Climate
Normandy benefits from a mild temperate climate quite similar to the Southern England weather.
Food & Drink
Normandy is haute-cuisine heaven for food lovers and visitors seeking authentic culinary experiences. Normandy is a region with stunning treasures of heritage, and endless rural escapes provide an incomparable backdrop of elegance and beauty for unforgettable, lingering lunches and romantic candle lit dinners in classy, stand out restaurants and hideaway inns. Normandy is well known for its superb gastronomy, using its signature apples in many regional dishes.
Drinks:
Apples also feature heavily in the local traditional drinks such as Cider, Calvados (apple-based brandy) and Pommeau (a mixture of two thirds apple juice and one third Calvados).
In 1942, Calvados received the AOC label: Appellation d'Origine Controllé. This is given in France to assure quality for the buyer. Visitors are welcome to taste the celebrated tipple and take a tour of the many Calvados and cider distilleries throughout central Normandy. But these are not the only alcoholic drinks that hail from Normandy.
The history of Bénédictine liquor is a fascinating one, dating back to the Renaissance when a Venetian monk, Dom Bernardo Vincelli, brought together 27 plants and spices from around the world to create an elixir at the Abbey of Fécamp. The drink was produced by monks until the 18th century. During the French Revolution, the secret recipe was almost lost, but was discovered by Alexandre Le Grand in 1863 who decided to re-create the mysterious liqueur. This can be drunk with ice before a meal, or afterwards, as a digestive. Bénédictine is also often used as a base for numerous cocktails.
Cheese
Normandy's cheese board is of the most impressive in France, and contains the best-known types of cheeses outside its local area. Its most famous cheese is Camembert which comes from the village of the same name near Vimoutiers, but you can also try Neufchâtel, produced in a variety of different shapes and sizes, Pont-L'Evêque and Livarot. Cheese is in France usually served between the main course and dessert.
Sea Food
With its extensive coastline, seafood is one of Normandy's specialities, from shellfish, to lobster, clams, whelks, scallops, mussels and oysters from the Manche and Calvados. Oysters are classified, like cheeses and wines, with their own AOC (Controlled Origin Name). Seafood will feature on most menus from Dieppe to Alençon which often combine fish with the region's other culinary specialities, such as Sauce à la Crème or au Camembert. Particular treats is Dieppe's fish stew, called Marmite Dieppoise or Port en Bessin's famous scallops or Coquilles St Jacques.
Normandy is the chief oyster-cultivating, as well as biggest scallop-exporting, region in France. The seaside towns offer plenty of Seafood restaurants, as well as a variety of other food types, and in bustling areas such as Deauville and Dieppe, restaurants line the streets making your choice that little bit harder.
Meat
Normandy's main courses are often meat-based. Poultry is common on regional menus, including the tasty Canard à la Rouennaise using local duck from the Seine valley, but other types of meat such as veal or pork feature too. Another treat is Pré Salé lamb, given this name because the sheep are reared on the salt marshes surrounding Mont St Michel. Tripe is another Norman speciality, traditionally from Caen.
Deserts
As with alcohol, many of Normandy's sweet dishes are based on apples, such as the ever popular apple tart. Another Norman speciality is the milky rice pudding. Rouen's Sucres de Pommes pleases those with a seriously sweet tooth as do the buttery Isigny toffees.
Beautiful cities & places of interest in Normandy
Alençon
It is an ideal stopover point for visitors travelling further afield, yet also offers much worth spending time to visit. Once known as the "Cité des Ducs", the town boasts a fine old town hall, 15th century church as well as the Duke's Palace. However, it is most famous for its lace and making tradition which gave the name to the "Alençon stitch".
Bayeux
Essentially a medieval town, Bayeux is also home to the famous tapestry depicting William's epic journey to England and the battle of Hastings. Intrinsically linked with the events of June 1944, the town provided headquarters for General de Gaulle after D-Day, now a museum. There is also a Museum dedicated to the Battle of Normandy whilst the British War Cemetery is within walking distance of the town centre. The town itself miraculously avoided any destruction during Allied bombings.
Caen
Today Caen is a thriving commercial and university centre with historical roots. Rebuilt after the War, it offers an appealing mix of old and new with plenty of well-maintained green spaces. Most visitors head straight fot the thought-provoking Mémorial, but also worth a visit are the Jarin Botaniqueand the city's Fine Arts Museum.
Dieppe
A genuine seaside resort where the seafront has been developed with promenade, grassy lawns and children's play areas.
Evreux
With ruins dating back to the Celtic times, present day Evreux bears witness to a rich and troubled history. It is not far from Monet's garden at Giverny plus several châteaux, such as Champs de Bataille and Harcourt, all worth a visit.
Le Havre
The town is today an important commercial and tourist centre, which retains some of its old streets with its half-timbered buildings.
Rouen
Its cobbled streets invite visitors to explore. The town is particularly renowned for its antique shops. Other major monuments include the magnificent cathedral, abbey church and famous clock tower.
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