Best things to do in Honfleur

Considered the most illustrious and opulent castle in all of France, Palace of Versailles exemplifies the most beautiful achievements of French art in the 18th century. This former seat of royal power now chronicles the country's past as a museum of the history of France. On your exploration of the numerous buildings, be sure to see the the lavish Hall of Mirrors, the Queen’s bedchamber, the ecclesiastical chapels, and the King's Grand Apartments. If you love books, don’t miss the library, with its delicately carved wooden and stone panels. In the Clock Room, admire the famous astronomical clock encased in bronze. Arrive as early as possible to avoid long entrance lines. Even with advanced tickets, you'll have to wait your turn at the security checkpoint. Alternatively, book a local guide service to bring you to the château and skip the long lines altogether.

Discover the majestic chalk cliffs of Falaises d'Etretat, which inspired artists like Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, and Claude Monet. These world-renowned cliffs are home to many species of plant and animal life, including seabirds such as herring gulls, arctic fulmars, and peregrine falcons. At low tide, you can walk out onto the beach and see oyster beds dating back to the 17th century. Look for a hole in a cliff known as "trou à l'homme." Sea cabbage and red grass are protected species that grow along the coast. Many caves line the coast, with several that are accessible only by boat during calm weather.

the largest church made out of wood in France, Saint Catherine's Catholic Church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. A wooden sculpture shows her holding a wheel and a sword. The first nave is the oldest part of the building, dating to the second half of the 15th century. It was built using naval construction techniques, which gives the impression of an upside-down ship's hull. In the 16th century, a second nave was added, whose vault was like the wooden vaults of modest Gothic churches. The famous "axe masters" of the city’s naval yards created this lovely building without using any saws, just like their Norman ancestors and the Vikings before them. There's a bell tower separate from the principal building.

Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux displays a 70-m (230-ft) embroidered tapestry crafted in the 11th century. Stitched after the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, to celebrate England's conquest by William the Conqueror, this remarkable linen canvas depicts Viking ships, a comet, Saxon and Norman cavalries, and a mysterious exchange between a cleric and an Anglo-Saxon woman. The museum provides English translations of the Tituli Latin scripts; a 16-minute video, also in English, presents the tapestry’s historical context. A free English audio guide helps you explore the interpretive room, the tapestry room, and the 13th-century seminary building. A junior audio guide, in English and French, makes this educational experience entertaining for older children. Younger kids can connect with the tapestry by coloring replica printouts using any hues they like.

Normandy American Cemetery honors American soldiers who died in Europe during World War II. Most of the 9,387 graves contain the remains of American soldiers and military personnel who lost their lives during the D-Day landings and the operations that followed. East of the memorial, the semicircle garden has 1,557 names inscribed on the "Walls of the Missing,” with rosettes denoting the names of those who have since been identified. The semicircular colonnade has one loggia at each end containing narratives of military operations as well as huge maps. See the iconic bronze statue called the “Spirit of American Youth” in its center and, overlooking the beach, a tablet depicting the Normandy landings.

Pont de Normandie is an impressive bridge over the Seine.

Your visit to Fondation Claude Monet starts in a little blue sitting room painted with that same colors that Monet chose. Restorations include period decorations, such as cement tiles made in Rouen, brightly painted furniture, and copper pots that contrast the cheerful blue walls of the large kitchen. Throughout the house, you'll see Monet's personal collection of over 200 Japanese woodblocks and works of art by his Impressionist contemporaries. When you stroll across the Japanese bridge, commissioned by Monet, admire the water lilies rising from the pond, which were also inspired by Japanese garden design. Low hedges separate the garden's plots, each with its own theme, harmony, shape, composition, and color palette. Look out for rare plant varieties and wisteria planted by Monet himself.

Experience the gothic inspiration that Impressionist painter Claude Monet felt at Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, where he filled 28 canvasses with the image of this cathedral. Gargoyles that dominate the rooftop stare down as you approach the façade, but even higher up is the soaring 151-m (495-ft) lantern tower atop the transept. Prepare for sweeping panoramic views of the Norman old town and Seine Valley from the lookouts.

The abbey also has several burials, including the tomb that contained Richard the Lionheart's heart. The cathedral's strong musical tradition means you may hear a talented organist playing the massive Jacquot-Lavergne organ. The preserved archiepiscopal palace and its conserved auxiliary buildings dating to the 12th century are rare gems in France.

A modern museum focusing on World War II and the Cold War, Memorial de Caen was built in 1988. It charts the events leading up to and after D-Day, and is an emotional presentation inviting meditation on the thought of Elie Wiesel: "Peace is not a gift from God to man, but a gift from man to himself." The Memorial for Peace also includes an exhibit of Nobel Peace Prize winners and another on conflict resolution in different cultures.

An old chapel built by Richard II, Notre Dame de Grace was rebuilt in 1615 on the hill. It offers beautiful views over the town and the Seine.