BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
WHETHER you fancy a golf break ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup, an immersive tour of the brand new Calvados Experience or an action-packed cycling holiday culminating in the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy has it all!
Here are our top ten reasons why Normandy should be on your bucket list:
- 28–30 September: Normandy, gateway to the 2018 Ryder Cup
In 2018, the Golf National near Paris will host the Ryder Cup, one of the biggest international golfing events in the world, bringing together the best American and European players. Within an hour’s drive of the Golf National, visitors to the Ryder Cup can reach one of Normandy’s top tourist destinations, Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. Also within easy driving distance are the Vaudreuil championship course, designed by Fred Hawtree, and Champ de Bataille, Normandy’s only forest course. golfnormandy.co.uk | bit.ly/GatewayToTheRyderCup - March: Calvados Experience, Pont-l’Évêque
This new tourist attraction explores the history of the traditional Norman drink, Calvados, through multi-sensory exhibits, making for a fun and educational visit for young and old alike. Discover the traditional Calvados production process, how it has changed over the years and what drove it to the success it knows today. At the end of the tour, over-18s can enjoy a tasting session with a Calvados Connoisseur, and learn the all-important three stages of Calvados tasting: the appearance, the nose and the palate. calvados-experience.com - March: Publication of the official Veloscenic cycling guide
For the first time, cycling publisher Sustrans will be bringing out an official guide to the Veloscenic cycling route, which extends from Paris to the Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, written by author and cyclist Richard Peace. There will be a press event in London on 28 February to announce the launch – click here to register your interest. veloscenic.com - 30 March–15 July: Japanese art at the Musée des Impressionnismes, Giverny
The opening of trade and diplomatic links with Japan in 1868 enabled Western artists to discover radically different artistic. Like Impressionism, Japanese prints claimed only to celebrate nature and everyday life. The new Japonisms/Impressionismsexhibition will feature over 100 paintings and prints, from Monet to Van Gogh, all highlighting the influence of Japanese art on Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists. Tickets: £7 adult, £4 teenagers, £3 children. mdig.fr/en/japonismsimpressionisms - New: Fisheries Museum, Fécamp
This new landmark museum explores the long history of fishing in the port of Fécamp and in Normandy, along with exhibits from local traditions and history. It also boasts a glass rooftop, enabling visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the town and the sea. Tickets: £6 adults, £3.50 children. bit.ly/LesPêcheriesMuséeDeFécamp (in French) - New: Étretat Gardens
In 1905, Madame Thebault, then a popular actress, planted the first tree on the cliffs of Étretat, marking the beginning of what has since become the Étretat Gardens. The sculptures are inspired by the Alabaster Coast and designed by leading French landscape architects. Contemporary art throughout the gardens creates a paradise of calm while Étretat’s famous cliff formations, immortalised by Claude Monet, make for a breathtaking backdrop. Tickets: £7 adults, £4 children.etretatgarden.fr/en - New: Husky hikes in the Perche
It is often said that the dog walks you, not the other way around, and in the Perche Regional Natural Park this has become a reality, with Sled Dog Ride, a country hike with a difference! Connected to the harness of a friendly Husky dog, head out of the village of Saint-Martin-du-Vieux-Bellême and venture through a beautiful 100-year-old oak forest. At the end of the hike, walkers can enjoy a Norman snack. Hikes run from 7 April to 4 November. Tickets: £13.50/person (reservation only). sleddogride.fr(French only) - New: Guided day trips by bike with Petite Reine
Petite Reine offers two cycling day trips – Bayeux and the D-Day Landing Beaches and the Mont-Saint-Michel – on both standard and electric bicycles, allowing visitors to easily explore Normandy’s historic sites with or without a local guide. us.petitereinenormandie.fr
Summer: New Irish Ferries vessel, Dublin-Cherbourg route
Once in service, the W.B. Yeats will be the largest, most luxurious ferry ever to sail on the Irish Sea, with 441 cabins, capacity for 1,885 passengers and crew, and space for 1,200 cars. Irish Ferries will operate up to four return sailings weekly.irishferries.com - Summer: Behind the scenes at the Haras du Pin
Nicknamed the ‘Versailles of Horses’, the Haras du Pin is the oldest and most prestigious national stud in France. In addition to the traditional horse shows that take place throughout the summer on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, visitors are invited to take this new tour and find out all the secrets of the stud. Tickets: £19 adults, £14 children. haras-national-du-pin.com/en/home
