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In the interests
of simplicity the two separate Normandy regions will be lumped together.
Normandy (French - Normandie) is an area of many flat open beaches
giving way to rich farmland. Normandy is famous for producing Camembert
cheese and other dairy based delicacies. Normandie makes up for
its unsuitability to viticulture by producing cider and the powerful
Calvados from the fruit it does produce in abundance, apples.
Normandy
will also forever be remembered as the site of the D Day Landings
in June 1944 which was one of the most significant events of
the 20th Century. D
Day or Operation Overlord was and remains the largest invasion
in history. The beaches around Arromanches were where the mainly
American, British and Canadians came ashore and tipped the balance
of the European Theatre of World War Two.
Normandy has an even greater historical legacy than D Day. Vikings
(Norsemen) from Scandinavia once pillaged then settled this
coast. Eventually they evolved into the Normans who became the
most feared military force in early medieval Europe. |
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William the conqueror, King of Normandy assembled an army,
crossed the English Channel, defeated King Harold at Hastings
(1066) and completely reshaped England. William became King
of Normandy and England further cementing his power. It is because
the Normans that the English language evolved the way it has.
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Many
of the longer words in English come from the French via latin.
Many of the monosyllabic words in the English language come
from Saxon (German). So the Vikings (Saxons) who became French
invaded England and changed the English language. This is why
many British aristrocratic names have a French ring to them.
Here endeth the lesson.
A great deal of Norman history is laid out on the 73 metre long
Bayeux
Tapestry (in Bayeux, Normandy). It records much of William
the Conqueror’s life including the Battle of Hastings
and even Halley’s Comet. The Normans also expanded their
lands by conquering southern Italy and left a lasting impression
on Sicily. They were also major movers and shakers in the Crusades.
Today the Normans are unassuming peaceful cheese-making people
who wouldn’t dream of invading anything.
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Bayeux
| Calvados | Basse Normandie | 14400
Bayeux
in Calvados, Basse-Normandie (population 15,000) is best known for
the Bayeux Tapestry commissioned by William the Conqueror to commemorate
his great victory over England in 1066. The tapestry is over 70
metres long and is housed in a purpose built museum in Bayeux. It
basically tells the story of the lead up to the Battle of Hastings.
It is one of the most important and instructive artworks remaining
from this period in history. Bayeux is the closest large town to
the D Day beaches and as such is a popular base for visitors to
Normandy.
Caen | Calvados | Basse Normandie | 14000
Caen is the capital of the Basse-Normandie Region of north western
France with a population of around 20,000 (greater metropolitan
area). This region was settled by the Vikings in the 8th Century
who rose to great prominence in medieval Europe as the Normans (from
Norsemen). William the Conqueror grew so powerful that he was able
to successfully invade and defeat England (Battle of Hastings in
1066), be crowned King of that country and change the course of
history. Caen suffered terribly during the Second World War in particular
around the time of the D Day Landings in June 1944. The huge Norman
Castle built by William the Conqueror was one of the few historic
buildings to survive the assault by British and Canadian forces
on the city.
Rouen | Seine-Maritime | Haute Normandie | 76000
Rouen is the capital of Normandy and was William the Conqueror’s
home base. During the middle ages it was one of the largest and
most prosperous cities of northern Europe. Rouen of today is still
an important city in France with a well preserved medieval quarter
and a large and impressive cathedral.
Saint Malo | Ile-et-Vilaine | Basse Normandie | 35400
Saint Malo is a beautiful walled medieval port city on the Brittany
coastline. Located near the famous Mont Saint Michel (one of France’s
most visited attractions) Saint Malo is a major ferry port with
connections to southern England. It is an excellent base to explore
the Brittany and Normandy regions including the D Day Beaches.
Getting there
By road with Viamichelin.com
routeplanner
By air via Deauville,
Dinard/St Malo, Rennes
By rail from Paris
By ferry to Cherbourg
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