Normandy

8 september 2020 - Honfleur, Frankrijk

September 2020 : Because of the coronacrisis there is still no possibility to make intercontinental travels. But we take the chance to make a nearby trip to France and we stay a week in the charming region of Normandy, more detailed in the lovely harbour town of Honfleur. We found a nice and charming hotel at 4km of Honfleur in Barneville-la-Bertrand, the Auberge de la Source and it is an andress to recommend.

Honfleur is a vibrant small city and it is great strolling around the old harbour, called Le Vieux Bassin. The old town is full of charm with cobbled streets and old half-timbered houses. In the evening the neighbourhood around Le Vieux Bassin is still lively with many restaurants and terraces near the water.

Who likes tropical birds and butterflies I can recommend a visit at Naturospace; a greenhouse where visitors can walk around while birds and butterflies fly between the tropical plants and flowers and sometimes around your ears. It was amazing to admire the most colorful fauna and flora.

Of course this area has a link with a rich war history. We visit the Normandy American Cemetry and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer; an impressive tribute and final resting place for 9387 American soldiers. Numerous rows of white crosses overlooking the sea, we become very silent and speachless on this place...

Later on we visit as well the cemetry of La Cambe which is with 21000 graves the largest and most famous German cemetry of Normandy. The atmosphere here is serene and subdued. A total different decor compared with the imposing, pattriotic setting of the Americans. At La Cambe we see a huge grassfield and here and there are putted groups of crosses, each group consists of 5. And also here we become a bit speachless of all impressions and our thoughts are going out to all who died here so we could live in freedom...

We take a look at Pointe du Hoc, a strategic cliff between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, well known as the landingbeaches of the Allied invasion on the 6th of June 1944. The cliff with a height of 30m was a place of big strategic value in WWII; visitors can still notice the remains of some German bunkers and machine gun posts. Further offers this place magnificent seaviews after a short walk to the edge of the cliff. Than we drive a bit further and make a nice beachwalk at the vast beaches of Utah and Omaha Beach.     

From Honfleur we make a daytrip to Le Mont Saint Michel, a world famous tourist attraction in this region but as well since centuries a place of pilgrimage. The rocky tidal island, the abbey, the bay and its surroundings are on the Unesco World Heritage list since 1979. The history of the abbey and the monastery goes back to 708. The location of this all is downright spectacular. Via a long bridge pedestrians can reach the rocky island where cars are not allowed. In the steep narrow streets it's busy all the time. Who dares to make the climb to the abbey will be surprised by tremendous views over the bay and the unique light creates a wonderful nature spectacle. Elements as sand, sky, sea seem to share the horizon in a constantly changing landscape and never before I saw so many shades of light and color.    

Another kind of landscape we find at Etretat and the neighbourhood. The coastal area is characterized by high cliffs named 'falaises' and it is nice hiking here. A beautiful hike we make near Cap d'Antifer. The sea is always near here and from high above the cliffs the views are just awesome.

Close to Etretat we visit the charming coastal village of Veules-les-Roses well known for the water-cress culture in the 'Cressonnieres' along the source of the small river the Veules. We stroll around the flowered streets with stunning and cosy houses, some of them with thatched roofs and half-timber walls. So we reach the beach where we do a beachwalk and admire the high cliffs.

On the last day we drive to the beach of Villers-sur-Mer and we take a look at Les Falaises des Vaches Noires, created in the Cretaceous. The lucky and patiently searcher can find maybe some fossils here but we are here to make a pleasant beachwalk. A nice end of a week Normandy.

We decide to return once to this region !