As a base for seeing the D Day sites which is easier, Honfleur or Bayeux. We will have a car so need parking. We also will probably do an all day tour with Battlebus but will drive back on another day.

Thanks.

Bayeux is more convenient, but Honfleur is more charming.
IMHO, the beaches are such a moving reminder of past sacrifices that afterwards I personally really needed to reconnect with the living and the charms of life that we enjoy today, that so many sacrificed for.

A more convenient (not far from the famous WW2 beaches) and also charming spot would be Trouville.
In fact the (I think Belgian) allies landed on Trouville too but saw practically no German at all. But just 40 km away Ouistreham (the port battle there was wonderfully filmed in "The Longest Day") was one of the fiercest battlegrounds on the coast. Fate is so strange.

Thanks. Will look at Trouville although I really like Honfleur.

Bayeux is well situated and has the tapestry but the main point may be that the Battlebus tours leave from there and it simply may make it easier to stay there.

Have to see what other tour options are out there and also places to stay.

Honfleur is definitely more picturesque (and full of tourists) but not as convenient as Bayeux.

Other towns along the coast you may want to check out are: Deaville, Trouville, Cabourg, Houlgate, Villers.

You might want to visit the following website too: http://www.bessin-normandie.fr/web/

Have pretty well decided on Bayeux and the Churchill Hotel which can meet our room requirements and seems very central for Battlebus.

Now to start looking at Restaurants there and in Dinan.

Honfleur is charming on one level but it is so full of tourists on weekends and in the summer. Bayeux is much more a real town. I would be tempted to stay somewhere like Port-en-Bessin, a working fishing port with typical Normandy weather and seascapes.

Battlebus is a great choice for tours of the D-Day sites! However, with them your lodging options are limited geographically. They won't accept customers who stay very far from Bayeux.

Dave

I have looked at a couple of other tour companies and they all pick up in Bayeux. If you want something more personalized then it becomes much more expensive.

Most D-Day tours leave from Bayeux. There also are tours from Caen that depart from the Peace Memorial museum, and in the summer months there are tours from Deauville/Trouville. Tours are available from Paris; not the best option but may do in a pinch.

Of the tours departing from Bayeux, Battlebus is the only company I know of with a lodging nearby imperative. Battlebus picks you up at your lodging. Several other tours start from a large Bayeux parking lot, leaving it to customers to be there on time.

Dave

Barbara, hotel Tardif in Bayeux was recommended by an acquaintance.
The hotel is between the cathedral and the tapestry museum in Bayeux, and it also has space for parking.

Sorry to hijack this post but we are also planning on visiting Normany in June 2010 and I was wondering if we could do it all on your own or would a tour be recommended for some sites. We will also have a car.

Carole

I just finished writing about our trip in "Normandie" and "Bretagne" in another thread. We stayed both in Honfleur and Bayeux, and loved both. The address in bayeux has a private secured parking for their customers. I realise it's a personal choice, but we are very happy to have stayed in both places instead of only one and driving to visit.

I agree that Honfleur is more picturesque than Bayeux.

Thanks.

Nancy, I had contacted the Tardiff but they don't start taking 2010 reservations till January 2010. That is the case with several places.

Gede, will search for your other thread.

We have visited Normandy on three different occasions the last one being this past June 4 through 8th. We have stayed with Col. Chilcott at his bed and breakfast just on the outskirts of Bayeux. The Col. was conducting tours on our first visit and this was very helpful as he was able to provide us with detailed history of the invasion and stories he learned from actual veterans who had have stayed with him. On our last two trips he has not been able to conduct tours due to health issues so we have gone it alone. Having said all of that, if it is your first trip definitely take a tour. I have the name of someone who lives in England and conducts tours if you're interested otherwise I have heard good things about Battlebus. Depending on how long you plan on staying in Normandy, you could take a tour one day and then venture out on your own on the other days. There is much to see and a tour will probably either cover the Omaha or Utah Beach areas or one of the British or Canadian beach landing areas. All of it cannot be covered in one tour. Then of course there are the airborne landings, St. Mere Eglise for example. If you are there for June 6th your will experience the celebrations of D-Day which occur every year including lots of folks driving around in vintage American jeeps, duece and a half trucks, etc. all dressed as either American or British soldiers. The most enduring memories for us will be having the opportunity to meet actual veterans and hearing their stories.

I did a Normandy trip and stopped in Honfleur, Trouville, Deauville and Bayeux. Honfleur is absolutely the most charming and I wouldn't have traded it for any of the other towns. It is the quintessential French fishing village. The others are more developed and touristy. Bayeux is more convenient for going to the landing beaches, but if and when I return to Normandy again, Honfleur will be the first place I stop.

Tory

www.haveninparis.com
www.hipparis.com

rlbplf, what is the name of Col. Chilcott's B&B?

Carole

As much as I love Honfleur, I prefer to stay in Bayeux. Why? First of all, is location, its close to most historical sites. But the town itself has some notable sightseeing draws. The tapestry held in a beautiful Gothic Bayeux Cathedral is one of the best told stories of conquering of England by King William who overthrows his power hungry cousin Harold. And, there are some interesting tidbits hidden in the tapestry, like Haley's comet, and the priest who just happens to have a woman's face.
Also Bayeux has some very good restaurants.

Bayeux is also easy to get to and for driving purposes into the Normandy beaches its virtually not hassle at all. But I do suggest to take a day to visit Honfleur and spend at least a few hours there. Go to the Sainte-Catherine church, the ceiling is acutally a boat hull turned upside down. Then, take the coast route back instead of the main Highway. Driving it takes me back to my childhood, with lively beach outings, nightclubs, tiny amusement parks and fun little cafe's.

Another reason I like Bayeux is that its close to Calvado's country. Calvados is an Apple Liquer or Apple Brandy. It's fun to go sampling at the farms. Although I'm not really a drinker, my husband is nuts over Calvados, I prefer their fresh squeezed Apple Juice. Don't think I have ever had such good tasting juice in my life. Its amazing and I always buy a couple quarts to get me through for a few days.

Another reason I stay in Bayeux is that it is almost midway between Honfleur and Mont Saint Michel. We will usually stay a couple nights there just for that Renaissance fix. Mont Saint Michel is an island of sorts with a rustic abbey that hovers on top of a hillside village. There is a great cloister in the Abbey with marble columns. Mont Saint Michel looks like its out in the middle of the Sahara Desert but, when the water comes in from the Channel it moves at 20 feet a second, this was perfect protection for the abbey, it would wipe out potential invaders in moments. But when the water surrounds the abbey, its a magnificent view. Also when you stay the night at Mont Saint Michel, you get the place to yourself. All the tourist leave around 4-5pm so you can walk the steps of the shopping areas or just relax on the patio of one of the many restuarants or bars.

Hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by LoveItaly:
rlbplf, what is the name of Col. Chilcott's B&B?

Carole

It is Manoir Au Pont Rouge in St Loup Hors, Bayeux. I couldn't find a website for it, but here are a couple of reviews (the most recent is 2008). At the end of the review is Col. Chilcott's email address.

Virtural Tourist: B&B reviews

Colleen, thanks for the info. There were no reviews on Trip Advisor and there is no website with photos. I will e-mail him and see if he can send some. I'm just not comfortable booking a place that I've never seen a picture of or with too few reviews even though sometimes reviews and photos don't always tell the true story.

Carole