Normandy landscapes in 45 pictures (Nature + Urban)

My TOP 7 - Best of Normandy Landscapes 

Let's start with my absolute favorite scenery in Normandy. It is difficult to choose. But these 7 really stole my heart, as I explored my home-region.
You can fin them also in my article about the best things to do in Normandy.

#1 - Étretat

• What -
  The tall white cliffs of Étretat, especially the views from the top of Manneporte
• Where -
  Located in Seine-Maritime, on the Alabaster coast
  40min drive North of Le Havre
• Why I love it -
  This is my absolute favorite place in Normandy. The Alabaster coast here is so dramatic with a sea-stack and several arches.
  You can explore from the top of the cliffs, or by going through the cliffs at low tide to reach other beaches .
• Learn more on my article about Etretat

#2 - From the Gaillard Castle viewpoint

• What -
  The Gaillard castle carpark offers a view towards the castle and overlooks a bend in the Seine River with the town of Les Andelys
• Where -
  Located in Seine-Maritime, along the Seine River
  1h drive South of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  That view is phenomenal - it combines a charming town, the Seine River with the banks made of chalk and covered with trees as well as a historical fort. You can't see the fort in this picture but trust me!

#3 - Écalgrain Bay

• What -
  The bay of Ecalgrain with a sandy beach and rolling hills
• Where -
  Located in La Manche, on the Cotentin peninsula
  30min West of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  The road goes up which offers a great perspective over the whole bay and its green hills.
  The golden sand, the cliffs, the greenery, the rocks... this is one of my favorite beaches in Normandy.

#4 - From the Viaduct of Clécy

• What -
  The view over the Orne River valley from the top of the Viaduct of Clecy
• Where -
  In the Calvados department, region of "Suisse Normande" (Norman Switzerland).
  45min South of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The view is spectacular. It is hard to imagine we are in Normandy (normally mostly small rolling hills and fields). I love the contrast of the rocky cliffs with all the trees.

#5 - Mont Saint Michel

• What -
  Le Mont Saint-Michel built on an island
• Where -
  In La Manche departement
  2h drive South of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  No surprise here, this is one of the most famous attractions in France. For a good reason... This is such an impressive place with the fortifications, the medieval streets and the impressive abbey at the top. Plus, as the tide changes, the views change too.

#6 - Gatteville Lighthouse

• What -
  The Gatteville lighthouse and the surrounding beaches
• Where -
  In La Manche, Contentin peninsula
  35min drive West of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  I love rock formations and contrast. I recommend a visit a low tide to admire the flat rock formations contrasting with the impressive height of the Gatteville lighthouse (one of the tallest in the World): 75m (247ft).

• What -
  The village of Le Bec-Hellouin
• Where -
  In Eure
  50min drive North West of Evreux
• Why I love it -
  Oh so Norman: the typical colorful halt-timbered houses, the peaceful abbey and the small hills delimiting the valley on each side.

Normandy's best coastal Landscapes

Normandy is famous for its coast: for its natural beautiful and dramatic history. From the Cotentin Peninsula, to the flowery coast and the Alabaster coast, there are many dramatic views to enjoy. They form some of the best Normandy destinations. Below is my selection.

• What -
  The cliffs around the rock formation named Nez de Jobourg
• Where -
  In La Manche, Cotentin Peninsula
  30min West of Cherbourg, next to the Ecalgrain Bay seen above
• Why I love it -
  I just love cliffs and rock formations a lot, as you will see in this article :-). And those are really nice, especially with the nuances of colors in the sea.
  See more pictures in my article.

• What -
  The area between Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and the island of Tatihou
• Where -
  In La Manche, Cotentin peninsula
  35min drive East of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  The island is quite close to shore. At high tide, the boat ride is only 10min to go and visit the Vauban fortifications. But when you discover it at low tide, the impressive oyster farm is revealed, creating quite a unique view!

• What -
  The white cliffs from Cap Fagnet
• Where -
  In Seine-Maritime, Alabaster coast
  Just North of Fécamp
• Why I love it -
  Cap Fagnet is a great stop - it combines a view over the whole town of Fécamp, bunkers from WWII, a charming chapel and views over the Alabaster cliffs that seem to be going on forever.
  See more pictures

• What -
  Cut in the cliffs under Varengeville-sur-mer
• Where -
  In Seine-Maritime, Alabaster coast
  Just West of Dieppe (Varengeville-sur-mer)
• Why I love it -
  Along the Alabaster coast, there are several places where water has cut through the cliffs. This is one of the most impressive and wild. You can walk down the gorge to reach the beach at the bottom of the giant cliffs.

• What -
  The sand dune area between Cabourg and Houlgate, at the mouth of the Dives River.
• Where -
  Town of Cabourg, Calvados on the Flowery Coast
  Caen to Cabourg: 30min drive
• Why I love it -
  I am also a big fan of sand dunes. Here the river is bent by the spit of sand offering water views on each side of the dune.

• What -
  The same view of the spit from the end of the beach in Houlgate
• Where -
  Town of Houlgate, Calvados on the Flowery Coast
  Caen to Houlgate: 40min drive
• Why I love it -
  This almost looks tropical!

• What -
  The cliffs of the Vaches Noires
• Where -
  Between the towns of Houlgate and Villers-sur-mer, Calvados on the Flowery Coast
  Caen to Villers-sur-Mer: 40min drive
• Why I love it -
  The area should be visited at low tide to not only see the cliffs (with a baldland look) but also discover the giant boulders refered to as the 'vaches noires' (black cows) because from the sea, they look like a herd.

• What -
  The beach of Gouville-sur-Mer with the colorful beach huts
• Where -
  In La Manche
  1h10 South of Cherbourg.
• Why I love it -
  Normandy has a great collection of beach huts. At Gouville, they are all with different colors of roofs and located on the dunes. At low tide, oyster farms are revealed on the beach.

• What -
  The dunes of Hatainville
• Where -
  In La Manche, Cotentin Peninsula
  40 South of Cherbourg.
• Why I love it -
  Between 2 headlands, ancient cliffs have been covered by sand dunes and plants. My picture does not do it justice, the sight is beautiful.

Need to rent a car in Normandy?
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Normandy Scenery - Best of Nature (Inland)

Normandy is mostly countryside, with farmlands and small rolling hills. The most unique area inland is the Norman Switzerland where the relief is higher.

• What -
  The view from Rochers de La Houle viewpoint 
• Where -
  In the Calvados department, region of Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland).
  45min South of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The view is quite expansive, and you can see the whole loop of the Orne River with typical Norman farmlands

• What -
  The hiking area of La Roche d'Oëtre.
• Where -
  In the Orne department, region of Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland).
  55min South of Caen
• Why I love it -
  From the viewpoints, all you can see are rocks, hills and trees. This is where the region really looks like Mountains of Switzerland. You could forget you are in Normandy.

• What -
  The loops of the Seine river, here in Jumièges
• Where -
  Town of Jumièges, Seine-Maritime and all around
  35min west of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  The coast is not the only way to enjoy water landscapes. Normandy has many beautiful rivers. The loops of the Seine-river with the chalk cliffs are especially beautiful. A cruise on the Seine River can be a great way to discover it.

• What -
  The countryside in the Perche area of Normandy
• Where -
  Around Mortagne au Perche, Orne department
  30min East of Alençon
• Why I love it -
  I have driven all around Normandy, and my favorite countryside area is the Perche. Not for the monuments or villages, but simply for the fields and views. The nuances of colors are beautiful and the area very peaceful.

Normandy Pictures - Architecture mixes with Nature

Normandy is rich in castles and religious buildings; we will see them later in this article. But it some cases, even though the building is not the most beautiful, the way it is located makes it very special. Below are a few examples.

• What -
  The view from the Castle of Dieppe
• Where -
  Town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Alabaster coast
  1h drive North of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  From this viewpoint you can enjoy the castle (restored in the 14th century), the town, the beach and the sea. This is one of the most open views on the coast (but no cliff views as you are on them).

• What -
  The castle of William the Conqueror in Falaise
• Where -
  Town of Falaise, Calvados
• Why I love it -
  From the panorama road you can reallysee how the castle has been built around the rock formation.

• What -
  The Vauban tower overlooking the port of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain
• Where -
  Calvados, between Arromanches and Omaha Beach
  35min drive West of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The whole area is mostly long sand beaches with WWII monuments. This place offers a break with a charming town, a fortification from the Vauban times and nice cliffs.
  It was also a landing area, but the main feature is the Vauban Tower from 1694.

• What -
  La Hague lighthouse
• Where -
  La Manche, Cotentin peninsula
  30min drive West of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  The area is mostly rock formations, with very old rocks, with the lighthouse as a background.

• What -
  The village of Saint Cénéri le Géréi
• Where -
  Orne, in the Mancelles Alps
  20min South of Alençon
• Why I love it -
  Saint Cénéri le Gérei is one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy. But as opposed to many others, it does not offer half-timbered houses. It is beautiful because it is niched in a loop of the Sarthe River in the Mancelles Alps. It is charming! See more pictures of the charming village.

Urban landscapes of Normandy

• What -
  Le Havre, Unesco World Heritage site
• Where -
  Seine-Maritime, beginning of the Alabaster coast
  1h15 drive from Rouen
• Why I love it -
  Le Havre is my hometown. It is a Unesco site for the square buildings and the construction techniques implemented my Perret after WWII.  
  But Le Havre is also full of modern art and other architectural pieces, creating contrast with the square buildings. You can find many interesting angles for urban landscapes.
  See more on my article about Le Havre.

• What -
  Old center of the town of Honfleur
• Where -
  In Calvados, next to the Normandy bridge
  1h driving East of Caen
• Why I love it -
  Honfleur is one of the most charming towns to visit in Normandy. The little port with the tall and narrow houses is one of the most photographed spots. A unique urban landscape. Plus, you can explore to find stunning old houses and a unique wooden church. See more on my Honfleur article.

• What -
  Caen and its religious architecture
• Where -
  Calvados, 2h30 drive from Paris center
• Why I love it -
  From the castle's fortification walls you have an open view of the town with the many religious buildings sticking out.

• What -
  Village of Beuvron-en-Auge
• Where -
  Calvados
  30min East of Caen
• Why I love it -
  This is a very typical Norman village. The half-timbered houses have been really well restored. The village is organized around a central square with a market hall.
  The whole village is ready to be photogrpahed.

• What -
  Village of Barfleur
• Where -
  La Manche department, Cotentin Peninsula
  35min drive East of Cherbourg
• Why I love it -
  The houses are not the most fascinating here, but the way the village is organized around the fishing port and the strange shape of the church, create a beautiful scenery from across the marina!

• What -
  Village of Lyons-la-Forêt
• Where -
  Department of Eure
  45min East of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  It is another charming Norman village with half-timbered houses. And this one is surrounded by forest, making it feel like entering another world or another time.

Architectural wonders in Normandy - pictures

As I wrote earlier, Normandy is full of Castles and religious buildings. It is my home-region, and yet I had not realized how many castles there were before starting my in-depth exploration. They are all different, so it is very VERY difficult to reduce the list here, but I tried choosing those which offer the best scenic view of the whole building or part of it.
Find more in: My article about the best castles in Normandy and my article of the best abbeys in Normandy or the article of the best Normandy cathedrals and churches.

• What -
  Castle of Carrouges
• Where -
  Orne
  30min drive North-West of Alençon
• Why I love it -
  Carrouges was one of the first one I explored, and it has stayed on my mind. That entrance with the red bricks and the whole road leading to it, is impressive.

• What -
  Castle of Saint-Germain-du-Livet
• Where -
  Calvados
  10min drive South of Lisieux
• Why I love it -
  This is one of the most intriguing castles in my opinion. It is small but the structure and colors are quite fascinating with a charming parc around.
  I selected it has my #1 in my list of best castles in Normandy.

• What -
  Abbey of Saint Georges de Boscherville
• Where -
  Seine-Maritime
  25min drive West of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  The abbey has a great garden with vine, trees, flowers... and terraces offering a viewpoint over the whole area. This is one of the great abbeys of the Seine River valley.

• What -
  Caste of Fontaine-Henry and its chapel
• Where -
  Town of Fontaine-Henry, Calvados
  20min North of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The park of the castle allows you to enjoy the whole building with its tall roofs. Plus, the chapel has a large size compared to the castle which is not frequent.

• What -
  The castle of Crèvecoeur-en-Auge (not to be mixed up with other Crèvecoeur villages in Europe)
• Where -
  Calvados,
  40min East of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The fortified castle itself is not the best part of this visit. The surrounding court where some of the half-timbered buildings remain is the most fascinating view.

• What -
  Harcourt castle
• Where -
  Eure
  35min drive North West of Evreux
• Why I love it -
  Harcourt is set up in a huge arboretum where several viewpoints offer different perspectives on the castle. In the picture above is my favorite view with the gate and the castle behind.

• What -
  The old mill house of Vernon
• Where -
  Town of Vernon, Eure
  50min South of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  This is one of the most iconic buildings in Normandy. The half-timbered mill house (from the 16th century) is set up on an old medieval bridge (from the 12th century). There used to be many mills on the river. You can see this building from different angles with the Seine River as a background.

• What -
  Jumièges Abbey
• Where -
  Town of Jumièges, Seine Maritime, along the Seine River
  35min West of Rouen
• Why I love it -
  This is the most famous abbey in Normandy. The ruins of the walls are impressive. It is surrounded by a big park with gardens and terraces. It offers many viewpoints over the abbey for great scenery.

• What -
  Ango Manor
• Where -
  Seine-Maritime
  15Min West of Dieppe
• Why I love it -
  Normandy also has many manor houses with different styles. Ango is one my favorites with the magnificent dovecote in the middle of the courtyard.

• What -
  Abbey: "Abbaye aux Hommes" in Caen
• Where -
  Caen, Calvados
• Why I love it -
  It is one of the most iconic buildings in Caen. The various towers create an interesting layered scene and the garden allows you to move away to appreciate the whole building in.

WWII memory landscapes

Normandy is also were D-day happened. Lots of structures remain from WWII offering landscapes for memory. Below are some of the most impressive.

• What -
  The German battery of Longues-sur-Mer
• Where -
  Calvados
  35min driving West of Caen
• Why I love it -
  This is one of the best-preserved batteries. You can really understand how it was structured above the cliffs - A scene to understand the strategy

• What -
  The Normandy American Cemetery
• Where -
  In Colleville-Sur-Mer, Calvados, near Omaha Beach
  45min driving West of Caen
• Why I love it -
  This is one of the most moving WWII landscapes in Normandy: the rows and rows of crosses representing the falling soldiers with the ocean background. A powerful location.

• What -
  Battery of Pointe du Hoc
• Where -
  Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Calvados
  50min drive West of Caen
• Why I love it -
  The battery is not as well preserved as others, but here you can really realize how difficult the landing was for the soldiers - the cliffs were like a barrier and they still managed to take over the place.

• What -
  Arromanches-les-Bains
• Where -
  Calvados
  40min West of Caen
• Why I love it -
  This is where the British had established a temporary harbor (Mulberry Harbour). Pieces of it still remains and can be seen at low tide. Great view from the top of the cliffs near the Arromanches 360° museum.

Want to see more of the best Normandy has to offer?

• 42 Best things to do in Normandy - read article
• 10 most charming villages in Normandy - read article
• 16 best castles and their parks - read article
• 5 Best destinations in Normandy - read article
• The most impressive abbeys in Normandy - read article
• The best cities and towns - read article
• The cathedrals and most unique churches - read article

Planning a trip to Normandy? 

Check out my travel guide to help you plan - You can find all the locations listed in this article (and more) in my eBook to help you easily plan your road trip:

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