Best things to do in Normandy

For stunning medieval architecture that is surprisingly intact and well preserved, visit Mont Saint-Michel. You'll be amazed by the abbey's staggering architectural marvels dating back to the Roman Empire, as well as the visible time progression of this massive megastructure, which takes you on a journey towards more Gothic styles. The monastery and abbey are at the very top of the town, supplying panoramic views of the entire island and surrounding waters. You can book a guided tour or, if you prefer to wander on your own, pick up an audio guide in English. The welcome center also offers a free printed brochure that makes a great souvenir.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cathedrale Notre-Dame towers over the entire town. First, circle around the exterior, where occasional informational signs on stone or wood blocks explain aspects of the church's construction and its architectural features. Then explore inside, where you’ll find excellent views of the architecture, statues, and murals. There are several empty crypts you can visit beneath the church.

Pointe du Hoc, a rocky headland towering over the beach, has become a symbol of the courage of U.S. troops. Here, Germans had placed bunkers and artillery. The positions were bombed, shelled, and then attacked by 225 U.S. Rangers, who scaled the 35 m (115 ft) rock wall, besieged the bunkers, and finally took them, only to find there were no guns at all. They had been dismantled and hidden in an orchard. Only 90 rangers were still standing. Today, bomb and shell craters remain. A monument in memory of the 2nd Rangers Battalion is built on a control firing casemate at the site, where bodies of soldiers still lie under the ruins.

Airborne Museum tells the story of D-Day in pictures and displays mementos of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. See a Douglas C47 transport aircraft, a Waco glider, a Sherman tank, several artillery pieces, vehicles, equipment, many small arms, uniforms, and other historic objects. This is one of the best D-Day museums, offering an extensive collection of artifacts together with significant explanations and context.