being used as a prison. With the help of important figures of the time, though, the abbey became a historical monument. The Mont is surrounded by dangerous tidal pools whose quicksand has trapped many pilgrims over the centuries. In 1879, a causeway was made to reduce these deaths. The abbey has been built and revised throughout the centuries, changing quite a bit from its days as a simple abbey. This area is a piece of medieval wonder right in the middle of the modern world and an unforgettable and unmissable destination.

This place is synonymous with World War II. It was here that a joint force of Americans, Britons and Canadians started the liberation of France on June 6, 1944. The Allies' attack was unexpected by the Germans, because the weather was bad. This allowed the element of surprise. The Allies used a combination of airborne landings, sea landings and help from the Resistance to start the invasion. Today, these areas have been made over into tourist attractions and museums. The road signs in the area use the Allies' code names for the beaches and specific places are commemorated by plaques, museums and memorials. A Mulberry harbor (temporary harbor to offload supplies) still sits over at Gold beach. There are also a few cemeteries from the war in the area. The American one is found in Colleville-sur-Mer. This cemetery and its land is owned and operated by the U.S. and it pays no taxes to the French under a special concession. Its identical crosses and Stars of David for graves are striking. British and Australian cemeteries dot the area, while Germany's La Cambe cemetery is the largest in the area.

Normandy's capital city has flourished since the Middle Ages and is one of the most historical cities in all of Europe. It's changed hands between England and France numerous times during its tumultuous history and was the site of the execution of Joan of Arc. One of its most famous sites is the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was the subject of a series of paintings by noted Impressionist Claude Monet. Beyond that there are all kinds of architectural hot spots such as Gros Horloge (a giant medieval clock), the Tour de Jeanne d'Arc (the place where Joan of Arc was threatened to be tortured), and the Palais de Justice (the former seat of Normandy's parliament). Beyond these, there is the Musee des beaux-arts, which houses works by artists such as Monet, Renoir, Caravaggio and Rubens. Finally, for a break, there's the botanical garden, which dates back to the 1840s. Beyond the history, Rouen's a busy city with plenty of restaurants, hotels and nightlife as well.