Northern France; where to go

[Kim and Phil]

Hello all, we are reluctantly taking a trip to France at Easter. I say reluctantly because we would rather have left visiting mainland Europe for another few months with all the Covid rules etc, but we had to use our travel voucher. We are also having to leave our dog behind, she’s old and we are reluctant to pay the exorbitant fees for just ten days away.
We have travelled in France a lot, but always headed south. We have decided to stay in northern France this time, arriving in Calais and departing st Malo. As yet, we have not done any research. My question is; can anyone suggest a ‘must see/visit’?
Thanks in advance

 

[David and Sally]

All the WW11 stuff in Normandy. The 3D cinema at Arromanches, Omaha beach etc.

Port en Bessin- Huppain is a good place to base.

 

[MattR]

Hello all, we are reluctantly taking a trip to France at Easter. I say reluctantly because we would rather have left visiting mainland Europe for another few months with all the Covid rules etc, but we had to use our travel voucher. We are also having to leave our dog behind, she’s old and we are reluctant to pay the exorbitant fees for just ten days away.
We have travelled in France a lot, but always headed south. We have decided to stay in northern France this time, arriving in Calais and departing st Malo. As yet, we have not done any research. My question is; can anyone suggest a ‘must see/visit’?
Thanks in advance

What are you interested in? The weather is unlikely to be reliable. Loads of WW1 and WW2 sites etc. Plus options to explore Belgium or Luxembourg.

 

[15edward]

Cherbourg peninsula and all its beaches both sides worth a visit apart from the Ww11 stuff
we had a good trip after watching Band of Brothers!! Another perspective!

 

[Vic]

As above. At Calais, turn left for WW1, turn right for WW2. if you have children or a dog the beaches are amazing.

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[kingoftheroad]

Hello all, we are reluctantly taking a trip to France at Easter. I say reluctantly because we would rather have left visiting mainland Europe for another few months with all the Covid rules etc, but we had to use our travel voucher. We are also having to leave our dog behind, she’s old and we are reluctant to pay the exorbitant fees for just ten days away.
We have travelled in France a lot, but always headed south. We have decided to stay in northern France this time, arriving in Calais and departing st Malo. As yet, we have not done any research. My question is; can anyone suggest a ‘must see/visit’?
Thanks in advance

Hi
Honfleur and Le Touquet, both great places to visit, both with Aires a walkable distance to the towns centres, St Malo also great place to visit, so alow time for this on your return.
Mike

 

[Spriddler]

It depends totally upon what does or doesn't interest you.
I'm not really interested in WW1 or 2 battlefields. I've visited the Somme, Menin Gate service and Normandy peninsular ones but tbh I find them too upsetting for more than a brief but respectful visit.
I enjoy the coastal road with lots of little fishing harbours, markets and brocantes, medieval history and architecture. On your route there's the Bayeux tapestry at ........err........Bayeux.

 

[scousebird]

Montreuil sur Mer is a nice town with a wall to walk, there is an Aire on the edge of the town centre.
Le Crotoy, huge aire just a short walk from the town and a train ride around the the Baie de Somme to St Valery sur Somme.
Le Treport, aire on the top of the hill near the funicular which takes you down to the harbour with lots of restaurants.
Mont St Michel, not so cheap to park but you can stay overnight and walk to the Mont.
Dieppe, aire on the seafront which is a short walk to the town centre and there's a huge market on Saturday (I think).
Honfleur, another huge aire, not the prettiest but really handy for the town, great place to people watch.

 

[Tombola]

I came through a couple days ago with my dogs and am in Spain now.
Sangatte beach nice and Aire after Aire as you pass for little stops/walks pictures. Yes the WW2 stuff.
Down to Wissant///Quaint. On toward LE touquet..didnt stay was rammed with motocross guys for an event. Overall was pretty quiet each place I stopped, part of the fun is jjst stopping when and where you feel.
Plenty little places / beach/town walks tucked away.

have fun , good luck

 

[royandsharont]

Kob1771 We’re like you but of the places we have stayed in northern France that we have been pleasantly surprised with and would gladly stay again are the following with a reason why.

Boulogne, there is a really nice old town to visit which is walled. We stayed at a campsite just to the south of city on the main road with excellent bus service. Lovely dining in the Los square by tge church before heading into the old town.

Laon, it has a medieval old walled town perched up high on land that just sprouts up out of nowhere. Very pleasant place with great campsite in the town at the foot of this hill.

Paris, obviously, for all tge reasons I’m sure you know already. We took advantage of a detour one year which meant we would pass by so stopped at a site just to the south at Melun but in a place with a fast train link so it was very easy getting in and out of Paris, tge site was good if a bit dated with the facilities, walkable or free bus to train station with the train ticket from outside site
Camping La Belle Etoile ***
77000 La Rochette
France
GPS: 48°31'31"N 2°40'8"E

Rouen, we stop at the municipal with adjacent Aire at Pont d L’Arche on the Seine. Pleasant small town on main route with bus access from near the Marie. Rouen is a fantastic port city with lots of history.

Chartres, possibly a bit out of your way but a beautiful city with magnificent cathedral. We used the city municipal, a bit dated facility wise and all grass if wet but walkable into the centre. It was one of our bucket list cities to visit for the historical importance it holds.

Hope this helps

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[Chrisvh]

All the WW11 stuff in Normandy. The 3D cinema at Arromanches, Omaha beach etc.

Port en Bessin- Huppain is a good place to base.

Port-en-Bessin-Huppain is a great place for a couple days. Nice Aire with a 10 minute stroll to the harbour and a ton of sea-food restaurants.
Don’t miss Bayeux. The tapestry is well worth seeing as well as the Cathedral and the D Day museum.
Also recommend Arras. Great new municipal Aire a short stroll from the centre. Fantastic farmers market in the main square on a Saturday.

 

[suavecarve]

Another one for Rouen. Just dont try staying in the aire on the river. not good, but what a town/city. We just had negative views based on the road around there and the view of the railway line on the way out, but well worthy of spending a day in there.
Caen was very modern but beautiful bassilica you can park next to at the top of a hill.
Jumieges was a little gem, but we were there at a fete so may have got extra enjoyment that way.
Dinant was very pleasant (near St Malo)

Not much use to you but we are off 12 days late march and the more i am looking at belgium the more I am finding. Blue beer, cycling through a lake, cycling over a forest, cycling through a marsh, canal stopovers, huge locks for boats, tour of flanders.

 

[Googlebot]

I share your pain with the dog, I have just emailed Abbeywell vets in Folkestone. £99 all in for an AHC, it’s a pain but we are where we are. Cest La Vie as they say in France.

We visited here last time we passed through, excellent value and you can overnight in the car park. Watten Aire isn’t far away either and has a lovely bread and pastry shop.

Blockhaus d'Éperlecques - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kim and Phil]

Thanks all for your recommendations!

 

[ChrisL]

Utah beach, there's a D Day museum, Mont St Michel if you're okay with stairs, if you go to Mont St Michel, there's an aire in Beauvoir, a short walk to several restaurants and handy for the Mont itself.

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[Gaston aires]

If your leaving from St Malo, then spend a night in Dinan. An aire the night before your journey would be a half hour journey to the port from there. Dinan is a really beautiful walled Medieval town.
Phil

 

[Pappy]

We liked Honfleur.

 

[Toby2518]

If your leaving from St Malo, then spend a night in Dinan. An aire the night before your journey would be a half hour journey to the port from there. Dinan is a really beautiful walled Medieval town.
Phil

Phil‘s description of Dinan is absolutely correct, below which is the old port with many restaurants. There is also some free motorhome parking under the viaduct at the old port.

 

[ChrisSue]

Dieppe market on a Saturday is great

 

[mitzimad]

without knowing what you like to do/see its difficult to recommend places we did similar a few years ago and turned left out of the port and did a short trip along the coast up to holland

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[PrettyandFluffy]

Not a tourist attraction but a camp site: 2 Rue des Champs, Verchin 62310. A really lovely site in a lovely area, good for walking & cycling etc.