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Motorhoming in Calvados
Calvados in the region of Basse Normandie is a wonderful marriage of blue sea and green countryside. With its chic seaside towns, charming fishing ports and rich gastronomy, hiring a motorhome in England or hiring a motorhome in France is an ideal way to visit this generous department. Find out how to cross the channel if you’re starting off in England then make the most of motorhome travel in France without having to go much further than England’s back door.
Calvados holds a special place in the heart of many who know its beaches for historical rather than pleasurable reasons. The whole of Normandy and the Calvados coastline is marked for always by the beach landings of the Second World War. There are a multitude of sites to visit, museums and cemeteries. Omaha Beach is one of the best known of these beaches which were immortalized for a larger public by the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’.
One of Calvados most charming fishing ports is the port town of Honfleur. Honfleur has a welcoming ambiance which attracted artists such as Monet who gave the little port town the reputation of ‘Artists town’. Make the most of the relaxed pace of life whilst visiting this little town of paved streets and galleries.
Deauville is reputed internationally for its glamour and elegance. It was founded by the half-brother of Napolean lll and is synonymous of good taste. It’s really pleasant to stroll along ‘Les Planches’ – the board walk constructed in exotic wood, admire the villas, wander to the end of jetty before returning to visit the half-timbered market halls. Pass by the Villa Strassburger which is one of the most beautiful and remarkable examples in Deauville. Constructed in 1907 by Henri de Rothschild, it was given to the community by his son in 1980 and is one of the jewels of Deauville.
The name Caen signifies battle field and gives a clue to the history of this city. Inextricably linked with the history of France, it was the favourite town of William the Conqueror who built its château and two abbeys in an attempt to be pardoned by the Pope for his marriage. The city passed some time under English control before becoming definitively French. It was during these periods of agitation that Caen became an important university town and a centre of industry and commerce. The destruction of 1944 was the occasion used by Caen to rebuild, reorganise and start of a new lease of life.
A visit to Bayeux is like a step back in time. One of the very few towns of Normandy to be spared during the bombardments, it has a wealth of beautiful manors and villas dating from the 14th to the 17th century, half timbered houses and an arched bridge and is home to the Tapestry of Bayeux which tells the story of William the Conqueror on a piece of linen 70m long and 50cm wide. Amongst the illustrations we find Mont Saint Michel, Halley’s Comet and the Battle of Hastings.
Don’t leave Calvados without sampling some of the wonderful specialities; cheese, Calvados, an alcohol made from apples and the favourite desert, the Teurgoule, a kind of rice pudding. Treat yourself before moving on to do some motorhoming in Manche, motorhoming in Orne or motorhoming in Haute Normandie .
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