Today on the blog, I’m telling you about my awesome 4-day blogtrip in Normandy, to discover the destination from a slightly different angle: by bike. During this cycling trip, my fellow bloggers and I crossed 3 departments in Normandy (the Manche, Calvados, and Seine-Maritime), and I will be doing one post per department. I’m starting here with the first leg of this journey, our time in the Manche—a corner of the region I didn’t know much about, I must admit, and one I’d love to come back and explore further…
One of the things that left the biggest impression on me during this leg (and which will also be very present during our time in Calvados later) is the significance and weight of the memory of the Allied D-Day landings in 1944 on the beaches of Normandy to help (among other things) liberate France. It’s a part of history that I was obviously already familiar with since it’s a staple of our high school curriculum, and yet, during this Normandy getaway, I felt like I truly grasped the impact and the not-yet-fully-healed wound of this dark period of the 20th century. It is also strange to think that this history is fading from living memory, as the last veterans are passing away…
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Table of Contents
Our journey with La Petite Reine in Normandy
This team of enthusiasts, and particularly our guide Hugo, took us along the country paths of the region to discover the most beautiful routes, must-see sites, and historical interests with an itinerary tailored for our small group of bloggers. The company works with Loc Vélo for the rental of the electric-assist bikes (E-Bikes) we used during our trip.
The advantage of using an electric bike (which I had already tried in the Alps) is that everything is inherently easier. You can cycle even without exceptional physical fitness, and above all, you can enjoy beautiful rides with some steep hills without being completely exhausted at the end. In short, for my part, I am completely won over by this type of bike. Consequently, under these conditions, I find that taking your bike is a superb way to explore the coastline and discover the wonderful landscapes of Normandy.
La Petite Reine Normandie Rates: 1/2 day Bayeux-Arromanches €75 per person (includes bike, helmet, and small snack) / €115 per person for the full day
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Where to stay in the Manche? Le Grand Hard
This lovely hotel-restaurant is run by a Flemish couple in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, just a few kilometers from the Utah Beach landing site.
Le Grand Hard La Rivière, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Room rates: between €100 and €190 per night Restaurant prices: market menu at €28 and child's menu at €12
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Where to eat in Carentan? L’Escale des Sens
After a short bike ride, we stopped to recharge our batteries at the restaurant L’Escale des Sens in Carentan, a small town known in particular for its strategic position in June 1944 during the Landings. I must say that the dishes sampled were particularly refined, and it is a gourmet address that I recommend if you are passing through the area.
L'Escale des Sens
10 Rue Jean Loret, 50500 Carentan
Price: starters between €12 and €16 / main courses between €20 and €26 / desserts €9 / set menu €25.90_
Visit the Utah Beach D-Day Museum
This very interesting museum is installed in a bunker on the edge of Utah Beach. It’s a good stop to try to understand the Landings a bit better and to brush up on the basics of this historical event. Indeed, Utah Beach was the scene of the Allied troops’ sea landing and their equipment in Operation “Overlord”. The museum was later built on the very spot where American troops landed on June 6, 1944. It retraces the events of D-Day in ten sequences, from preparation to success, by presenting a rich collection of objects, equipment, and vehicles, including an authentic B26 bomber.
If you have time, I highly recommend taking the full guided tour of the site (€12 adult and €8 child) with a short visit to the Utah Beach itself, which really helps to understand the site and the challenges of the attack during the Second World War.
Utah Beach D-Day Museum La Madeleine, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Rates: €8 adults / €7 reduced / €5 children (6 to 15 years old)
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The D-Day Experience
This place is both a museum presenting a private collection (with over 2800 m2 of exhibition) and an experience in a dynamic 4D flight simulator. You can also visit the museum house of the German paratroopers and one of the famous sites of the liberation of Normandy, the Dead Man’s Corner.
Simulator experience (7 minutes): inside a real C47, you participate in a flight from England to Normandy and relive history through sound effects, movements, and period footage.
The little extra: for enthusiasts, upon exiting the museum, there is a shop where you can buy (well, you need to have the budget for it) period souvenirs from the Second World War.
DDay Experience 2 Village de l'Amont 50500 Saint-Côme-du-Mont Carentan-les-Marais Open 7 days a week Rates: €13.90 adults / €10.90 children
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Climb into a tank at the Normandy Victory Museum
The must-do at this museum is to climb inside the cockpit of an armored vehicle for a truly unique ride (I’ve climbed into many weird machines thanks to/because of the blog, but here I think I’ve reached new heights…). It’s really an original activity that I loved doing, even if it is true that it’s not exactly cheap… Otherwise, you can also visit the museum which is, I have to say, a bit kitschy with its mannequins from another era, but it has the merit of showcasing yet another beautiful private collection of objects from the Second World War for enthusiasts.
Normandy Victory Museum Parc d’Activités La Fourchette, 50500 Carentan Museum rates: €9 adult / €6 child / free for under 7s Armored vehicle ride (10 min): €39 (for €1 more: one museum entry)
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Thanks to Normandie Tourisme, Manche Tourisme, and Pascal from the Agency aiRPur for this welcome, and to all my fellow bloggers with whom I had such a good time: Hello It’s Valentine, Tour Du Monde, Culturez-vous, and Prépare Ta Valise (thanks to Nicolas for his beautiful photos).
I hope that with all this, I’ve inspired you to discover the Manche and Normandy. And if you also have your own great addresses and tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on the Normandy region below:
⇒ All my articles on Normandy
MY ARTICLES ON NORMANDY DEPARTMENTS
⇒ The Orne
⇒ The Seine Maritime
⇒ The Eure
⇒ The Calvados
⇒ The Manche
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan, Nicolas Daumas Photos are not royalty-free, authorization from the photographer is required before any use
