On the upper left-hand facet of France's hexagon-shaped territory lie the regions of Normandy and Brittany; sights which draw art lovers, history buffs, and seaside vacationers abound.

Artists Drawn to Normandy

Giverny, the storied home and atelier of impressionist great, Claude Monet, serves as a gateway to Normandy. Tour buses of art lovers pour into the small village near Paris even though none of the artist's work is actually on view here. Still, walking around the blooming gardens and the tranquil lily pond firmly evoke the paintings for which he is justly famous. Elsewhere in Normandy are locations where Monet painted, the seaside resorts of Etretat and Sainte-Adresse, the cathedral in Rouen, and, in the agricultural countryside, the modern day versions of the ovate haystacks.

History in the Making

The World War II landing beaches of Normandy's southern coast are reminders of only the most recent military operations linked to this region. Another equally important invasion, though in the reverse, is commemorated in Bayeux where visitors can view an embroidered tapestry of 230 feet depicting William the Conqueror's conquest of England in 1066. The French-speaking duke became King of England and ushered in a golden era for the language that was to become the lingua franca of diplomacy for centuries. But there's more history to be experienced. Joan of Arc ended her heady days of military valor at a burning stake in the market place in Rouen. Mont-Saint-Michel, a Benedictine abbey founded in the eighth century, is set on an island surrounded by some of the most extreme tidal forces in the world (do not attempt to cross the sands without a guide!).

Celtic Brittany

The stories of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table may be fact, fiction or a creative combination of both but the wild interior of Brittany lays claim to at least some of the mystery. In the Forêt de Paimpont, southwest of Rennes, visitors may view Merlin's Tomb or the Castle of the Lady of the Lake. Traveling farther back into time, a stop in Carnac along the southern coast will transport visitors to another era when prehistoric peoples carved and erected stones in patterns that have yet to be interpreted. Legends offer an answer, though; in this case, the standing stones of Carnac are the members of a Roman legion turned to rock by Merlin the Magician.  

Coastline of Normandy and Brittany

For lovers of the sea, a visit to Normandy and Brittany is unparalleled. Though both regions boast sandy beaches, the weather is less amenable for bathing (sailing and windsurfing are better choices) than the south of France. Nevertheless, the rugged coastlines of limestone, granite, and chalk are picturesque, offer opportunities for hiking, and shelter a delicious variety of seafood that shows up fresh on local tables throughout the region.