Favourite sites and aires in Normandy

[Hezbez]

In planning mode. Anyone have a favourite place in Normandy they'd care to share?

 

[stevewagner]

Arromanche has two aires

 

[Next Stop]

We found this place quite interesting....

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longues-sur-Mer_battery

There is a fairly new carpark and visitors centre right next to it with motorhome and coach spaces. It was quite when we went in October. Spent a good couple of hours there walking around the route pass the Batteries and then down to the beach, it was very peaceful and didn't feel touristy, gave good time for reflection.
https://park4night.com/en/lieu/343787/open/

Day time parking only.

 

[Gaston aires]

Mailleraie sur Seine is a favourite with Brits. Peaceful village with great river views.

 

[Parrot Face]

Camping Normandie | Flower Camping les trois rois in Les Andelys. Lovely ACSI site on River Seine.

 

[scousebird]

The aire by the funicular at Le Treport, a coastal town with a working fishing harbour and lots of lovely restaurants. You can also walk over the river to Mers le Bain.

 

[15edward]

Camping at Chateau Martragny

 

[15edward]

Camping, kayaking and cycling at Pont Farcy - camping municipal des bords de Vire

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[fishplug]

I've stayed a couple of times at the Biscuiterie de la Baie du Mont St Michel out of season.

It's got dozens of signs warning you not to park and that there are penalties and fines and all that stuff. I expect they have to enforce that most of the year, but when I've been in Jan / Feb I've gone in, had a coffee and a bite to eat and then asked them if it was OK to overnight.

They've always been kind and allowed that and I've always reciprocated by buying breakfast there and some biscuits to take with me etc and I've also left a €20 tip which is a lot cheaper than any of the other campsites in the area.

They've tried to refuse it both times but there are so many people who take advantage (last time I was there someone came in and asked to park, then went off, saw Mont St Michel and came back, hopped in his car and drove off without giving them a cent in trade).

So I tell them that it's to recompense them for some of those idiots because I know that otherwise they'll be forced to stop being nice to the rest of us.

Really lovely people in there, the food and coffee are good. Even if you're not planning to overnight, it's not a bad place to stop and it's got a good view over Mont St Michel. 5 min walk to the free shuttle that takes you onto the island.

The first time I went to Mont St Michel I didn't pay the admission to go and see inside the church, the second time I did and - oh wow! there's just so much more to see than I would ever have imagined. Well worth it.

It was really busy even out of season. I expect it's too busy to be enjoyable in the summer. Lots of walking, lots of steep steps. Fine out of season when you can stop and sit on a wall, but I expect that's harder to do when it's busy. Not great for those with reduced mobility.

For the rest of our two most recent trips to Normandy, it really wasn't difficult to find park ups and aires and we didn't find a single bad one. Lots of people come over to see the various WWII sites so the infrastructure to accommodate people is plentiful. There are memorials everywhere and museums such as the operation dynamo one in Dunkerque. It's difficult not to be humbled by it all, even if you're not doing a 'war tour'.

 

[carolyn]

Camping Normandie | Flower Camping les trois rois in Les Andelys. Lovely ACSI site on River Seine.

Another vote for this one. Nick’s old school friend lives here along the river near the hospital. If we have the van I must admit we prefer to stay on the campsite as their new fancy electric gate is a devil to get in and out of off the lane! He worked in France after Uni.

I think the Camping Normandie bit is confusing though, on the map it looks like 2 campsites but there’s only one. I think it’s since Flower Campings took them over, the toilet blocks are much better.

Chateau Gaillard is lovely. I have cycled up there, electric bikes though! Tour de France is going through in 2025 or 2026, I’ve forgotten which Helen said.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Port en Bessin Aire ,on the coast between the US and Commonwealth beaches our favourite in Normandy,see our numerous photos

 

[Gaston aires]

A very good aire at St Valerie s Somme. 10 mins walk into town centre. Really good market on Saturdays. No too far from Azincourt with a great museum all about the battle.

 

[Jasz]

There are so many nice places in Normandy, that last year we hardly got out of it despite an intention to go further South.
If you like walking - Glamping Saint Suzanne et Charms is much nicer than the Aire for little difference in price. Another nice site worth a visit is Camping Le Clos St. Nicholas at Bec Hellouin (a lovely little village). It's a fairly steep although shortish walk to the village and a there is a good cycle track from the village with a couple of good Chateaux ( one of them we were almost on our own walking round the extensive gardens) within reach (no recognised aire nearby).