Coastal
Geography,
Inland Geography, History,
Climate, Architecture,
Literature, Painting,
Gastronomy, Chateaux,
Gardens
We
have gathered some information together which should help to
give you an idea of the geography, history and culture of Normandy
Coastal
Geography: [Top]
The
Floral Coast : From the Seine to the Orne, the pastures
and orchards of the Vallee d'Auge slope gently down to the river's
edge, providing the perfect setting for the traditional half-timbered
houses. The famous beaches where Normandy's attraction is to
be able to escape day to day life: stylish hotels, night-clubs,
casinos, fashion shows, air shows, international regattas.
 The
Landing Beaches - Mother of Pearl and Bessin Coasts : Beyond
the Orne stretch steep cliffs shadowing beaches of fine golden
sand. The British beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold Beaches), and the
American beaches (Omaha Beach, Utah Beach) were named during
the war and have remained, the original ones have never been
used since. Arromanches with it's artificial port, military
cemeteries, la Pointe du Hoc, monuments, milestones and military
relics continue to serve as reminders of the battles.
Le
Cotentin : Giving way to the shifting sands of the bay of
Veys, the rocky spur of North Cotentin juts into the sea. It
is a "Lands End" formed by savage cliffs and deserted
shores surrounded by landscapes of flowering heather and gorse.
The cliffs of Jobourg are the highest in Europe. Further towards
the north a softer coastline is evident, the terrain changes
into the wide beaches of the west coast.
The
West Coast is sheltered from the east and north winds benefiting
from the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. Here 100 kilometres
of sand unfold like a long ribbon, occasionally interrupted
by rocks and harbours and ending at Mont Saint Michel. The sunniest
beaches are here and the sea is a beautiful shade of deep blue.
Inland
Geography: [Top]
The
Caen Plains:Near the great open cultivated areas of the
Caen-Falaise region, the Bocage or Normandy Woodlands can also
be found, where the fields and orchards are bound by hedgerows.
 Le
Cotentin: From The Hague to Mont Saint-Michel, from du Val
de Saire to Mortainais unfolds a series of diverse landscapes.
Marshes, grasslands and gardens, the Pays du Carentan, the escarpments
of the Vire valley and the hills of Coutances.
The
Forests of The Orne: From Domfront to Alencon, 25,000 hectares
of trees cover the foothills of the Massif Armoricain culminating
at 417 meters where Ecouves marks the heart of this splendid
forest area. Forests of beech, oak and pine adorn the granite
and enhance the towns and villages with their greenery. The
major part of this region falls within the Normandie Maine Regional
Nature Park.
 The
Perche: Further to the east lie the hills and valleys of
Perche. From here some 300 families left to found French Canada.
The Perche still has many country houses and fortified manor
houses which gives much character to the area around Bellême.
Pays
d'Argentan: Around Argentan rich pastures flourish, well
suited for stud farms and horse racing stables. (Haras National
du Pin).
Bocage
Virois:Between Vire, Saint-Sever and Aunay-sur-Odon unfolds
valleys, granite outcrops and vast panoramas, lands for fishermen,
campers and ramblers.
 Swiss
Normandy:Within the extraordinary Suisse Normandy, the Orne
and its tributaries run through deep valleys. It is a huge contrast
to the landscape of the surrounding regions. Gorges, high rocky
cliffs and plenty of water enables a variety of sports such
as, climbing, canoeing, rambling and swimming.
Le
Pays d'Auge: The heart of "the land which wants for
nothing". It has beautiful countryside, intertwined little
valleys, lovely green carpeted prairies, a surprising quality
of monuments, timber framed manor houses, covered with pink
tiles which one never tires of seeing and a mild, almost Gulf
Stream climate.
History:
[Top]
|
Historical
Dates
|
|
BC
|
| |
Celtic
Population |
|
Roman
Empire
|
|
280
|
Reformation
of the church, creating a territory close to what Normandy
is now. |
|
Franc
Domination
|
|
709
|
Western
Kingdom taken over by Clotaire, son of Clovis |
|
Viking
Invasions
|
|
820
|
First
Norman raid on the coast of Manche. |
|
911
|
Rollon,
first Duc of Normandy. Through the treaty of St-Clair-sur-Epte
he obtained an area between the valleys of Bresle, L'Epte
and L'Avre which enlarged during Normandy's middle period
(924) and then in Westernised Normandy. |
|
The
Independent Dukedom
|
| |
From
the 10th to the 12th century Normandy became practically
independent of the kingdom of France. |
|
933
|
Under
William the Long Sword, The Kingdom took it's definitive
form |
|
1027
|
Birth
at Falaise of William; The Future conqueror. |
|
1066
|
Battle
of Hastings. Conquest of England. William becomes King of
England. |
|
1087
|
Death
of William The Conqueror. |
|
1087-1135
|
The
Inheritors of William are divided. |
|
1135
|
Henri
the First Beauclerc restores the ducal authority. |
|
1204
|
Normandy
is reunified with the Crown of France. |
|
The
French Dukedom
|
|
1315
|
The
Normandy Charter remains the symbol of the individuality
of the country until the revolution. |
|
1417-1450
|
Normandy
is occupied by the English. |
|
1431
|
Joan
of Arc is burnt in Rouen. |
|
1450
|
Normandy
is recovered after the victory of Farming and capture of
Cherbourg. |
|
1469
|
The
ducal circle is broken, Charles of France, the last duke
of Normandy, is stripped of his dukedom. |
|
The
Province of Normandy
|
|
1514
|
The
Exchequer of Rouen disappears and is replaced by the the
Normandy parliament. Normandy therefore becomes a province
where the royal power is felt more and more strongly. |
|
1639-1640
|
Revolt
of the 'Bare Foot' (against the introduction of the salt
tax). |
|
Contemporary
Normandy
|
|
1789
|
Troubles
of Caen. |
|
1795-1800
|
Normandy
uprising. |
|
June
1940
|
Rupture
of the Bresle front. The cities of Upper Normandy are ravaged
by fire. |
|
1942
|
Anglo/Canadian
raid on Dieppe. |
|
6
June 1944
|
Allied
forces land on the coast of Calvados and Manche |
Climate:[Top]
Normandy is part of Western France.
It has a very variable ocean climate characterised by humidity,
mild temperature, and severe seasonal variation.
|
Average
Temperatures
|
| |
°F |
°C |
|
°F |
°C |
| March |
46 |
8 |
July |
69 |
20 |
| April |
32 |
11 |
August |
69 |
20 |
| May |
59 |
15 |
September |
64 |
17 |
| June |
65 |
18 |
October |
57 |
13 |
Architecture:[Top]
The Romanesque Era (11th -12th Century)
In the 11th century, monk architects used barrel vaulting,
creating the new style of romanesque art. At the beginning
of the 12th century the (gothic) cross 'officially' appeared
in Durham Cathedral. In France the Norman school, characterised
by the purity of it's lines, boldness of proportions and sobriety
of decor, opened the way for the gothic style, which we see
particularly in the abbeys of: The Abbaye aux Hommes, the
nave of Mont St Michel, the church of Saint Nicolas of Caen,
the Abbeys of Lessay and Cerisy-la Forêt.
Gothic Architecture (12th -15th Century)
Gothic is far the best art of Cathedrals a symbol of the religious
impetus of the population and prosperity of the growing towns
of: The Lisieux Cathedral, Saint-Romain Tower of Rouen Cathedral,
Fecamp Abbey. Civil architecture becomes important, the magnificent
Palais de Justice in Rouen is a good example of the transition
from flamboyant gothic (15C) to the Renaissance.
 Renaissance
Period (16th Century)
The renaissance style shows all it's elegance in private architecture.
The new designs are, arabesque, foliated, medallions and shells,
very typical Italian style introduced by George I of Amboise,
Archbishop and Maecenas of Rouen. Examples of the style are
found in: Hotel Bourgtheroulde in Rouen, Hotel Escoville in
Caen, Chateau d'O in Mortrée, Fontaine Henri, Les Gros
Horloge.
Classic Era (17th & 18th Century)
French art, imposes it's rationalism on the world. An economic
style of construction was adopted by placing importance on
brick. With these straight facades, classic art needs space
for the eye to appreciate the unity of the buildings, examples
of which are found at Chateau de Balleroy, Beaumesnil and
many others....
Literature:
[Top]
It
is not surprising that Normandy, from the 13th century, being
rich in abbeys, became a centre of literature.
| 15th
C. |
Alain
CHARTIER |
(about
1385) born in Bayeux, Premier prose writer, depicted
the distress of France occupied by the English. |
| 16th
C. |
Francois
de MALHERBE |
(1555-1628)
born in Caen. |
| 17th
C. |
Pierre
CORNEILLE |
(1606-1684)
born in Rouen. |
| 18th
C. |
FONTENELLE |
(1657-1757)
born in Rouen. |
| |
Bernardin
de SAINT-PIERRE |
(1737-1814)
|
| 19th
C. |
Alphonse
ALLAIS |
(1854-1905)
born in Honfleur. |
| |
Gustave
FLAUBERT |
(1821-1880)
born in Rouen. |
| |
Guy
de MAUPASSANT |
(1850-1945)
born in Seine Maritime. |
| 20th
C. |
ALAIN
|
(1868-1951)
born in Mortagne-au-Perche |
| |
Armand
SALACROU |
(1899)
born in Rouen. |
| |
Jean
de la VARENDE |
(1887-1959)
born in Chamblac (Eure) |
| |
Lucie
DELARUE-MARDRUS |
(1880-1945)
born in Honfleur |
Painting:
[Top]
 For
more than half a century the coast of Grace, Le Pays de Caux,
Deauville, Trouville and Rouen inspired many paintings. Although
Eugène BOUDIN, Nicolas POUSSIN, JF MILLET and Raoul
DUFY were not born Normans, many painters have been seduced
by Normandy, it is here they came and have left their works
to the region : Eugéne ISABEY, VALLOTON, GERNEY, MARQUET,
MONET, GERICAULT, FRIESZ, VAN DONGEN, BONINGTON, BRAQUE, JONGKIND.
 The
people of Normandy take their eating very seriously indeed.
Norman recipes are usually quite simple, but as they make
use of local dairy produce and apples, the fresh natural flavours
come through in a vast range of dishes.
 The
sea is as bountiful as the region's orchards, and the Norman
table boasts such specialities as Dieppe sole with Normandy
oysters.
From
the delicate flavour of saltmarsh lamb to creamy chicken "à
la Vallée d'Auge" and duck "à la Rouennaise",
the excellence of Normandy meat is matched only by that of
its cheeses: Neufchâtel, Pont-L'Evêque, Livarot
(otherwise known as the "Colonel"), and the round
Camembert of Marie Harel, these evocative names are famous
world-wide.
The
creamy omelettes of the Mont Saint Michel, the Vire andouille
sausages, tripes cooked "à la mode de Caen",
the "boudin" sausages of Mortagne, and the recent
introduction to the region of foie gras, all these delicacies
and more entice lovers of good food to the area. 
Round
off a memorable meal with the local desserts: "bourdelots"
or "teurgoule", or such sweets as Isigny toffees
or apple sugars from Rouen.
 Wash
the whole meal down with cider, still or sparkling, dry or
sweet, or perry, with an occasional pause for a shot of calvados
apple brandy to clear the palate: the famous "trou normand".
The very essence of apples is distilled into calvados, and
pommeau. Finally, sit back, savour the moment, and enjoy a
glass of Benedictine liqueur.
Chateaux
& Manors: [Top]
The
Region possesses a splendid array of castles, Renaissance
châteaux and mansions, ranging from the forbidding medieval
fortress to the hospitable half-timbered country residence
with its thatched roof.
The
age of those Dukes of Normandy who were also kings of England
has left behind it some impressive masterpieces of military
architecture, such as the castles at CAEN and FALAISE (Calvados),
the Château Gaillard at LES ANDELYS and the castles
of GISORS and HARCOURT (Eure).
Renaissance
and post-Renaissance residences open to visitors include the
châteaux at BALLEROY, FONTAINE-HENRY, LANTHEUIL, ST.GERMAIN-DE-LIVET
(Calvados) ; BIZY and CHAMP-DE-BATAILLE (Eure) ; TOURLAVILLE
(Manche); BOURG-ST.LÉONARD , CARROUGES, MORTREE and
SASSY (Orne), and BAILLEUL and ETELAN (Seine-Maritime); also
the Hôtel de Beaumont at VALOGNES (Manche), the 17 th
Century stud farm buildings at LE HARAS-DU-PIN (Orne) and
the Manoir d'Ango at VARENGEVILLE (Seine-Maritime).
The
castles or châteaux now housing museums include those
at CAEN, CREVECOEUR-EN-AUGE and PONTECOULANT (Calvados); BEAUMESNIL
and VASCOEUIL (Eure); BRICQUEBEC (Manche); FLERS and TESSE-LA-MADELEINE
( O r n e ) ; a n d DIEPPE, EU and MARTAINVILLE and the Castle
of Robert the Devil in the Seine-Maritime. Some of these historic
buildings house exhibits are associated with famous men, as
at FERVAQUES (Henri IV and Châteaubriand), VASCOEUIL
(Michelet) or MIROMESNIL (Guy de Maupassant).
Well known Châteaux in Normandy
Les
Andelys - Château Gaillard.
Angerville-Bailleul - Château de Bailleul.
Auffay - Château de Bosmelet.
Balleroy - Château de Balleroy.
Beaumesnil - Château de Beaumesnil.
Brécy - Château de Brécy.
Bricquebec - Château de Bricquebec.
Caen - Château de Caen.
Canapville - Manoir des Evêques.
Cany - Château de Cany
Carrouges - Château de Carrouges.
Colombières - Château de Colombières.
Creully - Château de Creully.
Crèvecoeur en Auge - Château de Crèvecoeur.
Crosville sur Douve - Château de Crosville.
Dieppe - Château féodal.
Doudeville - Château de Galleville
Ermenouville - Château du Mesnil Geoffroy.
Etelan - Château d'Etelan
Etretat - Château des Aigues
Eu - Château renaissance
Falaise - Château de Guillaume le Conquérant.
Filières - Château de Filières
Fleury-la-Forêt - Château du XVIIe siècle
Fleury-sur-Andelle - Château de Bonnemare.
Fontaine-Henry - Château de Fontaine-Henry
Gisors - Château de Gisors
Gonfreville l'Orcher - Château de Gonfreville l'Orcher.
Gratot - Château de Gratot
Harcourt - Château d'Harcourt.
Heudicourt - Château d'Heudicourt.
Lantheuil - Château de Manneville.
Le Bourg Saint- Léonard - Château du XVIIIe
siècle.
Martainville - Château de Martainville
Martinvast - Château de Martinvast
Médavy - Château de Médavy
Mézidon - Château de Canon.
Montaure - Château de Montaure
Mortrée - Château d'O.
Moulineaux - Château de Robert le Diable.
Neubourg (le) - Château du Champ de Bataille.
Neufchâtel-en-Bray - Château de Mesnières.
Oherville - Manoir d'Auffay
Pirou - Château de Pirou.
Pontécoulant - Château de Pontécoulant
St Christophe le Jajolet - Château de Sassy.
St Germain de Livet - Château de St Germain de Livet.
St Pierre de Manneville - Manoir de Villers.
St-Romain-de-Colbosc - Château de Tancarville.
St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte - Château de Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte.
Torigny sur Vire - Château de Torigny.
Tour en Bessin - Château de Vaulaville.
Tourlaville - Château de Tourlaville.
Tourville-sur-Arques - Château de Miromesnil.
Urville-Nacqueville - Château de Nacqueville.
Vains - Manoir de Vains.
Valognes - Hôtel de Beaumont.
Vascoeuil - Château de Vascoeuil.
Vendeuvre - Château de Vendeuvre.
Vernon - Château de Bizy.
Villers en Ouche - Château de Villers
Gardens:
[Top]
If
there is a land designed for gardens, it has to be Normandy.
The light from the skies and the mild climate are just two
of the factors which contribute to the subtle and enchanting
allure of the gardens. The parks and gardens of Normandy,
whether botanical, landscape or historic have become important
points of reference. Connoisseurs as well as novices will
be enthralled by the wealth of different species as well as
the beauty of the individual sites. The garden listed are
beautiful as well as hospitable. Visitors can discover a wide
range of surroundings and secret walks which change daily
with the weather and seasons.
Acquigny
- Parc du Château d'Acquigny
Auffay - Parc et Jardin du Château de Bosmelet
Beaumesnil - Parc du Château de Beaumesnil
Beaumont-Hague - Jardin Botanique du Château de Vauville
Beaumont-le-Hareng - Jardins de Bellevue
Bosc-Roger-sur-Buchy - Le Jardin de Valérianes
Caen - Jardin des Plantes et Jardin Botanique - Parc Floral
de la Colline aux Oiseaux
Cambremer - Jardins du Pays d'Auge
Castillon - Jardins de Plantbessin
Clères - Le Parc de Clères
Coutances - Jardin des Plantes de Coutances
Crouttes - Jardins du Prieuré Saint-Michel
Ermenouville - Roseraie et Parc du Château de Mesnil-Geoffroy
Etaimpuis - Clos du Coudray
Giverny - Jardins de Claude Monet
Grigneuseville - Agapanthe
Harcourt - Arboretum d'Harcourt
La Rouge - Parc du Château de Lorière
Le Neubourg - Jardins du Château du Champ de Bataille
Martinvast - Parc Floral du Château de Martinvast
Mézidon-canon - Parc et Jardin du Château de
Canon
Monceaux-au-Perche - Jardins du Manoir de Pontgirard
Montmain - Jardins d'Angélique
Offranville - Parc Floral William Farcy
Préaux-du-Perche - Le Jardin François
Rouen - Jardin des Plantes de Rouen
Saint-Christophe-le-Jajolet - Jardins du Château de
Sassy
Saint-Gabriel-Brécy - Jardins du Château de
Brécy
Saussey - Jardins d'Argences
Thury-Harcourt - Parc et Jardins du Château d'Harcourt
Tourlaville - Parc du Château des Ravalets
Tourville-sur-Arques - Parc et Jardin du Château de
Miromesnil
Urville-Nacqueville - Parc du Château de Nacqueville
Vandrimare - Parc du Château de Vandrimare
Varengeville-sur-Mer - Parc du Bois des Moutiers
Vascoeuil - Parc et Jardins du Château de Vascoeuil
Vendeuvre - Parc et Jardins du Château de Vendeuvre
Villiers-Fossard - Jardin d'Elle
|
