Are you looking to spend a weekend in Normandy with your significant other? In this article, I present an option for every taste and lifestyle. From a sporty weekend to a weekend surrounded by nature or history, every couple will find something that sparks their interest.
A Relaxing and Rejuvenating Weekend
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In Normandy, well-being is more than just eating well. It involves your entire body, mind, and spirit.
If you are looking for a sweet interlude with your partner, a few days in a hotel and spa will allow you to enjoy treatments, rest, and panoramic views.
La Ferme Saint Siméon is an idyllic retreat hidden between the sea and the fields. The small complex has a chic country look and a superb flower garden with a view of the sea.
You can be pampered with your choice of a Thai massage, back massage, relaxing massage, or facial, and the restaurant’s menu is listed in the Michelin Guide 2021.
Another good plan for a relaxing romantic weekend is thalassotherapy.
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Providers of these unique sea-inspired spa treatments are present in all the seaside towns in the region.
Most are located just a few meters from the beach, and they offer several predefined packages to meet any need. A few examples are the detox stay, the back harmony stay, the vitality cure stay, and the anti-stress sleep cure stay.
Each of these stays includes several treatments that are adapted to the unique needs of each guest. Treatments are typically spread over half days, but if you are just passing through they also offer all their treatments à la carte.
A Gourmet Weekend
Welcome to the land of French cuisine.
While staying in Caen, you can take a private tour of the region which will allow you to discover all of its small villages and local producers.
The tour makes stops in Camembert, Lisieux, Orbec, Breuil en Auge, Trouville, Deauville, and Honfleur, and includes tastings of cheeses and spirits and a lunch break in a waterfront restaurant.
If you want to learn how to cook these local products, Chef Stéphane Carbone offers cooking classes (website in French) in his establishment in Caen, allowing you to take home all the secrets of the local cuisine.
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Finally, if you like the town of William, I recommend staying overnight at Votre Experience Insolite.
Their rooms are decorated with wood, macramé, and greenery and have elements that remind you of the great American outdoors.
Don’t worry, it’s all very harmonious, chic, and in no way kitsch.
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A Sporty Weekend
Adventurers will feel right at home in Normandy.
One of the advantages of this region is that it has many landscapes, each one more varied than the last.
At the Viaduc de la Souleuvre in the Suisse Normande, you can choose from a bungee jump (website in French), a giant swing ride (website in French) for two, or a giant zip line session (website in French).
Nearby, you can spend the night at the Domaine de la Pommeraye. This magnificent stone building also houses a spa that offers a wide variety of treatments.
On the beaches, you can try sand yachting, kitesurfing, longe-côte (also known as sea walking), stand-up paddling, or even a surfing session (website in French) in the English Channel.
After spending a day at the beach, you can stay at the Hostellerie du Château de Bricquebec,which is only 13km from the surfing school.
A Historical Weekend
In Normandy, the Allied landings of the Second World War have left many scars.
For this reason, this region has more historical sites and museums dedicated to this period than anywhere else in France.
Adventurous couples can take a half-day excursion in a vintage side car (or Jeep) through D-Day Normandy. The guide will show you the German batteries at Longues-sur-Mer, as well as Omaha Beach and Gold Beach, which were strategic landing points.
For a more detailed tour, you can hire a private guide who will take you through Sainte Mère Église and the Normandy countryside.
This tour includes tickets for the Airborne Museum, where your guide will explain each exhibit.
For the bravest visitors, there is a flight simulator that allows you to live the terrible night of June 6th, 1944. This experience puts you on board a real C47 warplane from the period, and is only recommended for adults due to its historical accuracy.
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When you are ready to settle down for the night, I recommend the Spirit of 1944 hotel.
Its decorations pay homage to the landing, including allied flags and a Chevrolet Staffcar in the courtyard.
Guests are guaranteed complete immersion in the era of the Second World War.
A Weekend with Nature
For a truly nature-inspired weekend, forget the center parks and other fake nature centers.
Normandy has much more to offer.
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Take a 1 hour and 20-minute nature ride on a velorail in the heart of the rural landscapes of the Vire Valley, or view the butterflies at the naturospace of Honfleur.
Take a pedal boat ride (website in French) in the Norman Switzerland, experience the almost virgin ecosystem of the Pointe du Siège, enjoy the cliffs of Etretat, or take a horseback ride on the beach of Cabourg.
Nature lovers will find plenty to do in Normandy!
If you want to sleep in a completely natural setting, Normandy offers several options:
- Au-Bonheur-Nomade in Livry, where you can spend the night in a tepee or a yurt
- Cabanes Clair Soleil in La Chaussée, which offers lodging in perched huts
- Étape en Forêt hotel spa loisirs (website in French) in Noues de Siennes, for a night in an eco-lodge in the forest
- Les tentes suspendues in Fécamp, where you can sleep in a tent hanging in the trees
Whichever you choose, each of these accommodations lets you spend a night in tune with the rhythm of nature.
A Cultural Weekend
The best way to take in all that Normandy has to offer is to hire a guide. With so much culture packed into the region, you are sure to miss something if you try to find everything on your own.
A guide can help you discover the secrets of the Mont Saint Michel, or teach you everything you want to know about impressionists artists during a 5 hour visit to Monet’s gardens.
Normandy boasts several cultural museums, including:
- The Cultural Center Les Franciscaines (website in French) in Deauville
- Le Centre d’Arts Contemporains de la Matmut (website in French) in Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville (where numerous exhibitions take place)
- The Christian Dior House in Granville
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Normandy also hosts many cultural events throughout the year:
- Festival Beauregard (website in French) in Hérouville-Saint-Clair (early July)
- Papillons de Nuit Festival (website in French) in Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves (early June)
- Festival du Film American in Deauville
- Cabourg mon Amour (website in French) (end of June)
- Jazz sous les Pommiers (website in French) in Coutances (end of May)
For a night surrounded by art and culture, I propose a night in the Manoir des Impressionnistes in Honfleur, the city of painters.
This breathtaking residence is characteristically Norman, and the decor will plunge you into the time of the impressionist painters.
As an added plus, this hotel has a spa where you can relax after a long day.
An Unusual Weekend
Normandy also offers many unexpected experiences.
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Nature lovers can explore the countryside during a dog sledding experience (website in French) in Condé, Normandy. This activity is reminiscent of the Lappish sleds.
If the weather is good, you can take a boat ride along the west coast of the Cotentin in the English Channel.
You and your partner will fall in love with the azure sea that stretches as far as the eye can see.
For the more adventurous, Normandy is a wonderful place for skydiving, including the opportunity to have your breath taken away together with a skydiving jump over Étretat (website in French).
Couples who share a passion for motors can ride in a gleaming Ferrari on a driving course on a professional circuit (website in French) just a few kilometers from the romantic beaches of Deauville.
After an unusual day, keep the unexpected coming by spending the night at Le Fort du Cap Lévi (website in French) (an old Napoleonic fort located in front of the Cotentin sea), Le Gîte de Fatouville (website in French) (a few kilometers from Honfleur), or Le Gîte de Goubelin (website in French) (in the Eure) for a night in a den of fairies and other medieval creatures.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
