A year of special events and activities.

In 1860 the seaside resort of Deauville was born. To celebrate its 150th birthday this town in Normandy will host all kinds of events all throughout the year. With concerts, trade fairs, fêtes, theatre and dance, sporting events and so on there is plenty for everyone.
Special highlights include the New Year festivities, the Asian film festival, the Omnivore food festival, the festival of American cinema, and guided tours of interesting places in town.

Ink worth its weight in gold.

Building on the success of the "Cartooning for Peace" foundation, the Caen memorial will be displaying a selection of works dealing with this powerful, universal theme. Cartoonists, illustrators and professionals in graphic arts were called upon to produce a number of works to explore the theme.

Organised for the first time in October 2006 at the UN headquarters, the event draws artists and illustrators from throughout the world to take part in an artistic melting pot unlike any other…

36,000 hectares of unspoilt nature.

The Perche is an ancient French province enjoying something of a revival, and is distinguished by a strong geographical, historical, landscape and architectural identity. The Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, created five years ago, covers 118 communes divided between two départements, the Eure-et-Loir and the Orne. The Perche is characterised by a wide diversity of natural habitats: bocages (a mixture of fields, hedgerows and woodland), pastures, 36,000 hectares of forest, ponds and wetlands, hillsides and moorland supporting over 1,200 plant species and a varied fauna including some thirty species listed as of European interest.
The Perche also enjoys a remarkable architecural heritage: manor houses, splendid farms and picturesque villages. The identity of the Perche is also expressed in its customs, local events, traditional activities and popular arts and crafts.
The Manoir de Courboyer, standing in a 65 hectare landscaped estate, houses the Maison du Parc. The estate is a focal point for tourism and cultural activities, offering a range of events and activities: tours of the manor house, exhibitions, Perche produce stalls, a gastronomy centre, etc.

Panorama of the Liberation.

At Arromanches 360, you are at the very heart of things. An outstanding film entitled Le Prix de la Liberté, (The Price of freedom) is projected onto 9 screens in a circular room.
Combining images of the Landings in 1944 and scenes of Normandy today, this 360° cinema will be an unforgettable experience.

In praise of "xocoatl".

Chocolate had to journey from the other side of the world to bring its delights to Europe. The Chocolate Museum prides itself on explaining that journey and the history of chocolate from the time of the first cocoa trees, venerated by the Maya, until the arrival of the precious cocoa beans in Europe to be processed and turned into various preparations.
The highlight of the show? Watching, from behind glass windows, the preparation of drakkars, chocolates, mouldings and apples in Calvados.

An elegant city hall…

The Trouville City Hall is a Louis XIII-style building that dominates the skyline in Trouville-sur-Mer. As you explore this historic beach resort, be sure to stop and admire this stunning edifice with its sober, elegant lines and red brick facades. It was designed by architects Paul and Laurent Farge.

The facade also includes one of the most original circular foreparts you will ever see, giving an unusual character to a building that is all angles and planes.

Norman collection.

The museum owns an extensive collection of 15th and 19th century works. From Fra Angelico to Camille Claudel by way of Guillaume Fouace and David, the museum offers a splendid collection of some 300 paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
As Normandy's third largest museum, it houses a unique collection of the works of Jean-François Millet, Van Gogh's "spiritual father" (some thirty paintings, plus sketches, charcoals and prints).
One room is entirely given over to the works of Guillaume Fouace, a local artist who enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime, particularly with his still-lifes. They hang in the section following the Millet exhibition...

The thrill of the deep.

La Cité de la Mer, which opened on 29 April 2002, is a vast scientific, cultural and fun centre devoted to the immense riches of the oceans and oceanographic exploration.
Exceeding all expectations, the Cité welcomed its millionth visitor in July 2005.!
Encouraged by these visitor numbers, the Cité de la Mer is now launching a second extension phase.
The origins of the Cité de la Mer, which enjoys an enviable situation in the former Cherbourg trans-Atlantic passenger docks, were twofold: to revive an Art Deco masterpiece, the former trans-Atlantic passenger terminal, and to make the nuclear submarine Le Redoutable the biggest submarine open to the public in the world. Those aims have been achieved.
The gradual descent into the abyss, during a three-hour journey into a fault in the ocean floor, is organised according to two major themes:
The Submarine, with an introduction to the Redoutable, the biggest submarine open to the public anywhere in the world.
For 45 minutes, the voice of the Captain explains how a nuclear submarine works and what life onboard is like for its crew.

The Ocean, which concentrates on exploring and using the rich resources of the ocean, and which centres around one of the deepest aquariums in Europe (10.70m) containing over 3,500 fish.

Lest we forget.

In chronological order, the museum retraces the different stages in the history of the Second World War, from the exodus to the Liberation.
It stresses the primordial role played by the port of Cherbourg as a supply base for the Allied armies fighting to win back France.
The permanent collection has been reorganised and new displays created: prisoners of war, everyday life under the Occupation, and the victims of genocide. Whether this is your first visit or one of many, the Liberation Museum is well worth your attention.

The biggest forest in the département.

The forest of Ecouves, covering an area of 8,153 hectares, is managed by the French forestry commission, the Office National des Forêts, and is the largest in the département.
The ONF, which manages 27,000 hectares of state-owned forests in the Orne, is charged with preserving France's natural heritage by implemeting multi-functional management of the three main functions assigned to the national forests:
- economic activity, through the production of high quality workable wood;
- A choice of tree species and techniques appropriate to the ecological conditions (climate, soil, etc.);
- Sustainable game management;
- Recreational functions including:
- public amenity areas;
- environmental education in schools and for the general public;
- Opening of footpaths;
- An environmental function: with a programme of campaigns aimed at the conservation and/or rehabilitation of habitats and species of special heritage interest.

Contemporary art with a modern feel.

Within its outer walls, thanks to the diversity of backdrops available, the chateau offers a splendid setting for this first series of five sculptures, three modern and two contemporary, launching this ambitious project: Rodin's Walking Man on a Column, Bourdelle's Grand Guerrier (the warrior), Giacometto's Grande Femme (tall woman), Sans Titre (untitled) by Damien Cabanes (1999), coloured resin, and One Man, Nine Animals.

The exhibition is an invitation to discovery and surprise, open to all walkers and visitors.

A green monument.

The public park in Bayeux is a 2.6 hectare landscaped site created in 1859 by Eugène Bülher. Of the 400 trees in the park, the most spectacular is undoubtedly the famous "weeping beech", listed as a natural monument in 1932 and designated an "arbre remarquable de France" (a tree of special interest) in 2001.
The park is an integral part of Bayeux's heritage, with a signposted walk and information points providing the keys to an understanding of the gardens and the main plant species found there.

Where silence reigns.

With its church and conventual buildings, the abbey of Saint-Martin forms a fine classical example of the 18th century. Visit the abbey church, the sacristy and the main convent rooms including the extensive library containing 50,000 volumes.

Memories of war.

Close to the town centre of Colleville-sur-Mer, 9 841 soldiers are buried in the American cemetery of Omaha Beach, near the site of the Landing of 6 June 1944, a tribute to the Second World War and the Normanie landings.

On the never-ending lawns, the lines of white crosses remind us of the courage and folly of man.

An architectural monument.

Built in 1631 to plans drawn up by architect François Mansart, the Château de Balleroy is part of one of the first town-planning schemes ever executed in France, and that was to inspire Versailles.
In 1975, the first Balloon Museum was founded by Malcolm S. Forbes in one of the former stable buildings.
The 17th century dovecote and the grounds are also not to be missed.

From apples to cider.

Since 1932, the Cidrerie Marcel Viard has been producing traditional cider from local Norman cider apples. See how "Bayeux" cider is made: the orchard, the cellars, the packing room. The cider farm was the first to be liberated in France in June 1944.
It was designated a primary military target, to ensure supplies needed for the freshly-landed British troops.

Beach babes and culture-vultures.

The Trouville museum, set up in the Villa Montebello, will tell you all about the history of this historic beach resort.

Ethnographic artefacts, along with rich art collections, retrace the history of this fascinating commune from different perspectives to give you a rounded view.

The museum's other halls are more focused, with for example a display space dedicated to Raymond Savignac and another to the André Hambourg collection. One of the galleries, on the dock of the harbour, hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

A concept to discover.

Discover the Mont Saint Michel like never before. The Archéoscope is a new multimedia project put together by Yves Devraine, a concept which will represents a completely new approach to visiting this historic edifice. The Archéoscope is a sound and light show designed to paint the Mont and adjoining abbey with video projections, a laser show, holograms… Expect a fantastic show and see the Mont in its finest, most original attire!

In the footsteps of Marcel Proust…

By walking up the beach in Cabourg you cannot help but notice the imposing Grand Hôtel… This imposing palace, boasting no less than four stars, seems to embody the character and history of this beach resort from its darkest hours to its golden era.

Elegant, refined and imbued with a sense of prestige, this establishment brings to mind the French Belle Epoque and the beginnings of the sea-bathing craze, when Paris's high class flocked to the shores in summer. Marcel Proust, for example, was a recurrent holidaymaker in Cabourg.

A giant preserved.

The Château de Fontaine-Henry is perched high over the rich green valley of the Mue.
Its dizzyingly high roofs top a richly sculpted building in the 15th and 16th century styles.
Follow the guide around the interior of the chateau and admire an outstanding collection of furniture and old masters. Children will enjoy the special activities laid on for them in the grounds, and the old-fashioned toys and games.

A sailor's nook…

Make your way to Honfleur's musée d'Ethnographie et d'Art Populaire for an otherworldly experience… The Mariner's Hall (Salle du Marin) is designed as a reproduction of the residence of a typical sailor from 18th or early 19th-Century Honfleur.

Within, one can admire a Louis XVI clock, a dog-sculpture in English china, a Sheep-bone crucifix and a variety of other items that are unique or representative.

Bring a horse-shoe for good luck…

The city of Deauville boasts not one but two racecourses: Deauville - La Touques and Deauville - Clairefontaine. La Touques is a stunning, expansive racecourse with all the amenities to keep parents happy and children occupied (pony-rides included). Free tours are even organised on race days.

When it comes to the actual event, this racecourse is well-tended and run professionally and makes for an exciting, action-packed afternoon!

Norman cider.

What could be more natural when in Normandy than buying cider?
Discover cider and cider-related products made by Fournier Frères, several times medal-winners at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris.
Find out how cider is produced.

An historic beach.

On Omaha Beach itself, the museum exhibits a nice collection of uniforms, weapons, personal objects and vehicles in a surface area of 1200 m2.
Numerous scenes, beautiful archive photographs, maps, themed panels, a barge, a Belgian barrier, a 155mm canon named Long Tom, a Sherman tank etc, as well as a film with testimonies of American veterans will clearly explain the landings on Omaha and the Pointe du hoc.

Biking up the train tracks…

Take the time to enjoy yourself with the whole family or a group of friends visiting one of France's most beautiful regions. The viewpoint is what makes it interesting, as the entire tour runs along old train lines which take the scenic route at a leisurly pace. This easygoing tour is a whole lot of fun for the whole family! Be sure to try out the Vélo-Rail or "Bike Rail", for up to four people, an unusual design halfway between a train wagon and a bicycle…

Bringing to life the epic history of William the Conqueror.

This mind-blowingly immense tapestry, made entirely from wool, has told the story of the conquest of England by William Duke of Normandy for the past millenium…

This archaic comic strip, truly a graphic history book, will transport you into a medieval epic filled with viking "Drakkars" and Normand knights.

A proud casino.

In 1912, the duke of Morny, who founded the seaside resort of Deauville in the 1860s, entrusted Eugène Cornuché, the director of the resort, and Mr Le Hoc, owner of the Trouville casino with the construction of a new casino in order to liven up the sea front.

The building was inaugurated on 11 July 1912 in front of 1 500 guests.
In 1975, the first Festival of American Film, held in the cinema and the reception rooms of the Deauville Casino Barrière.
In 2007, the Casino's game rooms were extended and the O² Sofa Bar opened.

All the civilisations in one museum.

Founded in 1832 and surrounded by a magnificent botanical garden, the museum invites visitors to discover a fascinating and original collection of archaeological and ethnographic exhibits from the 5 continents.
Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the one-time "cabinets of curiosities" to discover a fabulous collection of stuffed animals, fossils, minerals and exotic objects (rooms dedicated to Egypt, Asia, Oceania, Africa and America) or yet more treasures unearthed by archaeological digs in the region.

Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus was baptised here in 1873...

In the heart of the pedestrian zone, the 15th-16th century church of Notre-Dame is astonishing in its proportions, and in the elegance of its Flamboyant Gothic nave and the delicate tracery of sculpture on the porch, described as "dentelle de pierre", lace carved from stone.
Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus was baptised here in 1873; her baptismal robe is on display in a chapel on the northern side-aisle.
The church also features a magnificent set of 16th century stained glass.

A natural habitat to be protected.

Les Petits Riaux lies within the Ecouves forest, in the commune of Lande-de-Goult, and is a typical example of the peat-bogs of the Massif Armoricain.
These rare habitats are home to a distinctive range of plants capable of adapting to the harsh prevailing conditions.
Guided tours are available through the Park or the Conseil Général de l'Orne.
Group visits can be organised on request (for predetermined groups).
Plants of particular interest include drosera (sundew), butterworts (small carnivorous plants), sphagnum mosses forming thick, spongy carpets, or the bog asphodel (Narthecium Ossifragum).

In the hamlet of Goult, explore "Caesar's camp" (a Neolithic settlement) and the Priory of Saint-Michel de Goult (12th century porch).

Meet William the Conqueror!

You may not believe it, but you can see pirates, Vikings, princesses and 19th-century damsels all in the same day...

Festyland, a major theme park set up near the city of Caen, will welcome you with open arms. Children of all ages as well as teens and adults can be sure to find something to their liking in this magical environment!

The park's colourful shows, made of moving stories and breathtaking stunts, will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Don't miss out, get into the "festy" mood!

Steel and music.

This foundry workshop has been crafting bells since as far back as 1865; the Cornille Havard foundry has become one of if not the top manufacture in the field.

Working with moulds, molten metal and thousand-degree environments are only some of the aspects of this difficult profession. Discover an age-old craft, a tradition that has trickled through the generations to bless a select few aprrentices.

Don't lost your compass.

Good times are just growing on trees in Bayeux's Labyrinth. Take a tour of the gardens and enjoy a cultural and educational experience among friends, young and old, or with the whole family. Remember to pack some water and snacks, because this will be a two-hour tour where you might, and probably will, get side-tracked or completely lost.

Do not dispair, visitors are given a map upon entry and can always check the book when they take a wrong turn again, and again…

18th century heritage.

Lovers of history, ancient buildings, open spaces and walking... welcome to Alençon and its surrounds.
An little-known example of local heritage is the town's private mansion that dates from the 18th century. Tours of the exterior on request.
Don't be shy!

Mature trees providing a home for diverse populations.

The forest, once a "royal forest", is made up of mature oaks and is divided into three massifs occupying the terraces of the Sarthe and the adjoining hills, and became a national forest in 1868.
Granite markers laid in 1875, still to be seen around the edges of the forest, mark the boundaries of its 1,190 hectares.
It provides a refuge for familiar forest animals and birds (deer, wild boar, hares, foxes, magpies, etc.) and the forest ponds are home to an immense variety of pond life.

Shortbread treats.

Created in 1904 by Charles Bansard, Asnelles shortbread continues to perfume the air of the town to this day. The factory also produces other shortbread cakes as well as cookies and financiers (almond cakes), still using traditional craftsman's methods. Visits (by appointment) explain the manufacturing process and production line.

Help yourself!

Fine French and foreign foods, dinner + show, snacks, business functions, birthdays or get-togethers.
Whether in the centre of Cherbourg, around a table in one of the many restaurants of Haut-Cotentin or on the traditional markets, every day or for that special occasion, treat yourself to delicious old favourites or new taste sensations.

"A wondrous pyramid".

On the border between Brittany and Normandy, between Cancale and Granville, the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is a fascinating place. The Mount itself, perched on a rocky outcrop, forms a tiny village whose Grande Rue (the main and, indeed, the only street on the Mount) climbs up to meet the Benedictine abbey at its summit.

The bay, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, is a land of history and legend, shaped over the millennia by the hidden forces of nature. It is here that you will find the highest tides in Europe.
Don't leave the village without tasting the delicious omelette de la Mère Poulard.

Help yourself!

Fine French and foreign foods, dinner + show, snacks, business functions, birthdays or get-togethers.
Whether in the centre of Cherbourg, around a table in one of the many restaurants of Haut-Cotentin or on the traditional markets, every day or for that special occasion, treat yourself to delicious old favourites or new taste sensations.

A theme park for all ages.

Located only 25 minutes from the Mont Saint-Michel, this theme park offers children a staggering array of activities and events…
Discover the "Fun" section of the park with its thirty or so activities such as the "Crazy Cars" or "Wall of Champions". During the summer season there is even a water-park where you can slip and slide and splash to your heart's content. The Chalet area is perfect for young adults or toddlers' parents, a place where they can play pool, bowling or table-football.

Time-honoured knowhow.

The workshop exists to safeguard the knowhow handed down by the lace-makers of Bayeux from the 17th century.
The Conservatoire, a place to learn and perfect lace-making skills, keeps alive the technique of bobbin lace making.
Year-round exhibition, events and articles for sale.

235,000 hectares of greenery!

Le Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine is one of France's 44 regional national parks.
It covers a rural area recognised nationally for its heritage and landscape.
Between Argentan and Sillé-le-Guillaume from north to south, and between Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe and Mortain from east to west, the Park covers a total of over 235,000 hectares.
Vast moorlands, the hills of Normandy and the Maine (the westernmost point), forests, orchards of full-size fruit trees (pears in particular), streams and rivers flowing down from the watershed, outstanding cultural heritage (chateaux, manor houses, religious monuments, knowhow and traditions, etc.) set the countryside apart.

Not to be missed:
- The Maison du Parc in Carrouges: Park information centre (walking guides and maps, climbing site, discovery guides, programme of events);
- In Carrouges: exhibitions and sale of craft and food products in July, August and December, in a remarkable 16th century collegiate church;
- An outdoor activity centre in the Alpes Mancelles: outdoor activities for a better knowledge and understanding of nature (kayaking, climbing, mountain-biking, orienteering, archery, understanding the environment).

Nature disciplined by reason.

Magnificent in itself, the Château de Brécy can also boast 17th century Italianate gardens magnificently laid out in terraces, culminating in ornamental wrought-iron gates by Isaac Geslin that seem to open onto empty sky.
Numerous sculptures and flower beds framed in embroidery-patterned box borders in the style of Claude Mollet make this a truly unique sight.

The village church.

Listed as a Historic Monument since the 17 July 1926, the church towers and its high steeple towers above the small town of Branville.
This classical style church has a huge nave. Heavy buttresses ensure it is maintained and break up the sides, alternated with tall windows. A high steeple on the side of the church towers above the town.

A bike, my kingdom for a bike!

March 23rd 2008 is the inauguration date for the new self-service bicycle-rental system organised by the Caen town hall: V'eol.
With over 40 parking stations throughout the city, a new transport system is available for locals and tourists alike. The service will be at your disposal 24/7, forever changing the workings of inner-city transportation. Not only will it reduce pollution, but users will be getting fitter at every ride!

V'eol parking stations are positioned throughout the city.

Changing over the centuries.

Attractive in its austerity, the castle of Carrouges is a distillation of history from the 14th to the 20th century. Initially a fortress that came under siege by the Plantagenets, it was rebuilt during the Hundred Years War (keep), extended in the 15th century (Blosset wing), ornamented during the Renaissance (Cardinal Le Veneur's pavilion) and fortified yet again during the Wars of Religion (western bastion). In the 16th century, it became a magnificent residence (suite of spacious apartments) and was redesigned under the Enlightenment (music room).
The former canonry, founded by Louis XI, is now the headquarters for the Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine.

A 19th century church and later works.

Built to the plans of the architect Toutain, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours church was built in the second half of the 19th century, in 1883. This large building is surprising in its proportions and appearance. Behind a tall narrow facade, lies a church that is bathed in light.

Inside, do not miss the works of religious art which are shown there, such as the Flagellation tapestry, from the 15th century, and the wrought iron candle holder from the same period.

Discovering the Cotentin.

Where the département of the Manche meets the Calvados, on the "threshold of the Cotentin", the Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin is made up of 27,000 hectares of marshland and polders set in a landscape of traditional bocage woodland and rolling meadows (90,000 hectares). Pastureland and hay-meadows, crisscrossed by ditches and dotted with the occasional peat-bog, are the distinctive features of this wetland area that opens out onto the Baie des Veys. With the advent of the winter floods, the marsh turns "white" as the Cotentin peninsula comes into its own.
Less extensive areas of moorlands, woods and forest plus the coastline add diversity to the landscape.

From the Middle Ages till the present day.

Built in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Halles du Marché are one of the more popular areas in Dives-sur-Mer; possibly one of the top attractions in the whole of Normandy. Made entirely from stone and wood, the structure is startlingly well preserved - furthermore its ingenious design ensures that even in summer the atmosphere is cool. These historic "Halles" host the weekly market to this day…

Seeing is believing…

The Voir, Savoir expo is in essence a study of the relationship between pedagogical content and graphic images… The core concept was to map out the usage of images throughout Western history, in particular their usage in educational contexts.

More than 300 documents will be on display and set up so that the visitor may admire them chronologically. From the first prints to our current image-saturated culture, learn the truth behind the expression "seeing is believing"…

Unrivalled in Europe.

Since 1921, the church of Saint-Laurent (15th and 16th century) has housed a collection of wrought ironwork that was and is a reference of its kind in Europe.
Its donor Henri Le Secq des Tournelles made over to the city of Rouen the first methodical collection of ironwork, begun in 1862 by his father Jean-Louis Le Secq Destournelles (1818-1882).

The latter, a member of the Mission Héliographique mounted by Prosper Mérimée to take photographs of outstanding monuments on behalf of the French Monuments Historiques department, was at once a practical, hands-on man, a painter and an art-lover. His was the original idea of taking an interest in hitherto overlooked objects: he began acquiring, from demolition sites as well as on the art market, every article of outstanding ironwork that he could find, with the exception of arms and armour, which others were already collecting.

Japanese prints.

Claude Monet's property in Giverny has been owned by the foundation bearing his name since the year 1980. The figurehead of impressionism was a resident of Giverny from 1883 to 1926.

Within one can admire a collection of Japanese prints collected by the artist himself throughout his life. The exterior, while of interest, isn't particularly notable save the beautiful garden. Shifting in colour and atmosphere from one season to the next, this small, poetic universe is a nothing short of an artistic dreamland. The Japanese bridge, a favoured tourist attraction, can be seen in a number of Monet's paintings.

New and improved impressionist museum.

Founded by Daniel J. Terra in 1992, The Giverny Museum of American Art was for its 16-year existence one of the most active art institutions in the country. Its programme of exhibitions, publications, debates, conferences and countless "in residence" programmes (for historians, artists, etc.) were for the most part dedicated to American Art generally speaking.

The new and improved museum, now turned towards Impressionism, will be opening its doors in 2009 thanks to a partnership with local givernment bodies, the Orsay museum and the Terra Foundation. This new establishment will be mostly centred on the impressionist tradition, starting with a major inaugural exhibition: Monet's Gardens in Giverny: Inventing a Landscape.

Equatorial temperatures.

Feel like taking time out for relaxation, whether you live in Evreux or are just passing through?
The Equatorial Sauna, an open-minded gay and lesbian establishment, offers a sauna, hammam (steam bath), jacuzzi, relaxation area and alcohol-free bar.
Relax and recharge your batteries alone or with friends.

Discover the monastic life.

The abbey was founded by Herluin, a Norman knight, in 1034 and had a far-reaching intellectual influence in the 11th century, owing mainly to the monks Lanfranc and Saint Anselme.
The present buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries when they were reconstructed by the Benedictine congregation of Saint-Maur around a vast courtyard adjoining the cloister. The two refectories, the old and the new, are perhaps the abbey's most remarkable rooms. The tall Saint-Nicolas tower dates from the 15th century.
The abbey of Bec-Hellouin was used as military stabling throughout the 19th century and suffered considerable damage. Since 1948, however, it has been home to a community of Olivetan Benedictine monks who have succeeded in restoring much of the abbey's former glory, with the help of the French historic monuments fund, the Caisse des Monuments Historiques et des Sites.

A rich natural heritage.

The Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande lies between Rouen and Le Havre, in the Eure and the Seine-Maritime départements. Shaped by the meanders of the Seine, the area provides glorious panoramas and sweeps of well-watered meadows. Plateaux, valleys and hillsides carved out by the river make up the landscapes of the five natural regions of the Park: the Seine valley, the Pays de Caux, the Roumois, the Basse Vallée de la Risle and the Marais Vernier.
Three abbeys, rural museums, châteaux and thatched cottages forge the identity of the Park's cultural heritage. The wetlands, the Park's ecological highlight, sink into soft silences, punctuated by pollarded trees.
There are natural sites to be visited in the Marais Vernier and the Basse Vallée de la Risle, with or without a guide. These habitats, which are of vital importance to the Park as a whole, are the subject of special awareness and preservation campaigns.

Learn, understand, pick, enjoy!

Picking fruit and vegetables fresh from the garden is such a pleasure... But it's important to know when, where and how. All will be explained during this fruit-picking event: when to pick and how, because picking is not as easy at is might seem.

There is a method to the harvesting process, particular to each fruit or vegetable, in order to avoid damaging your hard-earned goods. Instructive, healthy and value for money: pick-your-own is a winner on every count.

The thrill of a lifetime.

Are your kids tired of smog and concrete? Do you dream of giving them fresh air, old-fashioned fun and a sense of adventure?

Well look no further, your answer is right here: acrobatic tree-climbing activities in the thick of the forest! Here old and young will be able to swing, climb, scale and jump from one tree to the next. Each circuit is perfectly suited to a certain age-group and general fitness. Let the little ones take to the trees as children have done since time immemorial. Thrills to be expected.

1,000m² dedicated to health and fitness.

Euro Fitness offers bodybuilding, cardio training, sauna, sun beds or relaxation in its 1,000m² town centre premises, followed by a snack at its health-food bar.
Euro Fitness offers 28 group lessons a week, from ballroom dancing to personalised bodybuilding.
A real convenience for visitors: the club offers a one-day subscription for those just passing through.

Tolysland = Toyland!

Swings, pools, slides and even a tour train! This is the kind of fun-filled cocktail you can expect to find at the Tolysland leisure centre in Tosny. Think of the great memories to be made in the ball-pits (with ball-cannons!), on slides or taking pony rides. And even if the weather isn't on your side, there is a whole range of indoor activities to keep you busy!

Keeping fit in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

A little below par, or just want to feel fit? The 2,000m² of the Wellness centre help you get back in shape with your favourite sports and activities: squash, badminton, sun beds, sauna, bodybuilding or fitness training. The friendly way to keep fit.

War and Liberation in 1944.

It is late August 1944. Tens of thousands of German soldiers are trying to flee the Allied troops. Yet, the bridges across the Seine have been destroyed and their retreat is slow and chaotic. For days the Allied artillery and air raids cut into the masses crowded up against the river. The death-count is unimaginable.

The British and Canadian forces are breaking through the last bastions of German defences and finally liberate the civilian population.

The musée Août 1944 is a reminder of those tragic times of warfare and bitter struggle, and of the relief felt by an entire nation. You can gain a better understanding of these world-shaking events by reading the testimonies of soldiers and civilians, by seeing a collection of everyday objects, now artefacts…