Etretat on its own is a place to visit in Upper Normandy. It’s well viewed by the French, and in the summer, even in the spring, you’ll have problems finding parking spaces, that’s how busy it gets. A beautiful, old and very scenic coastal village with several very old buildings, narrow streets, a beach and […]

In a small 800 person village close to Lisieux is a castle that looks like a fairytale castle, the kind kids would draw. The village is called Saint-Germain-de -Livet, and the castle dates back to the 15th century.   The castle was donated to the city of Lisieux in 1957. It is now a museum and a landscaped […]

In a small village of some 150 inhabitants close to the city of Amiens you will find an amazingly beautiful castle, the Chateau de Courcelles sous Moyencourt. But what’s more, you will find the castle surrounded by unusual animals, unusual for France; LAMAS.   The castle has 100 windows and doors and is surrounded by land […]

Although the Amiens cathedral is its main attraction, the Hortillonnages should be on your “to see” list. Hortillonnages is a fancy word for floating gardens, and as gardens go, this one is enormous. Even if flowers and gardens are not your thing, this could interest you.   The Hortillonnages cover a vast area of 300 hectares (741 acres) […]

The Jardins Suspendu, in English the Hanging Gardens is a vast garden on the heights of Le Havre overlooking the city.   The whole garden area is built on an old fort. The building of the Fort de St. Adresse started in 1854. Although not directly involved during the First World War (it eventually became a […]