I had the honour of being in Normandy for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. A solemn and evocative experience. The most meaningful part was meeting and having conversations with so many veterans. I even had the opportunity to talk to German veterans as well. Aside from that Calvados and Camembert were great.
I remember several years ago when I discovered your channel and your love declarations for Rouen. As a Norman, I find it really heart-warming and beautiful that you still have that passion for our region :) To all other travellers : if you love old stones, green fields, rivers, history, art, good food, taking life slow... come visit us. I'm 27, I lived all my life there, and I'm still amazed by what I see, especially Rouen, which I'm still discovering after several years :)
Rouen, Etretat, Bayeux, Honfleur, Beuvron-en-Auge & all the other Normandy villages are just so Beautiful & may I say soooo clean!!! We walked all around Bayeux & I didn't see a single litter on the ground. Food so Amazing!!! You're lucky to live in A beautiful region!!!
Thinking and planning about to visit Normandie by myself. Want to visit the beaches where the allied troops landed. Gonna check out Rouen. how is december or january for visiting?
@@dzonib1 Winter is a good period as there are way less tourists and accomodation should be cheaper. It may be cold and/or wet but we get on with our lives so the city will be lively. There are a christmas market in front of the cathedral and many activities in the city. You could get a cup of mulled wine and wander in the medieval street :)
Couldn't agree more on all of them! Taking some time at the beaches, or at Pointe du Hoc (recommend to visit, you can see the actual scars of the D-Day events still in the terrain there) and just picturing your classic Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers etc., or a World War II game generates a very emotional feeling somehow and adds even more to the experience, which I think ought to be emotional for everyone. Great video, as always! :)
Paris, Normandy, i al sure you know bordeaux, the french riviera ( cote d azur) with cannes Nice and Marseille, the french alpes, and many others places to visit...
This is exactly why we started our channel too. We live in France and we think more and more channels need to show this beautiful country in whichever style they choose.
Paris is far from an ugh. Anyone who described it that way has missed what Paris has to offer. Art, culture, cuisine, you name it, Paris has it in spades. This is a city that has retained much of its old world charm, design - sorry Montparnasse Tower, I think you’re a blight on the landscape.😊
The Canadian cemetery is one of the best kept secrets in Normandy too. Each gravestone has a personal message from the family. So moving. Also - there’s a back way to get up to the chapel of Mont St Michel if you go left when you first get in instead of going up through the touristy area. Wait to go through the touristy stuff on the way back down - way easier to walk it that way!
It’s good to know that Monet’s place in Giverny is not open year round. 😟 We went last year in the spring and it opened the day we left. I’m a huge Monet fan, so that was my biggest disappointment of France. My favorite site in in Normandy was the American cemetery. If you can, take a tour of the beach. Our guide was actually a history teacher and was incredibly knowledgeable. He brought to life the battles and so eloquently retold the events of D-day. Bayeaux was absolutely beautiful. Make sure to schedule in time to just walk around and interact with the people there. They are wonderful and the whole town is awesome. Thanks for a great video!
@@andreavargas2574 unfortunately, we didn't actually book him. He was filling in for his friend (who we booked) because the friend was becoming a first time dad the day of our tour. He doesn't actually usually do tours. But we booked tours in Rome too and the guides were great there as well. It's just good to get someone who knows the area a bit better than you do.
Pointe Du Hoc, St Mere Eglise, Pegasus bridges, Azzevile battery, dead man's corner, and don't forget, Bayeaux and the tapestry! all wonderful places to visit. Oh and if you like the WWII stuff, read up on Villers-Bocage and go and visit that.
Great advice! I spent a week in Normandy and it was wonderful. I stayed in Bayeux for the week and the people there were amazing. Spring is beautiful, but you’re right, it can be cool, especially near the ocean when the wind picks up.
Been to Normandy last year for 74-th D Day anniversary. Great experience! I spent 8 days going from town to town exploring museums and beaches. Even met the HBO Band of Brothers series actors. Great food, great rustic France, awesome people! Hope to visit again some day! And Mark you are great! Cheers from Serbia! Hope you visit Serbia! Great food and awesome people!
Going to Giverny was one of the best things we did. I grow a lot of flowers and am a floral designer and Monet is my favorite artist . It was amazing . Going to Normandy this time . Thanks for all the great videos .
Apple cider is one of my favorite things in the world, so I will *happily* give beer and wine the boot in order to sample a bazillion different varieties with every meal.
jturie it is an experience not to be missed. We went just a year after my youngest brother-in-law, who was in the military, had passed away. Our entire group of 8 were in tears as they played taps. I went off on my own for a bit to just deal with my emotions. It’s beautiful and also very sobering. Don’t miss it if you have a chance to go.
I'm originally from Normandy now in Brittany, I'm from the Lower part (Alençon) I'm actually stunned that you did like Rouen. If you ever go back in Normandy go in the Cotentin it's the most scenic part of Normandy it's just beautiful
We were just there last month during a 2 week driving holiday of France. You really do have to rent a car to see the "real" Normandy. It was so nice to drive through such small, rustic villages and see the non-touristy part of the country.
thank you for saying this. we are planning on traveling to france, and thought normandy might be ideal... but we don't have a car. thank you for giving good information!
Got a few Buddies who will be Dropping into Normandy on June 6th with the WW2 Airborne Demonstration Team for the 75th D-Day Anniversary, some of the C47's were in CT and flew out on the 18th for the trip over
I've been living here for 10 years and still haven't done the museums or the Bayeux tapestry! I will go this year!! Thanks so much for this video, it was really lovely to be reminded of the beauty of where I live! ❤
I went around Europe in 2017 - following the path of the Allied Expeditionary Forces from the UK to Normandy to Paris and the Rhine - and I have to say that Bayeux was the best. Its just a lovely, well-preserved little town. A small detail from the Tapestry Museum as well: It notes the no small irony of how people from Bayeux helped William conquer England, only to have his descendants come back centuries later to liberate Bayeux from the Nazis.
Just got back from a day trip to Rouen (second time) and it's just magnificent. Next spring we will hopefully do a full Normandie trip for a week or so.
If you like the History of D-Day and also the conflicts between the English and French, Dover Castle is a great place to visit. There is also some other really cool war museums and such in the area. Not to mention the Cliffs of course. Although you definitely need your own transport and its only worth a day trip.
As a Normandy dude, I also recommend to visit Caen which is a beautifull city and full of history, It is the major city of South Normandy and it is only 20min far from juno sword and gold beach. You can find there the peace memorial where all the WW2 is explain, there is also William's castle and Abbaye. The city center is really nice with a lot of church and bar lol. To resume, it is not a coincidence that this city is often in the top 10 cities of France to live on. Trust me you won't be disapointed if you come here 😉
@@lilMissF0F0 I recommand you to visit all the city center : the castle with a great view from the ramparts, the saint pierre street, the maréchal leclerc boulevard, the saint-sauveur place, the République place, the port, the men's abbaye and the vaugueux district which is a typical architecture (not destroyed by WW2) and it is full of great restaurant. A bit outside the city center you have the women's abbaye with its garden, the "Colline aux oiseaux" garden, the WW2 memorial and also the beaches if you want. All of those places are reachable with the city transport (bus & tram). I highly recommand to take an unlimited daily ticket (4€ and the ticket is rechargeable). If you want to see what I told you, just watch on google all this stuff.
Thank you for your helpful tips. And with such gusto! Love it! My family is from Calabria and Sicily where the Normans were as big a deal as in England. I wonder if you can recommend places to visit that have something for tourists interested in the Normans in Italy?
For a tough "John Wayne" look of France I would recommend Bretagne with its coastline. Went there on holiday when I was a kid still fond memmories of it.
This summer I visited Mont Saint Michel and the D Day landing beaches. I flew into Paris from Vancouver, BC and rented a car from the airport. Well worth the money. It was such a pleasant drive to Normandy and back and I had all the flexibility I needed. I stayed at a place in Pontorson, about 15 min drive from Mt Saint Michel. Such a lovely village surrounded by the french country side.
The bayeux museum is very interesting, it has the tapestry depicting the viking invasion of England so a big part of both British and American history.
Hey Mark, we love your videos. We are getting ready to take our first trip abroad and follow the WWII US troops from Normandy to the Eagles nest. Your videos have answered a lot of questions. Thank you, Chris Workman.
I was cringing, thinking you'd forget about Trouville/Deauville and Calvados. But you didn't! The Deauville Film Festival is fun to attend when you have the chance. Trouville boulevard and it's fishmarket is something one has to visit as well. My family has a house there (in Trouville) so we make the trip south a couple of times a year (we live in the Netherlands). Great vid Mark!
We were in Normandy several years ago... according to your list, we missed only Giverny. One thing I would suggest if you are touring the World War 2 related sites is to go see a German war casualty cemetery. Remind yourself and your children that people on both sides died. The Juno Beach museum is very well done...
We will be there in a couple of months, should we stay for 2 or 3 full days to experience the Normandy beaches and museums? Which town would you suggest to be the best to stay in, Rouen or Bayeux?
Steinar: Normandy is named in relation to the Danish Viking Rollo, that was “handed” over the area. As the Vikings wasn’t called “Vikings” back then, but instead “Nor-Men”, the land was named Normandy. So nothing to do with Norway my fellow Scandinavian friend, but instead the general naming of Vikings as Nor-Men.
Normandy stayed in the viking line for decades after, only being taken from them during the Napoleonic era, it had been given to Rollo "the walker" by the french to try and stop constant viking raids on Frankia. The Vikings that settled in Normandy and then England are relations of the Royal family today. Due to the period many British people have Germanic and viking DNA, likely composed of Norwegian, Danish, Anglo Saxon, Celtic ect. The original Rollo the walker was said to have to walk everywhere as he was too big to ride a horse however horses were far smaller at the time, being bred for speed and it is thought rollo would have been about six foot, which is still huge for the time. The french capitulation of Normandy inadvertently changed the history of Britain forever. Interestingly William the conqueror, great-great-great grandson of Rollo began building the tower of London and the castle in Colchester after the invasion along with mot and bailey castles similar to in Normandy. It is strange to think that these warriors staged an invasion on Britain from the Normandy beaches in 1066 and all those years later their ancestors staged an invasion from the other side onto the Normandy beaches on D Day.
Go to Arromanches a seaside town if you are intérested on WWII history. There are two museums on the war. Most importantly is what you see in thé bay. The remains of the blocks from the floating artificial roadway that American engineers designed for trucks to cross from outlaying ships to thé shore to délivrer supplies. At low tide you can walk on the sand near some of them.
Wolter you left out the best kept heartwarming secret of the Normandy coast, the little church in Angoville-au-Plain and the story of two young medics Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore documented in the PBS movie Eagles of Mercy. Why this isn't as well known as some of the other events I don't understand but you can go inside this tiny little 12 century church and still see the blood stained pews.
A short frustrating story that I want to share: 40 years ago we did a school trip to Omaha beach. We were hiking with our bare feet in the sand that and felt the fresh spring seawater between our toes. Suddenly I noticed a partly blue oxidated unfired bullet half buried in the wet sand… it looked like a 5.56Nato caliber. Can you imagine how I felt as a 12 year old? 😮 Proud with what I found, I ran towards my schoolteacher. “Look what I found!! He grabbed it out of my hand and threw it in the ocean again with the words “to dangerous “. I’m still frustrated when I think about it 😢
It is said that paratrooper hanging on the church is on the wrong side of the church. The German soldier on the roof (who is still alive) says it was different than that they are telling now how it went.
I’m just home from a visit to Normandy. It’s wonderful ... the food, the people, the architecture, the landscape all exceeded my expectations. The only let down was Mont St. Michel. If you’d told me it wasn’t worth the visit before I went, I wouldn’t have believed you. But it’s a huge time and money waster. We were the first visitors there for the day and had it to ourselves for 30-45 minutes. The architecture is great. Once the throngs of people arrived, you could barely move. The food and gift shops are incredibly over-priced. You can purchase the same stuff in St. Malo much cheaper. Our entire group agreed we wasted hours there. Honfleur, on the other hand, is soooo charming with unique art shops and fewer tourists. I could have spent the whole day there instead of the few hours we were given. Marc is right about renting a car and driving around. Normandy roads are great. Do go and enjoy!
@@markoshea6833 you know, I wrote that a year ago, right after I got back from my trip. In hindsight I have fond memories of Mont St. Michel. I do recall the crowds being awful, but my pictures are fantastic. Some things need to age in the mind. It is beautiful. Just be prepared for lots of walking and too many people. As for the Eiffel Tower, we didn’t go up, just stopped at the base for pictures. It’s busy, but the area is sketchy. I did not like Paris as much as London or Amsterdam or Brussels ... and that hasn’t changed over time. You have to see it, but keep your expectations low. I’d say our crowd was 50/50 on the whole Paris leg of the trip.
The best way is probably to take the train from Gare Saint-Lazare Paris to Rouen , it take 1hour and a half , and cost 10€ for one person . I think there is also direct buses Paris-Rouen which are cheaper but also longer (around two hours) .
Where do you rent your car from when you arrive in France? Do you rent it while you're at CDG, or take a train closer to your destination and then rent a car? What have your car rental experiences been like? Any problems with the company trying to scam you?
I am french, ans Il live in Paris. But vert often, il like to go with m'y son, in Rouen for a week-end. It's a vert old ans beautiful town. There are beautiful churchs. A very rich musée des beaux art, gratis, with a lot campus painters. In thé cimetière IS thé grave of Gustave Flaubert who wrote Madame Bovary, Salammbô, .... When I go go Rouen I bring m'y bicycle (in thé train) : si I Can visit thé Abbey of Saint Martin de Boskerville, Saint Wandrille, Jumîège, and thé thé abbatiale of Bon Secours. Rouen IS like Troyes (an other town) one of thé post North beautiful town. And when you visit with a bicycle, you are very free. Tryo to sexe photos of Rouen , Jumièges , Saint Martin de Boskerville, Saint Wandrille, thé abbatiale of Notre Dame of Bon Secours. It' wonderfull !
Seeing the beaches and the American Cemetary was one of the most moving experiences of my life.
For me it was saint mere eglise psrstroopers landed on the square almost all killed
Did Jean or ette Rankin (Wisconsin Member of Congress) have the most courage?
I had the honour of being in Normandy for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. A solemn and evocative experience. The most meaningful part was meeting and having conversations with so many veterans. I even had the opportunity to talk to German veterans as well.
Aside from that Calvados and Camembert were great.
Bruno Schenkman the Camembert was amazing!
I remember several years ago when I discovered your channel and your love declarations for Rouen. As a Norman, I find it really heart-warming and beautiful that you still have that passion for our region :)
To all other travellers : if you love old stones, green fields, rivers, history, art, good food, taking life slow... come visit us. I'm 27, I lived all my life there, and I'm still amazed by what I see, especially Rouen, which I'm still discovering after several years :)
This part of France is beautiful
Rouen, Etretat, Bayeux, Honfleur, Beuvron-en-Auge & all the other Normandy villages are just so Beautiful & may I say soooo clean!!! We walked all around Bayeux & I didn't see a single litter on the ground. Food so Amazing!!! You're lucky to live in A beautiful region!!!
Thinking and planning about to visit Normandie by myself. Want to visit the beaches where the allied troops landed. Gonna check out Rouen. how is december or january for visiting?
@@dzonib1 Winter is a good period as there are way less tourists and accomodation should be cheaper.
It may be cold and/or wet but we get on with our lives so the city will be lively. There are a christmas market in front of the cathedral and many activities in the city. You could get a cup of mulled wine and wander in the medieval street :)
Bonjour!! Please let me know where I should book my airbnb to be closed to American Cemetery.
NORMANDY WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE IN EUROPE!!!!
My Great Uncle is buried there. I can’t even imagine that day. Bless our troops.
thanks for this video, I am planning this trip for next year as my French ancestors come from this area to include William.
Couldn't agree more on all of them! Taking some time at the beaches, or at Pointe du Hoc (recommend to visit, you can see the actual scars of the D-Day events still in the terrain there) and just picturing your classic Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers etc., or a World War II game generates a very emotional feeling somehow and adds even more to the experience, which I think ought to be emotional for everyone. Great video, as always! :)
My ancestors are from Rouen. I’d love to visit one day. Merci
Thank you for reminding me France is more than just Paris (ugh)!
Paris, Normandy, i al sure you know bordeaux, the french riviera ( cote d azur) with cannes Nice and Marseille, the french alpes, and many others places to visit...
Julian Heinrich nope
@@kaimonarch2321 let me laugh tell where you come from
This is exactly why we started our channel too. We live in France and we think more and more channels need to show this beautiful country in whichever style they choose.
Paris is far from an ugh. Anyone who described it that way has missed what Paris has to offer. Art, culture, cuisine, you name it, Paris has it in spades. This is a city that has retained much of its old world charm, design - sorry Montparnasse Tower, I think you’re a blight on the landscape.😊
Étretat is another amazing place that really worth the visit in Normandy
Absolutely!! Etretat & Honfleur are so beautiful💯💯!!!
Love Normandy, history around every corner and some beautiful villages,
Our american friends are always welcome in our beautiful Normandy, definitely one of the most historical regions of France and of Europe !
The Canadian cemetery is one of the best kept secrets in Normandy too. Each gravestone has a personal message from the family. So moving. Also - there’s a back way to get up to the chapel of Mont St Michel if you go left when you first get in instead of going up through the touristy area. Wait to go through the touristy stuff on the way back down - way easier to walk it that way!
It’s good to know that Monet’s place in Giverny is not open year round. 😟 We went last year in the spring and it opened the day we left. I’m a huge Monet fan, so that was my biggest disappointment of France. My favorite site in in Normandy was the American cemetery. If you can, take a tour of the beach. Our guide was actually a history teacher and was incredibly knowledgeable. He brought to life the battles and so eloquently retold the events of D-day. Bayeaux was absolutely beautiful. Make sure to schedule in time to just walk around and interact with the people there. They are wonderful and the whole town is awesome. Thanks for a great video!
Tammy is it possible to pass on the contact information for the historian guide please?
@@andreavargas2574 unfortunately, we didn't actually book him. He was filling in for his friend (who we booked) because the friend was becoming a first time dad the day of our tour. He doesn't actually usually do tours. But we booked tours in Rome too and the guides were great there as well. It's just good to get someone who knows the area a bit better than you do.
The guy I trust for this sort of stuff. Keep it up man and thanks.
That is a wonderful compliment. Thank you
@@woltersworld You are more than welcome chap!
The Pegasus Bridge Museum is worth a visit too, really interesting location with a lot of history.
Pointe Du Hoc, St Mere Eglise, Pegasus bridges, Azzevile battery, dead man's corner, and don't forget, Bayeaux and the tapestry! all wonderful places to visit.
Oh and if you like the WWII stuff, read up on Villers-Bocage and go and visit that.
Great advice! I spent a week in Normandy and it was wonderful. I stayed in Bayeux for the week and the people there were amazing. Spring is beautiful, but you’re right, it can be cool, especially near the ocean when the wind picks up.
Been to Normandy last year for 74-th D Day anniversary. Great experience! I spent 8 days going from town to town exploring museums and beaches. Even met the HBO Band of Brothers series actors. Great food, great rustic France, awesome people! Hope to visit again some day! And Mark you are great! Cheers from Serbia! Hope you visit Serbia! Great food and awesome people!
3:40 Love the geese quacking behind the fence 😂
Going to Giverny was one of the best things we did. I grow a lot of flowers and am a floral designer and Monet is my favorite artist . It was amazing . Going to Normandy this time . Thanks for all the great videos .
Apple cider is one of my favorite things in the world, so I will *happily* give beer and wine the boot in order to sample a bazillion different varieties with every meal.
I have visited Bayeux a couple of times. Absolutely beautiful town. And what a history.
We loved Bayeux as well; wonderful town with great Food. & may I say just so so clean!!!
*I LOVE Wolters World !!!*
nice
yeah, he's an affable man
No way I could walk through that cemetary without bawling my eyes out.
jturie it is an experience not to be missed. We went just a year after my youngest brother-in-law, who was in the military, had passed away. Our entire group of 8 were in tears as they played taps. I went off on my own for a bit to just deal with my emotions. It’s beautiful and also very sobering. Don’t miss it if you have a chance to go.
Why
Never Let'em See You Cry
@@Justme77400 what did you tear up? What's torn?
You've got your own battles.
I was there in September 2018, all beautiful and interesting places, thank you for sharing. As always interesting video.
Seeing pictures of your family makes me smile dude. So much love and fun!
I'm originally from Normandy now in Brittany, I'm from the Lower part (Alençon) I'm actually stunned that you did like Rouen. If you ever go back in Normandy go in the Cotentin it's the most scenic part of Normandy it's just beautiful
bienfaits de Sainte Therese de Lisieux
Going to Normandy this sunday, this video had perfect timing, thanks mate!
We were just there last month during a 2 week driving holiday of France. You really do have to rent a car to see the "real" Normandy. It was so nice to drive through such small, rustic villages and see the non-touristy part of the country.
thank you for saying this. we are planning on traveling to france, and thought normandy might be ideal... but we don't have a car. thank you for giving good information!
I just love all of your videos!! Thank you
Got a few Buddies who will be Dropping into Normandy on June 6th with the WW2 Airborne Demonstration Team for the 75th D-Day Anniversary, some of the C47's were in CT and flew out on the 18th for the trip over
We are going tomorrow to Normandy and we can not wait. Thanks for this wonderful video.
Just completing 2 weeks in Normandy, based a lot on this video. Totally agree with your suggestions. Many thanks
Another great vid
Watching it from Poznan, going to Berlin next, already watched your Berlin videos.
Thank you!
Great job. Thanks for the tips as we will be there in a few weeks.
How was it
I've been living here for 10 years and still haven't done the museums or the Bayeux tapestry! I will go this year!! Thanks so much for this video, it was really lovely to be reminded of the beauty of where I live! ❤
I went around Europe in 2017 - following the path of the Allied Expeditionary Forces from the UK to Normandy to Paris and the Rhine - and I have to say that Bayeux was the best. Its just a lovely, well-preserved little town.
A small detail from the Tapestry Museum as well: It notes the no small irony of how people from Bayeux helped William conquer England, only to have his descendants come back centuries later to liberate Bayeux from the Nazis.
As always, thank you for your thoughtful videos.
Doug
New Mexico U.S.A.
Love your videos!
Just got back from a day trip to Rouen (second time) and it's just magnificent. Next spring we will hopefully do a full Normandie trip for a week or so.
If you like the History of D-Day and also the conflicts between the English and French, Dover Castle is a great place to visit. There is also some other really cool war museums and such in the area. Not to mention the Cliffs of course. Although you definitely need your own transport and its only worth a day trip.
What is the- can i ask- the ethymology of Dover.
@@markoshea6833 Apparently a Celtic word for 'the waters'
WARNING : If you go in Normandy during the 75th anniversary ask your host to take an access card. I live near the D-Day Beaches. ;-)
We are here and it’s lovely 😊. Thanks for the video 🙏🏻
Love your enthusiasm - you are legion.
Visiting Normandy is on my bucket list, as well as other WW2 sites in Europe.
For me the main world war 2 place I'd like to see is the site of the battle of Stalingrad I think its called Volgograd now
It is not that special actually. Just some museums like you see in the video.
I want to see the Bayeux tapestry and other stuff associated with the Battle of Hastings
The Clyde got bombed the 2nd most. N' Lubeck had to get rebuilt, It's old-town
Love the scenery shots. Great video packed with information.
thanks for the information, we are planning to visit in March 2024 (when hopefully it is nice and quiet)
So want to visit here someday!
My father was at Utah beach. He took my mother and me on a personal. It was truely an experience of a lifetime.
'back to front' by stephen o'shea was good.
Hey! I`d been in Normandy this year and I really recomend to go visit Honfleur.
Honfleur is beautiful, a lovely place to relax and visit between all the WW2 and historical commemorations and visits
The Bayeux Tapesty, world's oldest surviving comic book! Must be worth more than Superman #1!
that wasn't most funny...but i guess i see your point, pictures an' all
😂 yeah William the conqueror, the original super hero. Just a normal man until bitten by a radio active viking spider.
As a Normandy dude, I also recommend to visit Caen which is a beautifull city and full of history, It is the major city of South Normandy and it is only 20min far from juno sword and gold beach. You can find there the peace memorial where all the WW2 is explain, there is also William's castle and Abbaye. The city center is really nice with a lot of church and bar lol. To resume, it is not a coincidence that this city is often in the top 10 cities of France to live on. Trust me you won't be disapointed if you come here 😉
What do u recommend us to do in Caen and must see places? We’re visiting it next month :) thanku
@@lilMissF0F0 I recommand you to visit all the city center : the castle with a great view from the ramparts, the saint pierre street, the maréchal leclerc boulevard, the saint-sauveur place, the République place, the port, the men's abbaye and the vaugueux district which is a typical architecture (not destroyed by WW2) and it is full of great restaurant. A bit outside the city center you have the women's abbaye with its garden, the "Colline aux oiseaux" garden, the WW2 memorial and also the beaches if you want. All of those places are reachable with the city transport (bus & tram). I highly recommand to take an unlimited daily ticket (4€ and the ticket is rechargeable). If you want to see what I told you, just watch on google all this stuff.
I stayed overnight in Caen during my France trip in 2014. Great city.
@@m.b-bourillon6327 perfect thank u so much!!
Thank you for your helpful tips. And with such gusto! Love it! My family is from Calabria and Sicily where the Normans were as big a deal as in England. I wonder if you can recommend places to visit that have something for tourists interested in the Normans in Italy?
For a tough "John Wayne" look of France I would recommend Bretagne with its coastline. Went there on holiday when I was a kid still fond memmories of it.
The John Wayne comment WAS silly. Normandie is not “tough”, it’s rural with history dating back centuries. There is no John Wayne sense to Normandie.
It was fantastic to see may they rest In Peace
You need to see Beaumont en Auge in Normandy !!
This summer I visited Mont Saint Michel and the D Day landing beaches. I flew into Paris from Vancouver, BC and rented a car from the airport. Well worth the money. It was such a pleasant drive to Normandy and back and I had all the flexibility I needed. I stayed at a place in Pontorson, about 15 min drive from Mt Saint Michel. Such a lovely village surrounded by the french country side.
My name is Normandy 😂 I do plan to visit some day. watching this video and hearing my name multiple times was funny.
Thanks for your recommendations
Great video.
Cidre is so damn good!
3:13 dude that bus is beautiful lol
I was thinking of Saint Michelle and found you again! After vaccination we can dream of traveling again!
GREAT VIDEO!!!! In summer we will have 4 days in Normandia which cities - villages do you suggest for accommodation
another great video. Hope to see it before I croak someday
Fougere, St. Malo. Try these, you wont be disappointed. I live there!
The bayeux museum is very interesting, it has the tapestry depicting the viking invasion of England so a big part of both British and American history.
Hey Mark, we love your videos. We are getting ready to take our first trip abroad and follow the WWII US troops from Normandy to the Eagles nest. Your videos have answered a lot of questions. Thank you, Chris Workman.
That is not something you can do in a week.
@@Urahara12squad It's a 9 or 10 day trip.
You can follow them to Woking.
Thank you❤
John Wayne of France...funny. I like the sound of the ruggedness.
I was cringing, thinking you'd forget about Trouville/Deauville and Calvados. But you didn't! The Deauville Film Festival is fun to attend when you have the chance. Trouville boulevard and it's fishmarket is something one has to visit as well. My family has a house there (in Trouville) so we make the trip south a couple of times a year (we live in the Netherlands). Great vid Mark!
Hi from Rouen ;-)
We may be related. 😁
@@budmike81 salut cousin..québécois ??
@@francoisjean1178 Je suis un Cajun de Louisiane. ma famille a déménagé de Rouen dans les années 1600 au Canada.
@@budmike81 je suis de rouen mon frere
Et j'ai appris l'histoire du québec par un québécois souverainiste C'est là que j'ai réalisé Comment les anglo étaient des pourritures
If your there on a Sunday, try and visit a Vide Grenier (Flea Market) You will enjoy.
Go to Lisieux too.
Great
We were in Normandy several years ago... according to your list, we missed only Giverny. One thing I would suggest if you are touring the World War 2 related sites is to go see a German war casualty cemetery. Remind yourself and your children that people on both sides died.
The Juno Beach museum is very well done...
We will be there in a couple of months, should we stay for 2 or 3 full days to experience the Normandy beaches and museums? Which town would you suggest to be the best to stay in, Rouen or Bayeux?
I’m from Normandy!!
What does "Tant pis" mean?
@@markoshea6833 It means never mind.
@@Aquila_France eh bien. merci
@@markoshea6833 you're welcome !
Where did you stay (lodging) in this video
Marc you are a legend!
Normandy has one of the most richest viking history Normandy actually stands for norways land.
Steinar:
Normandy is named in relation to the Danish Viking Rollo, that was “handed” over the area.
As the Vikings wasn’t called “Vikings” back then, but instead “Nor-Men”, the land was named Normandy.
So nothing to do with Norway my fellow Scandinavian friend, but instead the general naming of Vikings as Nor-Men.
@@SealDK rollo was norvégien.
Histoire birthplace is aeslund in norway..but many of his troops were danish...as à norman we can t separate norway and Danemark
Normandy stayed in the viking line for decades after, only being taken from them during the Napoleonic era, it had been given to Rollo "the walker" by the french to try and stop constant viking raids on Frankia. The Vikings that settled in Normandy and then England are relations of the Royal family today. Due to the period many British people have Germanic and viking DNA, likely composed of Norwegian, Danish, Anglo Saxon, Celtic ect. The original Rollo the walker was said to have to walk everywhere as he was too big to ride a horse however horses were far smaller at the time, being bred for speed and it is thought rollo would have been about six foot, which is still huge for the time. The french capitulation of Normandy inadvertently changed the history of Britain forever. Interestingly William the conqueror, great-great-great grandson of Rollo began building the tower of London and the castle in Colchester after the invasion along with mot and bailey castles similar to in Normandy. It is strange to think that these warriors staged an invasion on Britain from the Normandy beaches in 1066 and all those years later their ancestors staged an invasion from the other side onto the Normandy beaches on D Day.
Good job but where's the fire?....Beautiful area and nice job.
Go to Arromanches a seaside town if you are intérested on WWII history. There are two museums on the war. Most importantly is what you see in thé bay. The remains of the blocks from the floating artificial roadway that American engineers designed for trucks to cross from outlaying ships to thé shore to délivrer supplies. At low tide you can walk on the sand near some of them.
If you come in Normandy, don't miss to visit Rouen.
Wolter you left out the best kept heartwarming secret of the Normandy coast, the little church in Angoville-au-Plain and the story of two young medics Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore documented in the PBS movie Eagles of Mercy. Why this isn't as well known as some of the other events I don't understand but you can go inside this tiny little 12 century church and still see the blood stained pews.
I'll be there soon
Have a great trip!
A short frustrating story that I want to share: 40 years ago we did a school trip to Omaha beach. We were hiking with our bare feet in the sand that and felt the fresh spring seawater between our toes. Suddenly I noticed a partly blue oxidated unfired bullet half buried in the wet sand… it looked like a 5.56Nato caliber. Can you imagine how I felt as a 12 year old? 😮 Proud with what I found, I ran towards my schoolteacher. “Look what I found!! He grabbed it out of my hand and threw it in the ocean again with the words “to dangerous “. I’m still frustrated when I think about it 😢
It is said that paratrooper hanging on the church is on the wrong side of the church. The German soldier on the roof (who is still alive) says it was different than that they are telling now how it went.
Yes it was different but tourists would't see him as well. And everyone is used to see him as is :)
I’m just home from a visit to Normandy. It’s wonderful ... the food, the people, the architecture, the landscape all exceeded my expectations. The only let down was Mont St. Michel. If you’d told me it wasn’t worth the visit before I went, I wouldn’t have believed you. But it’s a huge time and money waster. We were the first visitors there for the day and had it to ourselves for 30-45 minutes. The architecture is great. Once the throngs of people arrived, you could barely move. The food and gift shops are incredibly over-priced. You can purchase the same stuff in St. Malo much cheaper. Our entire group agreed we wasted hours there. Honfleur, on the other hand, is soooo charming with unique art shops and fewer tourists. I could have spent the whole day there instead of the few hours we were given. Marc is right about renting a car and driving around. Normandy roads are great. Do go and enjoy!
you had to go though? (Is The Eiffel Tower worth looking at)
@@markoshea6833 you know, I wrote that a year ago, right after I got back from my trip. In hindsight I have fond memories of Mont St. Michel. I do recall the crowds being awful, but my pictures are fantastic. Some things need to age in the mind. It is beautiful. Just be prepared for lots of walking and too many people. As for the Eiffel Tower, we didn’t go up, just stopped at the base for pictures. It’s busy, but the area is sketchy. I did not like Paris as much as London or Amsterdam or Brussels ... and that hasn’t changed over time. You have to see it, but keep your expectations low. I’d say our crowd was 50/50 on the whole Paris leg of the trip.
@@toddbonin6926 oh uh
What about Iqaluit Nunavut Canada!!
I was there 40 years ago. Normandy is the French version of the American South.
Is there Country music there?
Where you at Notre Dame before or after the fire
Notre Dame de Paris isn't in Normandy, there are a lot of churches in France called Notre Dame de ...
@@treki3838 I thought he went to Paris
@@AmericanJoel-vj9bv Paris isn't in Normandy
I should rephrase that I thought he went to both Normandy and Paris
Etretat is missing!!!
They are a lot of cultural similarities between Normandy and Quebec.
Not really. The rest of France does not dislike Normandy.
Many normans settlered québec
Why do you have a pony tail ?
What’s the best way to get to Normandy from Paris ?
The best way is probably to take the train from Gare Saint-Lazare Paris to Rouen , it take 1hour and a half , and cost 10€ for one person .
I think there is also direct buses Paris-Rouen which are cheaper but also longer (around two hours) .
Where do you rent your car from when you arrive in France? Do you rent it while you're at CDG, or take a train closer to your destination and then rent a car? What have your car rental experiences been like? Any problems with the company trying to scam you?
Yes, you can rent a car at CDG, it is cheaper than the city office. I never had any problems with the big ones (Hertz, Europcar...).
I am french, ans Il live in Paris. But vert often, il like to go with m'y son, in Rouen for a week-end. It's a vert old ans beautiful town. There are beautiful churchs. A very rich musée des beaux art, gratis, with a lot campus painters. In thé cimetière IS thé grave of Gustave Flaubert who wrote Madame Bovary, Salammbô, .... When I go go Rouen I bring m'y bicycle (in thé train) : si I Can visit thé Abbey of Saint Martin de Boskerville, Saint Wandrille, Jumîège, and thé thé abbatiale of Bon Secours. Rouen IS like Troyes (an other town) one of thé post North beautiful town. And when you visit with a bicycle, you are very free. Tryo to sexe photos of Rouen , Jumièges , Saint Martin de Boskerville, Saint Wandrille, thé abbatiale of Notre Dame of Bon Secours. It' wonderfull !
I need to visit there just to give respect for those who died there.