Some European cruises include the port of Le Havre. Now if you have never been to Paris, you can take a 10 or 11 hour excursion that will give you a taste of what Paris has to offer. It is about a 2 1/2 hour driver each way, so expect about a 2 hour tour, and then 3 hours on your own in Paris. However if you have already been to Paris or prefer to visit when you have more time, there are lots of interesting things you can do for the day.
Visit the D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches and surrounding region. It’s another long trip (around 11 hours total.) You’ll spend some time in the town of Bayeux which has been well preserved throughout the years, as well as visiting the beaches and cemetery. We invite you to read our blog with details & photos on the Beaches of Normandy France.
Giverny & Rouen: At the gateway to Normandy, 75 km from Paris and 60 km from Rouen, the village of Giverny (pronounced Jee-va-nyee) is located on the right bank of the River Seine, at its confluence with one of the two branches of the River Epte lined with willows and poplars. But Giverny rises to fame in 1883 when the painter Claude Monet discovered the village whilst looking out of the train window (the line has since closed down). Monet was enthusiastic about the spot. He found a large house to rent, “the Press House”. By the end of April he had moved in with Alice Hoschedé, his lady-friend, his two sons and her six children. The house was a farmhouse with a vegetable garden and an orchard of over one hectare. At the time there were about 300 inhabitants in Giverny, most of them farmers, and a few middle-class families. The gardens are beautifully kept by student interns. After viewing Monet’s paintings and walking the grounds you can clearly see where his inspiration came from.
The village consists of two streets on the hillside lined with low houses in a pink or green roughcast with slate roofs, their walls covered with wisteria and Virginia creeper. These streets are crossed by narrow lanes running down the hill. The Claude Monet Road runs straight to the village. The “Chemin du Roy” (Secondary Road 5) follows the banks of the River Epte. Claude Monet’s house lies between the two roads.
Take a tour from Le Havre to learn more about Claude Monet and the history of medieval France in the ancient town of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. This is also a 10 to 11 hour excursion from the port of Le Havre. If you are in Paris, then it’s a 45 minute train ride from Saint Lazare train station. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance if you are not part of a tour group that already includes admission.
Mont Saint Michel: When you see for the first time the Mont Saint Michel, you will be fascinated by the beauty of its architecture and its long history, sure that you would like to come back. The best views of Mont-Saint-Michel are from the coastal road between Saint-Jean-le-Thomas and Carolles or from the Jardin des Plantes in Avranches. In Mont-Saint-Michel, you will find winding streets (passageways, really) bordered by old shops, ramparts, museums, houses and restaurants, ending at the Mont-St-Michel Abbey, whose spires rise more than 500 ft/152 m. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk. Although it’s possible to visit the island on a long day trip from Paris, we recommend staying overnight or adding it to a tour of Brittany or Normandy. If you go in the summer, be prepared for crowds. There are 2 seaside towns nearby that are worth visiting – St. Malo & Dinard.
