Holiday rentals in hotels, residences and all inclusive (2024)

Justtwo hours from Paris,Normandyis the dream destination for weekends orseaside holidays. Famous for itssandybeaches brought to life by thetide, small fishing ports and “Belle Epoque” seaside resorts, Normandy is a region with no shortage of attractions.

The Normandy towns and villages are classified among the most beautiful in France, and are ideal stops for a relaxing and exotic getaway!There is no shortage of leisure activitiesat Sowell hotels and residences in Normandy and you will enjoybeautiful moments by the sea.

Where is Normandy located?

Normandy, located in France, is very popular with lovers of vacation rentals by the sea. It includes the departments of Calvados, Manche, Orne and Seine-Maritime.

This region is renowned for its gastronomy (muscadet, foie gras, cheeses) its rural landscapes and its beaches.

It is bordered by the Channel, the Orne and the North Sea. The latter being the only gulf on the Normandy coast. It can be accessed by the A13 motorway, which connects Paris to Caen in 2.5 hours, and the national N137, which links Paris to Cherbourg in 5 hours.

Normandy is also crossed by the Seine.

Its relief is varied and well marked: it can be distinguished in several parts:

• To the east, the Pays de Caux, which covers the southern half of the department. There are steep and high cliffs (like in Étretat) and alluvial plains by the sea. To the west, Bessin, with its rocky cliffs. The bocage of the Pays de Caux is also present in Normandy with its hillsides and fertile agricultural land.
• To the north, the Caux plateau, which covers the northeast quarter of the department. It is an agricultural region, with cultivated plains. There has been a high concentration of farms and industrial and economic development since the Second World War. The Upper Seine Valley, with Rouen and Le Havre, forms an important communication axis.
• To the west of the department, the Alabaster coast. This rocky coast extends over three kilometers between Le Tréport and Fécamp. This part of the coastline is the wildest and uninhabited in the region. Many birds are found there such as the peregrine falcon, the gray heron and the little egret. The Alabaster Coast gave its name to the Alabaster Coast.
• To the south, the country of Bray and the country of Caux. The center of the department is formed by the plateaus and the cliffs of the valleys which border them. They are covered with meadows and fields. Agriculture is present, particularly in the country of Bray where the town of Étretat is located.

In Normandy, Claude Monet, Gustave Caillebotte, Alfred Sisley and Claude Monet painted the Alabaster Coast extensively. It is a region that has inspired many famous painters.

What to visit in Normandy?

Normandy is a highly tourist destination that deserves to be visited, every year our customers who go on vacation there are delighted.

Places of history, culture and nature

• Its castles and its famous Normandy bridge make it a destination of choice for those who love history and culture.
• The Pont de Normandie, between Le Havre and Fécamp, is the highlight of Normandy.
• The Maison du Patrimoine de Fécamp is a place of exhibitions and numerous activities which bring the town to life over the centuries.
• The International Ceramics Museum, labeled Museum of France and located in Cauville-sur-Mer, has magnificent Gallo-Roman ceramics.
• The Le Havre Museum of Art and History. It was designed by Auguste Perret in the style of half-timbered houses of the century.
• The Bayeux Departmental Tapestry Museum is one of the most important Norman art and history museums in France. It presents an exceptional collection of medieval tapestry, since the beginning of the century.
• The Ceramics Museum of Villers-sur-Mer.
• The Norman Seine Loops Regional Natural Park, which is home to the largest national forest in Europe, the Bois de la Hague.
• The Cotentin and Bessin Marshes regional natural park.
• Saint-Étienne Church is a religious building built in the century, which houses the tomb of the Countess of Carnarvon and which constitutes an essential stopover on the famous Vire-Trail pilgrimage.
• The Château du Bosc in Villers-sur-Mer, with its vast lawn which slopes down towards the sea, is the flagship of the Château and the park of Villers-sur-Mer.
• Fort Tourneville, built in 1690 by Vauban a few kilometers northeast of Fécamp.
• The Château du Vivier in Portbail is a fine example of century-old seigneurial architecture, typical of Norman castles.
• Fort Sainte-Marie-au-Port, built in 1878, is a fortress steeped in history which overlooks the sea.

The Mont Saint Michel

We must also mention Mont Saint Michel, wonder of the world. Mont Saint Michel has indeed been a UNESCO classified site since 1979, with its architectural and historical heritage. It has been visited since 1986 on foot, by boat or by bike and is a must to visit during a holiday in Normandy.

Mont Saint-Michel has long been the highest point in Normandy. The “rock”, from which one overlooks the surrounding lands, then becomes a major place of pilgrimage, with more people coming to venerate the statue of Saint Michael and pilgrims flocking to pray. In 1974, the Benedictine abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The landing beaches

The landing beaches are also an important tourist spot on the Breton and Normandy coasts if you want to enjoy a cultural vacation.

The landing beaches of Utah Beach, Gold Beach and Sword Beach are located near Mont-Saint-Michel. Every year since 2004, the Utah Beach landing beach has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

High tides

Tourists flock to the Normandy coast in droves to take advantage of the high tides during their holidays in Normandy. The landing beaches are located near the coast.

Other notable sites

• The Vire tourist route, via the Col d’Hougue.
• Cape Lihou is a large rocky outcrop off the coast of Granville in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
• Jumièges Abbey is one of the major sites of the Normandy landings.
• The Roumare national forest is a forest massif located a few kilometers north of Mont-Saint-Michel.

The beaches

Normandy is also a region known for its beaches: the Normandy coast is dotted with several beaches, among which the best known are the landing beach in Normandy (Omaha Beach), that of the foreshore at Mont-Saint-Michel, the coast flowery, the Bay of Seine

Every year during high tides, thousands of tourists come to observe this natural curiosity which amazes with its strength.

Gastronomy in Normandy

Norman gastronomy is made up of a good number of specialties such as cheeses and oysters. The typical dishes are: Caen tripe, hare in cider, Norman tart, stuffed cabbage… everything is there for a gastronomic holiday in Normandy.

There are several cheeses in Normandy such as Camembert, double cream brie… During your vacation in Normandy, stop off at a cheese refiner, their products will be truly delicious and have nothing to do with those found at We.

Let’s not forget to mention Norman cider is made from apples or pears which are pressed and fermented at low temperature. It is then bottled, notably in the maturing cellars of abbeys and monasteries. Norman cider can also be consumed immediately or stored in the cellar. It can be drunk hot or cold.

The famous towns of Normandy

• Deauvilleis the city of the American film festival.
• Caenis the city of the Vieilles Charrues festival.
• Dinard is the city of the British film festival.
• Fécamp, an ancient Gallo-Roman city located on the Seine and the Seine estuary, is the city of antique dealers.
• Le Havreis the former capital of Normandy and an industrial and port center.
• Louviers, formerly called Louviers-Omonville-la-Petite, is the city of cinema and television.
• Pont-Audemer is an ancient town which has kept its medieval character with its mansions, its abbey, its cobbled streets.
• Rouen is the university town. It houses the University of Rouen.
• Trouville sur Mer is renowned for its sea bathing while Honfleur is a charming, typical little village.

What activities to do in Normandy during your vacation?

While on holiday in Normandy, you can enjoy many water sports, including windsurfing and canoeing. The long sandy beaches are also the ideal place to indulge in sand yachting. Sand yachting is very popular for regattas that take place on the beach.

In another style but still for a sporting holiday, you can also play golf or go horse riding. There are a lot of horse races in Normandy. Every weekend, horse races take place on the region’s racecourses. Also very popular is horseback riding, which is an activity very popular with tourists. Nature lovers can practice climbing, paragliding or hiking in the region.

Which vacation rental package to book in Normandy

Prefer accommodation in a hotel or a successful vacation rental in Normandy

Normandy is above all a place to spend a weekend or a relaxing stay and enjoy the sea spray. To have the best possible stay, it is preferable to choose a residence or hotel with a swimming pool for your vacation rental because the very changeable Norman climate does not allow swimming at the beach all year round.

Avoid choosing a camping vacation rental in Normandy

For these same reasons, avoid choosing a campsite even if you initially think that accommodation in a mobile home would be cheaper because the weather could be capricious and there is nothing worse than staying cooped up in a small studio or mobile home that is not very conformable while a room in a hotel with a restaurant will be so much more comfortable.

Trust the Sowell rental formula for your next vacation in Normandy

By booking a stay or vacation in Normandy with Sowell, we offer competitive first-minute rates with a guaranteed refund on flexible rates for all our vacation rentals. This is an opinion that we frequently share with customers who trust us and they do not regret choosing rooms or an apartment at sowell.

How to book your next vacation with Sowell?

Nothing could be simpler, enter your stay dates in accordance with the number of nights desired and compare our results in the different vacation rental offers offered in the Normandy region. You will have the choice between our hotel rooms and accommodation in a studio or a multi-room apartment with bathroom. In the results we display the price starting from the cheapest of the season on the basis of 2 people but you will have the exact price when choosing the rooms. If you are booking for a family, remember to select the accommodation suited to your configuration. We wish you a wonderful holiday in Normandy with the hotels and residences of the Sowell group.

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