Lower Normandy. Attractions Calvados and Orne on the map

Last Updated on 28/06/2024

Attractions Calvados deserves a closer look: cider, cheese, calvados, picturesque old towns and trendy resorts nearby. And the beaches are wonderful everywhere. The whole line of beaches is also connected with the history of D Day. For the D Day I give a separate map.

Perhaps few will get to Orne, it is too far from the sea, but it makes sense to study the map of Orne too – maybe you will want to stop there for a couple of days on the way.

Next maps:
North and East – Eure, Seine-Maritime – 1
South and West – Manche
Rouen

Attractions Calvados map

Everything important that you can see in the Calvados – with notes and links.

• 1 – top
• 2 – very good, although not so well known
• 3 – good for a short vacation or a layover. Several medium-level interesting places
• 4 – local or specific, not for everyone

Marks without brackets – I was there (there are links to the posts). Marks with – I wasn’t there. Of course, the notes are subjective

Lable “the most beautiful village” – link
Lable “small town with character” – link
Lable “special” garden (Jardin Remarquable) – link

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1. Arromanches

Ferme de Vailly – snail farm

Arromanches 360 – a panoramic documentary about the liberation of Normandy. Landing Museum (Musee du Debarquement)

Map of museums and monuments dedicated to the liberation of Normandy

Blue – cemeteries, red – museums, green – memorial sites.

Public transport – bus from Bayeux.

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2. Brecy

Garden of the palace Brecy (Jardins du Chateau de Brecy) – were laid out in the 17th century in a French style, presumably by Mansart. Link

Nearest bus stop – Saint Gabriel Brecy (bus 177 from Bayeux or 1103 from Caen)

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3. Chateau Fontaine-Henry

Renaissance chateau with a high roof. Link

Near: rope park Revier West Adventure (link)

Public transport – bus 103 from Caen.

(2-3)
4. Caen

Thanks to William the Conqueror, the city became large and significant. Wilhelm and his wife founded a monastery for men and women and, of course, built a large fortress here – one of the largest in Europe.

Women’s abbay (Abbaye aux Dames) you can see: the church has been preserved from the 11th century, the buildings of the monastery – the 18th century, the burial place of Matilda, Wilhelm’s wife. Men’s abbay (Abbaye aux Hommes) also began to build in the 11th century, but finished in the 13th century, so the style is Gothic. William the Conqueror is buried in the church.

There are two museums in the fortress: art museum Musée des Beaux Arts (Perugino, Bruegel the Younger, Tintoretto, Veronese, Poussin, Rubens, Delacroix) and museum of Normandy (history and ethnography of the region). Also in the fortress there is a treasure hall (Sallde l’Échiquier) and a church.

The city was largely destroyed during the war, but some parts survived and were rebuilt. The most popular is the old quarter Vaugueux.

A botanical garden that dates back to the 17th century.
D-Day Memorial

Hérouville Saint Clair Rope park Beauregard Aventure. There is also a historical park of Vikings Parc Ornavik

Capriquet Amusement park Festyland

Sallenelles: Estuary of the river Orne, Batterie de Merville

Feuguerolles-Bully Rope park Accrofury

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5. Norman Switzerland

Around Clecy and Pont d’Ouilly: rock climbing, via ferrata, Roche d’Oëtre, rope park, kayaks, Clecy Gliss (coaster)
Les fours à chaux: Chemin de fer miniature

Lake Rabodanges – Putanges Pont Ecrepin

Bus to Clecy from Falaise or Flers
Bus to Pont d’Ouilly from Flers

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6. Falaise

Fortress of William the Conqueror, who was born in Falaise
Beautiful gothic church St. Trinite
Andre Lemaitre Museum
Museum dedicated to the life of ordinary people during the war

Public transport – bus from Caen.

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7. Vendeuvre

Chateau de Vendeuvre (original furniture of the 18th century, an exhibition of miniature interiors in a greenhouse, a park with a “special” label, surprise fountains) link

Public transport – train

(2-3)
8. Around Cambremer

Road of cider (link)

Cambremer:
Manoir du Bais,
garden Jardin du Pays d’Auge (link)

Public transport – bus from Liseux

Mezidon Vallee d’Auge: castle 10th centure Chateau de Crevecoeur (link)

Medizon Chateau de Canon: historic gardens from the list of “special”, combining French and English parks (link), open-air greenhouse – walled gardens where southern fruits can also be grown.

Public transport – train

Beuvron-en-Auge: from the list of the most beautiful villages of France

no public transport

Picturesque street in Beaumont-en-Auge

Public transport – bus from Deauville

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9. Livarot

Cheese dairy with excursions Graindorge (link)

Near:
Château de Saint-Germain-de-Livet (15-16 centuries) – one of the finest examples of the Norman Renaissance. Inside are interiors from the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries.

Public transport – bus from Liseux

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10. Lisieux

Lisieux – pilgrimage city. It attracts believers to the Basilica of St. Teresa. The Basilica is one of the largest cathedrals of the early 20th century, the interiors are decorated with mosaics.

In addition to the basilica, there is the Gothic Cathedral of St. Pierre 12-13 centuries.

Near:

Parc zoologique Cerza – zoo, organized according to the principle of the greatest freedom for animals (link)

no public transport

Calvados Château du Breuil – one of the opportunities to see how calvados is made. Another such place – La Maison Busnel

Castle and garden Chateau et Jardin Boutemont (link)

Public transport – bus from Liseux

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11. Cabourg, Houlgate

Hippodrome, Belle Époque villas, mini golf, golf for all, rope park

Dives sur Mer: large medieval building where the market takes place

Rocks Black Cow – Vaches Noires. Museum Paleoscape in Villers-sur-Mer

Public transport – bus from Deauville

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12. Deauville, Trouville

Numerous villas, fish market in Trouville

Rocks Roches Noires

Old town Touques

Hippodrome

Public transport – train

(3)
13. Honfleur

Old city. The wooden church of St. Katerina 15th century
Ethnographic Museum and Maritime Museum

Bridge Normandy

Tropic House Naturospace (butterflies and tropical plants) (link)

Public transport – bus from Deauville, Caen, Le Havre, Liseux

Orne

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14. Domfront

Old city. Fortress ruins. Medieval holidays.

Bus from Flers

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15. Bagnoles de l’Orne

Resort. Thermal pool, rope park

Near: Chateau Carrouges (link)

Bus from Flers or Alençon

(2-3)
16. Alençon

Medieval town. Castle. Lace Museum.
Traditional lace – UNESCO intangible heritage

Train

Near
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei – from the list of the most beautiful villages in France, the impressionists loved to rest in this village.

No public transport

(4)
17. Haras national du Pin

National stable. Horse shows on Thursdays in summer.

The entire region is especially developed in terms of equestrian tourism. Nearby is Pecher, the birthplace of the Pecherons.

Bus from Argentan

Other Normandy Topics – #Normandy.
Adjacent Maps: Manche