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Formerly a French province, Normandy [Normandie], with its old capital at Rouen, is now divided into two regions
bordering on the English Channel: Upper Normandy [Haute-Normandie] and Lower Normandy [Basse-Normandie].
Lush rolling pastures, cows grazing among the orchards... Normandy almost shouts ‘slow down’ at the
visitor – if it was ever to shout anything. Despite an annual tourist invasion every year the region
remains largely untouched - an unspoilt paradise.
Haute Normandie is easy to reach from its ports Le Hâvre and Dieppe although, thanks to the improved
motorway network, Rouen is only a little over two hours from Calais.
Arriving in Basse Normandie across the mammoth Pont de Normandie, the road leads straight to the painters’
paradise Honfleur with its picture book harbour. Along the coast, Deauville still attracts the Paris crowds.
Ferries from the UK sail to Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg making it easy to head south to Mont St Michel.
- Regional information for Calvados, Normandy
The department of Calvados has several areas that are visited by tourists: The Bessin, the Plaine of Caen, the Bocage Virois, the Côte de Nacre, the Côte Fleurie and the Pays d'Auge.
- Regional information for Eure, Normandy
Eure is part of the current region of Haute-Normandie and is surrounded by the departments of Seine-Maritime, Oise, Val-d'Oise, Yvelines, Eure-et-Loir, Orne, and Calvados.
- Regional information for Manche, Normandy
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche ("the sleeve"), which is the French name for the English Channel.
- Regional information for Orne, Normandy
Orne is in the current region of Basse-Normandie and is surrounded by the departments of Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Sarthe, Mayenne, and Calvados; it is the only department of Basse Normandie and Haute Normandie to be landlocked.
- Regional information for Seine Maritime, Normandy
Normandy derives its name from the Viking Norsemen who sailed up the river Seine in the 9th Century. They settled
in Rouen in the department of Seine Maritime.
- Normandy food and drink
Normandy is the land of Calvados brandy and apple cider [bon bere]. It is well known for its rich butter,
cream and other dairy products.
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