| Page Views: 1,404 Last Visit to Basse-Normandie: August, 2001 | From the Vikings to the D-Day by Mikebond - last update: Feb 24, 2006 |
| the battle of Hastings in the Bayeux tapestry |
|  | Everything started from 1066... The administrative region Basse-Normandie is a part of the historic region of Normandie, the other part is the administrative region Haute-Normandie. Basse-Normandie consists of three départements: 14 Calvados ( Caen); 50 Manche (Saint-Lô); 61 Orne (Alençon). There are many reasons that can lead a tourist to this region, such as its beautiful sands or its churches. However, most people visit Basse-Normandie for its long, charming, sometimes sad history. The name of the region dates of the Viking invasion of Northern France: the locals called Vikings Normans, which meant "people fron the North", and modern Normans are really Nordic people: tall, strong, blond and blue-eyed. However, the first important date in the Norman history is certainly 1066, when William, Duke of Normandie (later called the Conqueror), defeated Harold II, King of the Anglosaxons near Hastings and became King of England with the name of William I. Most information we have about this event are narrated in the tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde that you can see in Bayeux. |
... then priests built churches... The Middle Ages were an important epoch for Normandie, since many churches were built, mainly in Gothic style, in Caen, Bayeux and other towns. Of course, a tourist must not miss the (too) famous Mont-Saint-Michel with its great abbey. The work of priests made Normandie one of the most important French regions. | | |
| American cemetery in Normandie |
| | ... and WWII destroyed most of them Who in Europe doesn't know the date of 6th June 1944? Very few people, I guess. The landing on Normandie marked the end of Nazism and the beginning of the liberation of the continent. Unfortunately, the Normans had to pay a huge price for freedom: many towns, such as Caen or Le Havre (in Haute-Normandie) were destroyed at 90%. Luckily, they have been rebuilt as well as possible. The USA also paid a huge price in terms of human lives: many paratrooper were killed by the German soldier even before touching the Norman soil. You can see many of them buried in the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. |
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| Pros: | "A region full of history and art" | | Cons: | "none" | | In A Nutshell: | "The daughter of War and Faith" |
Mikebond's Basse-Normandie Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 5 - Photos: 18 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2 | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for Mikebond about Basse-Normandie | | | | |
Mariajoy Sun Jan 6, 2008 11:15 UTC
Hi Michele! Nice page! I am hoping to visit this area of France in the not too distant future! :) | tiger9090a Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:23 UTC
Great new page Michele! | aemilys Tue Dec 27, 2005 07:05 UTC
Some great ideas for new places to visit. Very nice page! | JLBG Sun Dec 18, 2005 05:46 UTC
An excellent presentation of Basse-Normandie. |
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Basse-Normandie Hotels
- Cherbourg Hotels
- Deauville-les-Bains Hotels
- Normandy Barriere
Rue Jean Mermoz 38, 14800 Deauville, Deauville-les-Bains
- Royal Hotel
Boulevard Cornuche,Bp 74400, Deauville-Les-Bains,, Deauville-les-Bains
- Ibis Deauville Hotel
9-10 Quai De La Marine, Deauville-Les-Bains, 14800, Deauville-les-Bains
- Royal Barriere
Boulevard Cornuch?, Deauville-Les-Bains, 14800, fr, Deauville-les-Bains
- Kyriad Hotel
Avenue Michel D'Ornano, Deauville-Les-Bains, 14800, Deauville-les-Bains
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