Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

78 BACK ROADS FRANCE

The Essence of Normandy

Located between the sea, Caen and the Seine river, this
area distils into one space the prime attractions of one
of France’s most distinctive regions. On the coast is the
old granite port of Honfleur, evocative of explorers,
artists and eccentrics. To the west are the resorts of
Deauville and Trouville, still with plenty of verve after
over a century in fashion. Inland is the Pays d’Auge, so
idyllically pretty it almost seems unreal, with deep-
green orchards, half-timbered farms and winding
tree-lined lanes, at the end of which is the promise
of France’s finest cheeses and ciders and an original
cuisine, for this is also a land of great natural abundance.
Villers-
Houlgate
sur-Mer
Cabourg
Dives-
sur-Mer
Varaville
Dozulé
Clermont-
ROUTE DU CIDRE en-Auge
AND BEUVRON-EN-AUGE
Beuvron-en-Auge
Victot-Pontfol
Cagny Corbon
Laizon
Argences Carrefour-
St-Jean
Vimont
Moult CAL V ADOS
Mézidon-
Dives
CHÂTEAU DE CANON Canon
Les Quatre Routes
Top Relaxing terrace at one of Honfleur’s many small restaurants, see pp80–81 Vieux-Fumé
St-Sylvain Bretteville-
Above Equestrian statue of William the Conqueror in Falaise, see p85 Condé-sur-Ifs sur-Dives
ACTIVITIES ST-PIERRE-
Grainville- Ernes SUR-DIVES
Langannerie Rouvres
Enter the unique world of Erik Satie, and listen to his
Berville
music, at Honfleur’s Maison Satie museum CHÂTEAU DE VENDEUVRE l’Oudon
Pontigny
Play on the beach with a Monet view as a backdrop Perrières Jort Courey
on Trouville’s famous planches
Ussy Dives
Sample ciders from the barrel in the giant-timbered
Villers-
barns of a Pays d’Auge farm Canivet Morteaux- Norrey-
Couliboeuf en-Auge
Walk through the woods and lanes around
Noron-
Beuvron-en-Auge l’Abbeye FALAISE Beaumais
Absorb the atmosphere of rural Normandy at
St-Pierre-sur-Dives’ wonderful market St-Pierre-du-Bû
See two sides of the Ancien Régime at the
contrasting châteaux of Canon and Vendeuvre
KEY
Get a feel of the Middle Ages on the mighty towers
Drive route
of Falaise castle