When people speak of northern France, Normandy and Brittany inevitably come to mind: together they form one of the most captivating regions in Europe.

You can already hear the sound of the waves breaking on the pink granite cliffs of the Channel or on the beaches of Saint-Malo, as your eye seeks out the lights of the countless lighthouses facing the sea.

In the fishing villages, the tranquil rhythms of a life by the sea alternate with the food and wine riches that only this area can offer.

Let yourself be enchanted by the little Breton villages, with their typical slate-roofed houses and lovingly kept historic centres: they will make you feel as if you were in a fairy tale.

Normandy is a land rich in history, made up of medieval villages, artistic treasures and places made famous by the greatest painters of all time.

In this article we will show you the wonders of a place steeped in history, where the countryside stretches endlessly, the beaches are immense and the cliffs soar.

Rouen

Among the oldest towns in Normandy is Rouen.

This small city, which became famous for its cathedral, painted by Monet several times in order to study its light, still has a well-preserved historic centre today.

Take time to lose yourself in the picturesque streets of this little town, where you can admire the most beautiful half-timbered houses, with their many shops brimming with gastronomic produce.

Continue along Rue Martainville until you reach Place Saint-Marc, where a market of typical Normandy produce is held, including its famous cheeses: you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mont-Saint-Michel

One of the architectural wonders of the Western world, this precious jewel of Normandy was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

This little medieval village, set on a rocky islet surrounded by a magnificent bay, is constantly subject to the striking phenomenon of the tidal cycle, which rises and falls in continuous six-hour cycles, offering a unique spectacle.

The outline of the islet begins to stand out on the horizon from as far as 50 km away, immediately revealing its great allure.

The cobbled path leads up to the abbey, which dominates the whole of the surrounding bay. The abbey is the result of continuous historical and artistic evolutions and transformations over the centuries. After the French Revolution it was even used as a prison and fell into ruin, until its complete rehabilitation over the last 150 years.

Dinan

Dinan is a small medieval town in Brittany, among the best preserved in this part of the country.

Perched on the bank of the River Rance, this little town will give you the feeling that time has never passed. Stroll along the cobbled lanes of this perfectly preserved centre as far as the Romanesque basilica of Saint-Sauveur, an example of how the Romanesque style blends with the Gothic.

Then make your way to the Clock Tower which, at 50 metres high, rises above the town and has become its symbol.

Cap Fréhel

One of the most striking spots in Brittany, Cap Fréhel will win you over with its beauty and its vivid colours.

On this coast stands the Cap Fréhel lighthouse, built in the 1950s and surrounded by moorland. From the cliff it seems to gaze out at the infinite ocean before it.

Set on a headland, this lighthouse, standing more than a hundred metres above the sea, is considered one of the five most powerful in France; from here you can continue along the path that leads to Fort la Latte.

The coastal path to this historic monument will not disappoint: here you can enter the chapel, see the guardhouse and, above all, the keep. From up there, the view will take your breath away.

Locronan

Visiting this village in the heart of Brittany is one of the most rewarding experiences of a tour of northern France. The evocative lanes leading off the main square, the typical stone-built houses, the churches with their intimate atmosphere, pots of brightly coloured flowers and traditional shops: everything in this delightful place appeals to every kind of visitor.

The atmosphere seems to have come straight out of a book of fairy tales: many, in fact, compare Locronan to a village of the fairies, deeply imbued with Celtic culture.

From the central square it is worth exploring the surroundings, easily reached on foot, before stopping at one of the many pâtisseries to enjoy a delicious local crêpe accompanied by a good glass of sweet cider.

The Guiness Travel Tours

Guiness Travel offers several types of tour in France that allow you to discover and enjoy the historic charm of this country. For Guiness, travelling is an enriching experience to be savoured in every pleasant moment, and it means enjoying the cultural atmosphere that characterises each place.

All the itineraries in the catalogue are 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and to reach a high, wide-ranging cultural standard.

The Guiness Exclusive Tour is a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, that offers you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • carefully selected services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Thanks to the Guiness Exclusive Tour you will return home with a suitcase full of wonderful new memories, immersed in the beauties of the world, thanks also to the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites included in all our programmes.

In fact, in all our itineraries you can see at a glance how many UNESCO sites you will be able to visit, and which ones, thanks to an intuitive, user-friendly icon in the catalogue. In this way, travellers will know which UNESCO sites are included in their travel programme.

Discover all the Guiness Travel tours of northern France

Team Guiness