Normandy etc...
Hi...
Heading to Normandy at the start of July with my young (aged 5 & 3yrs) family...
We are sailing into Cherbourg and the plan is to visit Bayeux, alot of beaches, some WW2 sites and end up at Paris Disney before heading back West to visit Mont Saint Michel and then back to Cherbourg.
We are away for almost 3 weeks...
Any advice on caravan sites, WW2 museums and family attractions most appreciated...
Thanks...
Comments
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You will be running into the peak of the season in France going in July so booking of campsites will be essential. To visit Bayeux and that area then the Chateau de Martragny is a site with good facilities but not over-commercialised. There is a museum in Bayeux dedicated to the Battle of Normandy situated close to the Military Cemetery. Mont St Michel is easily visited from Camping Haliotis at Pontorson another excellent site.
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PhilMaxwell, it's a good plan and an ambitious one - but is it the right plan for taking a 3year old and a 5 year old with you? We had a 4 year old grandson with us last summer in Brittany - he just wanted to run in and out of the sea, hunt for crabs in rock pools, dig pits as deep as he could, bury his father in sand, eat pancakes with chocolate sauce, go back to the ice cream shop in the village and wait eagerly for the visiting circus to arrive on Thursday.
He would not have understood the meaning of a WW2 landing site, nor the poignancy of the war cemeteries, nor military museums with photographs of devastation 73 years ago. He would not have coped with shuffling along the Bayeux tapestry with headphones in the dark, or clambering up the stony path through the endless souvenir shops and crowds at Mont St Michel - and if we had got him to the Abbey at the top he would have upset the monks. But as it was he had a great little holiday by the sea. Others must advise you about taking very small children to Disney - we haven't tried it.
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I would agree with ET. The first time we took our two boys to the museums and beaches in Normandy, they were 7 and 9 and even then they struggled to take it in and we could not spend long anywhere. As to the Bayeux Tapestry, that was a complete waste of money. We went back many years later, on our own, when we could take our time. Having said that there were places that ours found fascinating and would also probably interest younger children as well. The gun battery at Merville where they were able to play as well as learn. The mulberry harbour on the beach at Aromanches, sand castles and history side by side. As to Le Mont Saint Michel in July with 3 and 5 year olds, personally I would give that a miss.
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Whilst in Normandy last year we picked up a very useful booklet from Formigny TI which was in English detailing various places to visit/stay/eat etc. I think Bayeux Bessin was the name. You may find helpful info regarding visiting Normandy by taking a look at
www.bessin-normandie.com
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Hi Phil
first of all if you want a decent and affordable site to stay which is accessible to the normandy beaches and bayeux then I can recommend Camping des Bords de L'Aure,the address is Boulevard Eindhoven Allee du Camping,RN13,14400,Bayeux.
Its a municipal site and 10 mins walk into Bayeux town and around 20 mins drive to Gold Beach.The site is kept spotless and has a kiddies play area with access to the leisure centre next door.Supermarkets across main road outside.
There are many museums in normandy,those at Omaha and Utah are impressive,Pegasus Bridge is great however like some have said probably not for young kids but if you do go to museums you can get discounts
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Cheers everyone for the input so far... We are going, the boat is booked and that's the only time I've got available so we will just have to endure the crowds.
Thanks for the recommedations of the sites, I'll certainly look into them further but at first glance, they are cheaper than ones listed on the Caravan Club guide.
My kids aren't too bad when it comes to museums etc, usually the young one sleeps and my 5yr old actually appears quite interested at times.
It won't be death by museum, but I'm planning on visiting some of the 'bigger' attractions.
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Take them to Saint Mère Église, a British airman Parachuted into the village in the middle of a battle and got stuck on the church steeple. The children will like that. There is , (or was) a small municipal campsite there. Cheap but not a lot on-site for children when we were there.
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Ha ha what a history lesson.......
in actual fact it was John Steele of the US 82nd Airbourne...........however there is a museum across from the church where 'Steele 'still hangs from the steeple
not a great deal else at St Mere Eglise though
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Had a memorable meal once in St Mère Église.
There was a family with a crying baby. The owners German shepherd wandered around the room. The owner/chef and waitress (daughter?) Spent the whole time having a flaming row!
Crab starter was the best I've ever had anywhere, the steak and chips was to die for!
Then the church click kept me awake all night chiming on the hour, every hour....
All reasons why I love France!
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We went to Bayeaux and Mont St Michel last July.
The Bayeaux Tapestry Museum is a must see and it was fantastic to see the Tapestry. Arrive as early as you can before the crowds descend. The Tapestry tour lasts about 35 minutes but at peak times you can queue for an hour or so to get in, so thats why I would say arrive early.
Mont St Michel get hugely busy and there is no quite period. There is an Air close by where you can stay and then os just a short walk along the Canal to the Mont. There are free buses that take you to the Mont and they run from 6am until midnight non stop.
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Oh and also when in Bayeaux if you want a fab restaurant to visit then try Au Ptit Bistrot. The food and service was 1st class and if you sit outside you get a fantastic view of the Cathedral as you eat your meal. This restaurant is very popular and you must book.
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We had 10 nights June 2016 at Camping Reine Mathilde. No. 1366 acsi. Handy for the beautiful Omaha Landing Beach. 2km lovely Port-en-bassin and Bayeux 8km. New supermarket at the Port and fish market ever morning. Helpful family owners. The owners sister is an English teacher so loads of info. Spacious prrivate pitches lovely heated pool and family friendly bar. €17 7 nights for 6. Till 9/7
would n't take young children to the Bayeux tapestry. Queue to get in and longer queue for the headphones.
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We had 10 nights June 2016 at Camping Reine Mathilde. No. 1366 acsi. Handy for the beautiful Omaha Landing Beach. 2km lovely Port-en-bassin and Bayeux 8km. New supermarket at the Port and fish market ever morning. Helpful family owners. The owners sister is an English teacher so loads of info. Spacious prrivate pitches lovely heated pool and family friendly bar. €17 7 nights for 6. Till 9/7
would n't take young children to the Bayeux tapestry. Queue to get in and longer queue for the headphones.
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