The rolling green countryside of Normandy is ideal for dairy farming and apple orchards, which is why Normandy produces cider, apple dishes such as
tarte Normande, Calvados and several delicious cheeses, including Camembert and Pont l’Eveque. In fact, at mealtimes in Normandy it’s traditional to have a break between courses for a
trou Normande: a snifter of Calvados to aid digestion. Fresh seafood such as oysters, mussels and scallops in particular are also a regional speciality.
Explore the well preserved medieval town centre in
Rouen, with its quaint colourful half-timbered houses. Rouen has had a long and colourful history; it was here that Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. Rouen’s massive, gothic
Cathedral of Notre-Dame was famously painted by Monet. Like many painters over the years, including Turner, Monet was attracted to Normandy for its light and landscapes. Monet’s house in Giverny, the
Claude Monet Foundation has a substantial collection of his work, and in the garden you can admire his lily pond for yourself.
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Normandy Guide