7 Days in Normandy: Bayeux, Honfleur and the Brétigny Countryside

From D-Day beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry to Honfleur’s storybook harbor and pastoral lanes near Brétigny, this 7-day Normandy itinerary blends history, art, and slow-travel pleasures.
Mont Saint Michael - France
Photo by Mr Alex Photography on Pexels

Normandy is a landscape of memory and light: medieval towns ringed by half-timbered houses, fields crisscrossed by hedgerows, and a coastline etched into world history on June 6, 1944. Here, cider cellars sit a short drive from solemn military cemeteries, and the sea changes color with the sky—just as Monet painted it.


Across seven days you’ll base in Bayeux for D-Day sites and Mont Saint-Michel, then move to Honfleur for harbor walks, the Côte Fleurie, and a countryside escape into the Eure near Brétigny. Expect creamy Camembert, oysters on the quay, and cozy bistros that turn local butter and apples into small miracles.

Practical notes: trains from Paris make Normandy an easy hop, though a car unlocks rural gems. Pack layers—sea breezes can be brisk even in summer. Book WWII and Mont Saint-Michel tours well ahead, and bring comfortable shoes for cobbles and abbey steps.

Bayeux

Bayeux is a lucky survivor—spared during WWII, its medieval core still folds around a soaring cathedral and the famed 11th‑century Bayeux Tapestry. It’s the best base for visiting the American sectors of the D-Day beaches, with guides who make the history vivid and human.

Top sights: the Bayeux Tapestry Museum (a 230-foot embroidery chronicling 1066), Notre-Dame Cathedral, and riverside paths along the Aure. Food-wise, expect galettes at an old mill, hearty Norman sauces, and outstanding cider.

Day 1: Arrive in Bayeux, Cathedral Quarter Stroll

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs beneath the twin spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral, then meander Rue des Cuisiniers for half-timbered facades and sweet shops.


Evening: Dinner at La Rapière (romantic, market-driven menus; book ahead) or L’Angle Saint-Laurent (modern bistro plating Norman classics). Nightcap at Le Volet qui Penche, a cozy wine bar on the Aure with local cheeses and charcuterie boards.

Day 2: The American D‑Day Beaches

Morning–Afternoon (guided experience): Join a small-group deep dive into the American landing sites. The narrative threads together strategy, sacrifice, and personal stories.

Food tips: Grab coffee and a flaky croissant at Liberty Coffee (specialty roasts) before pickup. If you prefer a lighter option after the tour, try buckwheat galettes and local cider at Le Moulin de la Galette, set by an old watermill.

Evening: Dinner at Le Pommier (duck with apples, Norman cream sauces) or the intimate Au Ptit Bistrot near the cathedral.

Day 3: Mont Saint‑Michel Day Trip

Morning–Afternoon (full day): See one of France’s icons rising from the tides. Wander the ramparts, then climb to the abbey for soaring Gothic vaults and sweeping views of sand flats and sea.


Food tips: For breakfast-on-the-go, pick up a jambon-beurre and madeleines from a boulangerie along Rue Saint-Jean. On the Mont, sample the region’s agneau de pré‑salé (salt-meadow lamb) if available; back in Bayeux, celebrate with caramelized apple crêpes.

Evening: Casual dinner at Chez Paulette (retro décor, homestyle plates) or a seafood platter at Le Garde Manger.

Honfleur

Honfleur looks painted even when it isn’t—narrow slate-fronted houses crowd the Vieux Bassin, masts wink in the breeze, and cafés spill onto cobbles. Monet and Boudin chased light along these quays; you’ll chase oysters and sunsets.

Beyond town, the Côte Fleurie strings together Deauville’s Belle Époque villas, Trouville’s seafood temples, and the cider farms of the Pays d’Auge. It’s a perfect base for slow days of markets, seaside walks, and tastings.

Day 4: Bayeux Market Morning, Transfer to Honfleur

Morning: If it’s Saturday, browse Bayeux’s market at Place Saint‑Patrice for goat cheeses, saucisson, and strawberries in season. Coffee at Liberty Coffee or a buckwheat galette at Le Moulin de la Galette.


Afternoon: Travel to Honfleur and check in. Stroll the Vieux Bassin, peek into the timbered Église Sainte-Catherine (France’s largest wooden church), and pop into the Eugène Boudin Museum for the town’s Impressionist roots.

Evening: Dinner at L’Homme de Bois (roasted fish, scallops in beurre blanc) or La Lieutenance (classic brasserie on Place Sainte‑Catherine). Finish with a Calvados digestif at a harbor café.

Day 5: Côte Fleurie—Deauville, Trouville, and a Calvados Tasting

Morning: Breakfast at La Petite Chine (tea room, pastries, quiches), then bus or drive to Deauville. Walk the famous Planches boardwalk with its Art Deco bathing cabins named for film stars; browse elegant boutiques and the indoor market for cheeses and butter cookies.

Afternoon: Cross the bridge to Trouville-sur-Mer for the lively fish market—order a shucked-to-order dozen with lemon and rye bread. Lunch at Les Vapeurs (belle-époque brasserie; go for moules marinières) or Le Drakkar back in Deauville (steak-frites, impeccable service). Continue into the Pays d’Auge for a Calvados and cider tasting at an estate around Pont‑l’Évêque—many offer short visits and boutique purchases.

Evening: Back in Honfleur, crêpes and galettes at La Cidrerie (stoneware bowls of cider; try the andouille de Vire galette), or book Le Bréard for a creative tasting menu.


Day 6: Brétigny Countryside (Eure) and The Bec‑Hellouin–Champ de Bataille Arc

Morning: Pick up a rental car for a gentle loop into the Eure (Honfleur → Brétigny ~1h10 via A13/N13). Brétigny is archetypal Norman countryside—bocage hedgerows, apple orchards, and half-timbered farmsteads. Continue to the serene Abbaye du Bec‑Hellouin, one of France’s most beautiful villages.

Afternoon: Lunch in Bec‑Hellouin at La Crêpe dans le Bec (savory buckwheat with country cider) before heading to the Château du Champ de Bataille. Stroll the spectacular formal gardens designed by Jacques Garcia—a masterclass in perspective, fountains, and orangeries.

Evening: Return to Honfleur. Casual dinner at La Cidrerie if you missed it, or order a seafood platter at L’Absinthe near the harbor (razor clams and turbot are standouts). Night walk along the quays as the masts clink in the breeze.

Day 7: Honfleur Slow Morning and Departure

Morning: Browse the Saturday market at Place Sainte‑Catherine (if applicable). Coffee and kouign‑amann at La Petite Chine or a simple tartine at a harbor café. Pick up edible gifts: caramels au beurre salé, cider, or Pont‑l’Évêque.

Afternoon: Travel to Paris for your flight/train. Options: bus to Le Havre then train to Paris‑Saint‑Lazare (~2h15–2h40, ~€25–€45 via Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses)), or bus to Deauville then direct train to Paris. For flights within Europe use Omio (Flights); for long-haul, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.


Evening: If you have extra time, linger for one last seafood lunch by the bassin, then depart with a camera roll full of slate roofs and sea light.

Optional/Alternative Tours You Can Swap In

In one week you’ll have traced the sweep of Norman history: from 1066 stitches to 1944 sands, and from Impressionist harbors to orchard-laced hills. With Bayeux as your classroom and Honfleur your postcard home, this itinerary balances depth, flavor, and the simple joy of time by the sea.

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