Mont St. Michel
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Outside of Paris, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations. This abbey is surrounded by water with a single accessible road. With more than 3 million visitors a year, people are drawn to the picturesque location and charming architecture. Built nearly a millennium ago, it is a national treasure and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Tours cost 8.50 euros and allows one to see where monks did their translation work, prayed and even operated a brewery. There are various restaurants and shops on the site.
Caen
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This city is historically significant for World War II. After the Normandy beach landing, this city held many battles and was almost destroyed. In 1988, a Caen Memorial was built, which is regarded as the best World War II museum in France. It costs 16 euros but is free for war veterans. It also offers D-Day tours with visits to the famous beaches. The Chateau Ducal is also worth a visit, as it was built by William the Conqueror to protect his palace. The Fine Arts Museum and Museum of Normandy are within the ramparts today. The former museum displays many excellent Italian, French and Flemish works. If you visit on a Friday or Sunday, there are markets to enjoy.
Bayeux
This town is home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Created nearly a millennium ago, it is one of the oldest existing tapestries in the world. It depicts the events surrounding the Norman conquest of England with William the Conqueror. This museum is only a half hour outside of Caen. This town also holds a museum of the landings and battles for the Normandy battles.
Normandy Beaches
The famous beaches of D-Day are in Normandy. Visits can be made to Omaha, Juno, Sword, Gold and Utah beaches. The landings began in June 1944 and are marked as a turning point in World War II. This is a pilgrimage for many visitors. Near many of the beaches are cemeteries and monuments from the war.
Article Written By Grant Buchholtz
Based in Boston, Grant has been writing on issues of faith, leadership, and personal growth since 2000. He has written for the "Journal of Evangelical Homiletics Society" and "theooze.com." Grant won the Parish Pulpit Scholarship in 2009. He received both a Master of Theology and Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and has done further graduate work at Harvard Divinity School and the University of Edinburgh.
