Normandy Highlights & Monet's Garden

Blessed with a stunning natural beauty, Normandy begs to be explored. You can expect dramatic coastal landscapes, quaint pastoral villages, picturesque ports, classic half-timbered buildings and fabulous food, from Camembert to Calvados, from cider to seafood. The legacy of the region's epic history, from the Norman invasion of England in 1066 to the D-Day Landings of 1944, has left its mark. This tour stays in a beautifully authentic Normandy hotel in the heart of the pretty pilgrimage town of Lisieux, so you can start exploring as soon as you arrive. Complete your holiday with an included visit to Monet's House and Garden, in the village of Giverny on the Seine, where the artist found inspiration to create his impressionist masterpieces. An included visit takes you to the magnificent medieval city of Bayeux and its world-famous tapestry depicting the epic story of how William, Duke of Normandy became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings. (This is the last chance to see the tapestry before the museum closes its doors in September 2025 for renovation work. The new museum is planned to re-open in Spring 2027).Holiday Highlights
- Hotel for 4 nights with continental breakfast- 3 dinners in the hotel (set menu)- Porterage- Tea / coffee with dinner- Included excursions as stated- Entrance to Bayeux Tapestry- Visit to Arromanches & British Normandy Memorial- Entrance to Monet's Garden- Optional excursion to Deauville & Honfleur

5 day tour
DAY 1 - After joining your holiday coach, you will travel to Dover for the short sea crossing to Calais and then onto Lisieux to check in to your centrally located hotel for your 4-night stay. 3 nights DBB and one night BB only to allow you to try out one of the many local restaurants in Lisieux town (within easy walking distance from the hotel)nnDAY 2 - 4 - At leisure in Lisieux with TWO included excursions and one optional excursionnnINCLUDED EXCURSIONSnBayeux Tapestry, Arromanches & British Normandy MemorialnVirtually unscathed by WWII, the historic centre of Bayeux is brimming with wonderful Norman architecture, the centrepiece of which, is the fine Gothic Cathedral. The magnificent Bayeux Tapestry tells the epic story, in wool thread embroidered on linen cloth, of William, Duke of Normandy who became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings. Listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World register since 2007, the Bayeux Tapestry is a genuine masterpiece of Romanesque art. This one-piece canvas wall hanging, embroidered in the 11th century, is 70m long with a height of 50cm. Entrance and hand held audio guide in English included.nnHead to the coast via the popular seaside resort of Arromanches-les-Bains, inextricably linked with the liberation of Western Europe following D-Day. Some of the staggeringly large concrete blocks remain from the Mulberry Harbour towed over from Britain in June 1944 for what was meant to be a temporary port. Continue to the British Normandy Memorial just outside the village of Ver-sur-Mer overlooking Gold Beach (8 min walk from parking). Opened on 6 June 2021, it records the names of more than 22,000 men and women under British command who lost their lives in Normandy between 6 June and 31 August 1944.nnMonet's GardennToday you visit the picturesque village of Giverny on the bank of the River Seine. A treat for art lovers and gardeners alike, Giverny was the home of French impressionist painter, Claude Monet for over 40 years. He lived here from 1883 until his death in 1926. The exuberant gardens stretch from his house down to the river and provided the inspiration for many of his well-known paintings including the famous water lily series as well as the 'Pont Japonais' (Japanese Bridge) which has been re-constructed for visitors to enjoy. Admission to the house and gardens is included.nnOPTIONAL EXCURSIONnDeauville & HonfleurnWith its fine sandy beaches, Deauville is renowned for its glamorous reputation and symbolises elegance, prestige and sophistication. Time to soak up the atmosphere here before taking the coastal road to the picturesque old port of Honfleur, a favourite haunt of numerous celebrated artists including Claude Monet. Situated on the Seine estuary, medieval Honfleur exudes maritime charm around the Vieux Bassin with its narrow houses and lively café scene but there is much more to see in the alluring cobbled streets of the old town.nnDAY 5 - After breakfast, travel back to Calais for the return Channel crossing and the journey home.Grand Hotel de l'Esperance, Lisieux
This 3* landmark hotel in the centre of Lisieux, set in a typical Norman half-timbered building, offers a warm welcome and plentiful charm and atmosphere. nnThe upscale restaurant serves regional Normandy cuisine and there is also a bar. nnThe hotel have 90 recently refurbished, spacious and comfortable bedrooms with TV and a safe. There is a lift.