TRAVEL TRADE EDITION

NORMANDY

2015

Welcome to Normandy!

Normandy Tourist Board

Cov

er p

hoto

: © T

hier

ry S

eni -

© G

oodl

uz -

foto

lia.c

om

Find out all you need to know about Normandy on our website www.normandy-travel-trade.com

14, rue Charles Corbeau27000 Évreux - FRANCETel: 00 33 (0)2 32 33 79 00Fax: 00 33 (0)2 32 31 19 04E-mail: contact@normandy-travel-trade.com

Couleurs sélectionnées sur la carte

© D

. Dum

as

Whether you are a tour operator, a group travel organiser, a coach company, an incoming agency, an association or a school, we look forward to welcoming you soon to Normandy, this incomparably beautiful region of France.

Normandy is easily accessible by plane, train or by road. The region is just a two hour drive from Paris and its airports, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly, or from the port of Calais. If you take the train from Paris in just over an hour, you will arrive in Normandy’s main cities. With four local cross-Channel ports, there are also regular sailings from Britain and Ireland. Whether you plan on a dedicated trip or are looking to include the region

as part of a wider tour, Normandy remains the ideal destination with a mixture of France’s best countryside, heritage, culture, food and entertainment.

Our 2015 guide is full of practical information and inspirational ideas to help you plan your next trip to Normandy.

Please note that the Tourist Board’s Clubs have brochures available for professionals on the following dedicated themes: historical sites and monuments, parks and gardens, golf, outstanding hotels & restaurants, cycling, horse-riding and remembrance tourism.

A très bientôt en Normandie !

www.normandy-travel-trade.com

Find out all you need to know about Normandy on our website www.normandy-travel-trade.com

© B

eboy

- F

otol

ia.co

m

Gastronomic NormandyBirthplace of Impressionism

Normandy is a true gourmet's treasure trove with its emblematic cheeses: Camembert, Livarot, Neufchâtel, Pont L’Evêque and apple-based drinks such as Calvados, cider, Pommeau and perry. Seafood is plentiful, however if you prefer meat dishes, roasted lamb from the salt meadows around the Mont-Saint-Michel is a must.

As the spiritual birthplace of Impressionism, Normandy has inspired many great artists to create images which live on in the collective consciousness today. With its unique lighting, magical seascapes, dramatic monuments and dreamy countryside, Normandy offered the perfect backdrop for Impressionist painters.

Normandy is internationally renowned for its world famous sites: the Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay, Etretat and its dramatic cliffs, the D-Day Landing Beaches, Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, Rouen with its majestic cathedral, the Bayeux Tapestry, the Haras du Pin and Deauville to name but a few…

6 good reasons to come to Normandy

© E

.Ben

ard

© F

onda

tion-

Clau

de-M

onet

,-Giv

erny

Medieval Normandy

Steeped in our common history, Normandy invites you to go back in time to retrace the footsteps of William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart and Joan of Arc and explore the rich medieval history of Normandy's architectural heritage with its chateaux, abbeys and museums.

© P

atric

k Fo

rget

On June 6th, 1944 Normandy became world-famous for the part it played in D-Day when Allied troops broke through Nazi defences to liberate occupied France in WWII. Today Normandy has many sites, museums, monuments and events which commemorate and celebrate this key period in modern history.

D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

© L

.Will

iam

son

With its worldwide reputation for equestrian excellence, Normandy is an obvious destination for horse lovers. Home to two national studs, the Haras du Pin and Haras de Saint-Lô, the region also hosts many major horse races and events and also offers the visitor the chance to get in the saddle.

Home of the horse

© J-

F. Le

fèvr

e

The major sites

© L

ucin

da B

elith

er

The D-Day Landing Beaches [B3 to D3]

© JE

Rei

nhar

dt –

Offi

ce d

e To

uris

me

Cher

bour

g-Co

tent

in Cherbourg [B2] Located at the top of the C o t e n t i n p e n i n s u l a , Cherbourg harbour boasts the world’s longest artificial roadstead which is 4km long. The Cité de la Mer museum bears testimony to the maritime tradition of the town.

© V

ille

de B

ayeu

x

Bayeux [C3] With its narrow cobbled streets and cathedral at its heart, Bayeux is the perfect example of a medieval Norman town. It is also home to the world famous Bayeux Tapestry, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

© O

ligo

Lisieux [E3] Lisieux, the second most visited site of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes, is renowned as a site of pilgrimage dedicated to Sainte-Thérèse. The Basilica was built in her honour and remains the largest church built in France during the 20th century.

© P

ixel

cre

atio

n

Côte Fleurie [D3 to E3] The seaside towns of Honfleur, Trouville, Deauville, Cabourg to name but a few along the "Flowered Coast" were made popular in the 19th century when sea b a t h i n g b e c a m e a fashionable pastime for the French bourgeoisie.

© K

evin

14 -

Foto

lia.c

om

Caen [D3]

The cap i ta l o f Lower Normandy is a thriving modern city with outstanding historical sites including William the Conqueror’s Ducal Castle, the Abbaye aux Hommes and Abbaye aux Dames, together with t h e p e a c e m u s e u m , Mémorial de Caen, which takes an in-depth look at 20th century history.

© T

hier

ry H

ouye

l

Bagnoles-de-l’Orne [D5]A gem of Belle Epoque architecture, this elegant nineteenth century spa town i s s e t i n t h e O r n e countryside and offers a casino, racecourse, lake, cycle tracks and golf course.

Normandy’s Channel coast is world-famous for the part it played on 6th June 1944, when Allied troops broke through Nazi defences to liberate occupied France and to change the course of World War II. The All ies launched simultaneous landings of U.S., British, Canadian and French forces on five separate beaches along this stretch of Nor-mandy coast which were specifi-cally codenamed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah.

The Mont-Saint-Michel, a major French tourist attraction, remains an in te r na t iona l p lace o f pilgrimage to this very day and the Bay of the Mont-Saint-Michel is included on the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites. This medieval architectural Wonder of the Western World dominates the surrounding landscape, rising out of the bay, which provides the natural show of the greatest tidal ranges in Europe.

Mont-Saint-Michel [B5]

© B

eboy

- Fo

tolia

.com

© T

hier

ry H

ouye

l

Etretat

© O

livie

r Pon

cele

t - F

otol

ia.c

om

Etretat [E2]

Etretat is a romantic seaside village on the Côte de Nacre overlooking the Channel which is a constant source of inspiration to artists and writers with its dramatic white cliffs and chalk needle.

© Jo

nath

an -

Foto

lia.c

om

Rouen [G3]A veritable Museum-City on the banks of the Seine, Rouen leaves no visitor indifferent, with its medieval half-timbered houses, its paved streets and its gothic churches and Notre-Dame cathedral. Artists flocked to this port city which is also where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

© D

. Bas

se

Seine ValleyWith i t s wh i te c l i f f s , picturesque villages, the meandering Seine River offers beautiful scenery, notably from the vantage point at Château Gaillard [G3], the medieval fortress b u i l t b y R i c h a rd t h e Lionheart.

© T

hier

ry H

ouye

l

Giverny [H4]Just a short distance from Paris, this quaint artists’ retreat on the banks of the Seine became the home of Mone t , f a the r o f t he Impressionist movement. His world famous house and gardens plus the Musée des Impressionnismes can be visited today.

©

Pier

re Je

anso

nHaras du Pin [E4]

Known as the "Versailles of Horses", Le Pin National Stud is the oldest and most prestigious national stud in France and was founded in 1715 by Louis XIV.

© P

. Jea

nson

Alençon [E5]This "City of the Dukes" is internationally renowned for its UNESCO-listed needle point lace and is ideally situated on the edge of the Normandy-Maine Nature Park for tr ips into the countryside.

© F

ranc

k Go

dard

Le Havre [E2]This major European port combines the attractions of a modern, vibrant city with the charm of a seaside resort. Rebuilt in modernist postwar style by Auguste Perret, the concrete poet, Le Havre is recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.

The regional conservation area of the Perche bears a rich natural and architectural heritage with rolling hills, forests, typical “bocage” h e d g e ro w s , P e rc h e ro n horses, charming smal l towns, manor houses and sumptuous chateaux…

Perche [F5]

www.normandy-travel-trade.com

© P

hilip

pe D

eneu

fve

Forthcoming major events

The Panorama XXL will be a unique site in France and will be built on the dockside of the Seine.

It is effectively a giant rotunda which will give a 360° panoramic view of the circular paintings by the German artist, Yadegar Asisi.

A painting of Rome at the time of Emperor Constantine the Great in 312 AD will be the opening exhibit from January 2015 followed by Amazonia in autumn 2015. And in spring 2016 a panorama of Gothic Rouen in the Middle Ages with Joan of Arc as the central theme will be on display.

www.rouentourisme.com

Rouen is the city where Joan of Arc was tried in 1431, burned at the stake and where the trial that finally exonerated her in 1456 took place.

The new Joan of Arc History Centre, the Historial, with its interactive displays will open in spring 2015 in the premises of the Rouen Archbishop’s Palace, housing the salle de l’Officialité where both of her trials took place and where you will also be able to marvel at the two crypts together with 15th century rooms and tower.

www.rouentourisme.com

© O

TC R

ouen

val

lée

de S

eine

© H

isto

rial J

eann

e d’

Arc

Panorama XXL Historial Jeanne d’Arc - Joan of Arc History Centre

Tom

Sch

ulze

201

1 ©

asi

si

Two new sites in Rouen in 2015

Listed as a Unesco World Heritage site since 1979, the Mont-Saint-Michel has recovered its island status after 10 years of construction work. 2014 will see the end of the construction phase with the opening of a new pedestrian bridge and in 2015 the old causeway will be removed marking the completion of the project.

With the new means of access and transport, the aim is to preserve the bay’s natural environment and to ensure that the Mont goes back to being an island once more.

www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com

©Th

omas

Joua

nnea

u DF

A SB

P

The Mont-Saint-Michel becomes an island once more

The Festival Normandie Impressionniste is now an established event in the Normandy calendar and has welcomed nearly a million visitors to date.

The next festival is planned from April to September 2016 with Impressionist portraits as the central theme. A wide variety of festive and cultural events will happen all over Normandy from fine art exhibitions to luncheons on the grass, sound and light shows to musical concerts.

www.normandie-impressionniste.eu

The 2016 Normandy Impressionist Festival

www.normandy-travel-trade.com

New!Museums, sites and visitsMémorial de Caen [D3] The Caen Memorial, Centre for History and Peace, has recently opened a new exhibition space that recreates General Richter’s subterranean bunker, with inventive staging that highlights the military aspects of the German Occupation, as well as the history of the Atlantic Wall.http://normandy.memorial-caen.com

Manufacture Bohin – Saint-Sulpice-sur-Risle [F4]The only working needle and pin factory in France today has opened its museum with visits of its production workshops.www.lamanufacturebohin.fr

Claude Monet’s house and gardens - Giverny [H4]The bedroom of the painter Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, Claude Monet’s stepdaughter and daughter-in-law, is now open to viewing by the public. www.fondation-monet.com/en

Le Palais Bénédictine – Fécamp [E2]The President of the French Barmen’s Association who is also the Head Barman at the Deauville 5 star Normandy Hotel now heads up new cocktail workshops which use Bénédictine as the key ingredient.www.benedictinedom.com

Musée Airborne – Sainte-Mère-Eglise [B3]A new building in the shape of an airplane’s wing with a section dedicated to former American President, Ronald Reagan.www.airborne-museum.org/en

William the Conqueror's Route - Géfosse-Fontenay to Falaise [B3 to D4]This new 120 km trail, broken into 11 stages, corresponds to the future King of England’s night ride when he was nearly assassinated.www.calvados-tourisme.co.uk/en/activities/on-horseback/overnight-hikes.php

D-Day Paratroopers Historical Centre - Saint-Côme-du-Mont [B3] – June 2015 Extension to existing museum with a new building in the shape of an American aircraft hangar, to welcome groups on site.www.paratrooper-museum.org/en

Chateau du Champ de Bataille – Le Neubourg [F3] – 2015Property of Jacques Garcia, the French interior designer, the Chateau du Champ de Bataille has now opened its gardens to the public (greenhouses and the dream pavilion – visits exclusively for groups). France’s largest private park.www.chateauduchampdebataille.com

HotelsHôtel Novotel – Le Havre [E2] – summer 2014Opening of a relaxation area with a gym, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna in this 134 room, 4 star hotel.www.novotel.com

Hôtel Le Landemer – Urville-Nacqueville [A2] summer 2014New 10 room, 3 star boutique hotel with a seaview and gourmet panoramic restaurant just 10 km from Cherbourg.www.le-landemer.com/en

Hôtel M’Gallery - Trouville [E3] – February 2015Opening of a 103 room, 4 star hotel with spa centre.www.mgallery.com

Hôtel Océania – Le Havre [E2] – end 2015Opening of a 107 room, 3 star hotel with a brasserie restaurant.www.oceaniahotels.com

La Presqu’île de la Touques 5 star holiday village – Deauville [E3] – end 2015Opening of 134 holiday flats on the marina in this new Pierre & Vacances holiday village.www.pierreetvacances-immobilier.com

Radisson Blu Hotel - Rouen [G3] – 2016Opening of a 91 room, 4 star hotel with a well-being centre and seminar rooms in central Rouen.www.radissonblu.com

(Subject to alteration)

1For brochures, photo library, downloads

2To get to Normandy, weather and tides

3Everything Normandy has to offer

4 Normandy highlights

5Your spaceand log book

6 Latest news

7 What’s on?

8Map your offers andfavourites

Use this QR Code to view the website

The Normandy Tourist Board now has a website for travel trade professionals. This website features all the information you need including a log book and an interactive map, together with a photo library to help you organise your next trip to Normandy…

Des

ign:

Impr

imer

ie G

abel

+33

(0)2

32

82 3

9 39

- P

rinte

rs: I

mpr

imer

ie L

ecer

f Rou

en O

ffset

+33

(0)2

35

52 5

0 50

8

76

5

4

3

21

www.normandy-travel-trade.comthe website dedicated to travel trade professionals

10-3

1-16

68 /

Cer

tifié

PEF

C /

Ce p

rodu

it es

t iss

u de

forê

ts g

érée

s du

rabl

emen

t et d

e so

urce

s co

ntrô

lées

. / p

efc-

fran

ce.o

rg