IN PROGRESS!!!
This page covers the start of our Road Trip: Honfleur, Lisieux, The D-day beaches, Bayeux, Dinan, St Malo, Carnac and Angers.
Day 1- Newhaven to Dieppe.
When we drove to Greece a couple of years previously we had dinner at The Hope Inn in Newhaven prior to our departure for France. We did the same this time. Leashia’s beef ribs were obscenely large and as we hate wasting food we saved some for a picnic.
We had booked a cabin for our overnight ferry to Dieppe as on the last occassion I found it nearly impossible to sleep on the airplane style seats provided. The cabin was basic but fine, we got some sleep and were raring to go when we arrived in France in the early hours.
Day 2- The drive to Lisieux via Honfleur, Normandy.
It was dark as we drove through the country roads towards Honfleur, our very first destination, so we could not see much of the country until dawn broke. On the way we stopped to look at the attractive entrance gate to the Manoir de La Pommeraye and a large bespectacled snail that was nearby.
Honfleur
We parked for free in Honfleur and had a wander around the town. We originally planned to have lunch here but we were actually in time for breakfast! Honfleur is on the Seine estuary and is described in our Rough Guide to France book as ‘Normandy’s most beautiful seaside town.’ although the sea has now retreated. As this was our first Normandy seaside town [Dieppe doesn’t count] we were not in a position to argue.
It was certainly very pretty and the 18th century timber framed buildings and cobbled streets were lovely. We expected the town to be busy but it was very tranquil and there were only as few people milling around. We were visiting in late March so I suspect it busy’s up over the summer.
We headed to the 15th century L’église Sainte-Catherine in the centre of the old town. It is France’s largest wooden church with a separate bell tower and the main church building when viewed from the front looks like a market hall.
We then went a-wandering and stumbled across Le Maison du Tripot where we had a lovely breakfast.
Our tummies were now ready to do some more exploring so we headed for the Boudin Museum which had some some quality impressionist paintings on display [not just by Boudin]. We bought a ticket that also incorporated Les Maison Satie.
Les Masions Satie is a museum dedicated to Erik Satie in his former home and it was completely wonderfully surreal, a bit bonkers and lots of fun. To find it just follow the musical notes on the road.
You enter the museum through a closet and are greeted with a range of exhibits including a large glowing pear, a weird monkey and a pianola [playing Satie of course].
The best bit was a carousel that you have to pedal to make it work. We didn’t understand everything that was on display apart from the surreal link to Satie, but we had a great time.
Our next destination was Lisieux, a mere 40 minute drive from Honfleur where we were booked to stay for two nights.
On the way we stopped for some food [cheese, saucisson, baguette and other essentials] at Carrefour Express where I discovered my new favritist crisps- Tartiflette flavour! We checked into our accomodation early, [Leashia finished off her ribs from the ferry] had lunch on the balcony before a well earned nap.
We checked into our accomodation early, had lunch on the balcony [Leashia finished off her ribs from the ferry] before a well earned nap.
Lisieux
The Basilique
St Theresa Church
Dinner at La Duplex
Day 3 Lisieux
Church St Pierre
Church St Jacques
The market
Jane’s sweet shop
Exploring the Pay’s D’Auge- Bevron en Auge/ Camembert/Vimoutiers/ Orbec/Livarot
Doinner at Au Bistrot Gourtmand
Day 4 To Bayeux
Jardin le L’eveche in Liseux
Drive to Pegasus Bridge and Museum
Caen memorial cl;osed for a conference !
British Memorial
Ryes cemetery
Bayeux Cathederal
Normandy Invasion Musuem
Commonwealth Cemetery
Dinner at Le Moulin de Galette
Day 5- Bayeux
D-Day Tour [Normandy American D-Day beaches full day tour]- Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, St Marie Eglise, American Cemetery, Utah Museum and Beach….[Matthew was our brilliant guide]
Drinkies then dinner at La Nomande.
Day 6 -To Dinan via Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel
A mooch in Dinan
Dinner at le Cantonbery
Day 7- Dinan and a trip to St Malo
Free parking at St Malo,
Turkish cafe for lunch- Mignoin Cafe
Wandered around the Citadel and then the Cite D’Alet
Dinan- The port area and a lovely dinner at L’Atelier Gormand.
Day 8- Dinan
Dinan market
lunch at Cafe Noire
City walls, the church and views over the river.#
Dinner at Le Mastroquet
Day 9 To Angers via Carnac
Carnac Megaliths
Long drive to Angers
Quirky accomodation
Pizza at Franceshini
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