Camping in Normandy
Camping Holidays in Normandy
Steeped in history with spectacular scenery and miles of gorgeous coastline, it’s easy to see why our family campsites in Normandy are so popular. Explore the beaches of the D Day landings or check out the amazing Bayeux tapestry. Wander around quaint fishing ports or indulge in the famous cider and Calvados apple brandy. from a short break to a family holiday, camping in Normandy is a great way to discover this diverse region.
Visiting Normandy
Explore Normandy
From numerous orchards and vibrant, verdant pastures to the hills, canyons, and forested valleys in the western regions, every expedition unveils fresh sights. In Normandy, you'll never exhaust your list of activities, as both locations and artifacts will captivate your interest. From historical treasures like the Bayeux Tapestry to the iconic beaches associated with the D-Day landings and the contemplative graveyards of the fallen heroes. Trendy resorts like Honfleur provide a gateway to the good life. And for those who prefer expansive beaches, the Côte d’Albatre (Alabaster Coast) awaits.
Feel Normandy
In Normandy, behold the vibrant countryside, the rustic allure, featuring quaint timbered farmhouses, age-old churches, and majestic castles. Your other senses will awaken to the delightful scents of delectable cuisine and freshly baked bread wafting through the air wherever you venture. However, that's just part of the experience. Normandy offers a multitude of thrilling activities, including the exploration of its stunning coastline adorned with charming fishing villages, upscale resorts, and towering white cliffs that rival anything you might find in Dover.
Taste Normandy
Normandy is well-known for its seafood, including fresh oysters, scallops, and lobsters. A popular main course is chicken prepared with calvados and cream. For dessert, there's nothing better than 'Tarte aux Pommes,' followed by the region's own cheeses. All of these are complemented by the abundant summer harvest of apples, which are used to produce Normandy's renowned cider and incredibly delicious Calvados brandy.
More about Normandy
Regional highlights
Le Havre
Le Havre, French for ‘the harbour’ is a major town, located a 45 minute drive south from Fécamp, on the shore of the English Channel at the mouth of the River Seine. The port is the second largest in France (after Marseille) and was heavily bombed at the end of WWII during the battle of Normandy. The town centre has been reconstructed by architect Auguste Perret, using reinforced concrete and today is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Rouen
Known as the historic capital of Normandy and once one of the largest cities of medieval Europe, Rouen is situated on the River Seine, approximately an hour’s drive east of Le Havre. Modern restaurants and chic boutiques sit alongside half-timbered houses and Gothic churches making it one of Normandy’s highlights. Rouen has a fascinating history – it was devastated by fire and plague during the middle ages, and is the place where Joan of Arc was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in 1431.
Honfleur
Close to Caen is Honfleur, a perfect example of a Norman fishing port. The fish market opens according to the landings so it is worth asking locally for opening days and times. Take one of the daily cruises along the river for spectacular views of the Pont de Normandie. This cable-stayed road bridge spans the River Seine, linking Le Havre in Upper Normandy to Honfleur.
Cherbourg
Cherbourg, which is situated on the northern point of the Cotentin Peninsula, is a popular ferry port with connections to Poole and Portsmouth. It is one of the first places that the Titanic visited; this is marked in an exhibition in the maritime museum ‘Cité de la Mer’. Here, you can also climb aboard and explore the world’s largest submarine. Cherbourg has many great restaurants and is the perfect place to try some of the specialties of Normandy.
Getting there
Airports in Normandy
Lille
Deauville
Beauvais
Dinard
Car Hire
Europcar provide you with really competitive prices on car hire with collection from all major airports or TGV train stations.
Unlimited mileage
Third-party insurance
Collision Damage Waiver
Airport hire surcharges
Local taxes
When calling us to book your car hire you must supply us with details of your flight number and arrival time. This is imperative to guarantee your hire car will be available for pick-up should your flight be delayed.
Ferries to Normandy
Caen
St Malo
Cherbourg
Dieppe
Le Havre
Calais
With a huge choice of operators and routes - not to mention the Eurotunnel, taking your car to the continent has never made more sense.
Days out
There are so many great places to visit in Normandy, from historical sites to family tourist attractions:
D-Day Landing Beaches - see where Allied forces landed in June 1944, plus numerous memorials and museums such as the restored Canadian tank at Courseulles-sur-Mer, and the Utah Beach museum at Arromanche.
Bayeux - don’t miss the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 70m long piece of linen depicting the events of the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings. Bayeux is also first town to be liberated by the Allies - learn how the events unfolded at the Battle of Normandy Museum.
Caen - home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, an impressive art gallery in the grounds of the Chateau Ducal, which was built by William The Conquerer and his wife Mathilda.
Mont St Michel - don’t miss a visit to the famous Mont St Michel, on the Brittany-Normandy border. Explore this ancient site of pilgrimage and tour the Abbey buildings. Before you leave, buy some of Mère Poulard’s biscuits in their iconic tins.
La Cite de la Mer - learn about the ocean depths in this must-see scientific and cultural attraction. Explore the world’s largest submarine open to the public, see Europe’s largest cylindrical aquarium and learn all about the Titanic at the museum. La Cite de la Mer is just minutes away from the Cherbourg ferry port so it’s a great stop-off either as you arrive in France, or before you catch your ferry home.
Giverny - visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet with its Japanese bridge and pretty water garden are open to the public from April until the end of October.
Falais - the reputed birthplace of William the Conqueror, it was a key site inthe Battle of Normandy. It’s also the home of one of the most charming Automates Avenue, a unique collection of 300 clockwork figures recreating the magic of the animated scenes once typical of Parisian department stores at Christmas time.
All campsites in Normandy
If you can't find your campsite, try amending the travel dates, or simply select from the below list to see all availability:
NR011 Château Lez Eaux Campsite
NR014 La Vallée
NR043 Riva Bella
