Have you ever been to Northern France? No? Neither have we. So far, I (Bolle) “only” know Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Montpellier from a European trip by train more than 10 years ago. Marco went to Disneyland Paris once as a small child, but that was it. Our travel reporter Maria traveled to Normandy and Brittany and discovered many beautiful places there. We are thrilled about this article, as France is still a pretty gray spot on our map. We hope you enjoy reading and are inspired. Northern France? Well, we’re really looking forward to it now…
- Off to Northern France
- Brittany in Northern France
- 1. Concarneau in Brittany
- 2. The Glenan Archipelago
- 3. Côte de Granite Rose
- 4. Fort La Latte Castle Ruins
- Normandy in Northern France
- 1. Mont Saint-Michel
- 2. Omaha Beach in Normandy
- 3. The port city of Honfleur
- 4. Rocky cliffs in Ètretat
- My conclusion on Northern France
Off to Northern France
Northern France has so much to offer explorers and vacationers. Some know this and enjoy the many sights and highlights. But many ignore Northern France. You hear much more about destinations like the Maldives, Indonesia, or South Africa than about the north of France. So why go there?
Because Northern France is an undiscovered beauty! Whether untouched nature, towns full of half-timbered houses, or places steeped in history – there are countless sights in Normandy and Brittany. Not all of them, because two weeks of road tripping aren’t enough, but I’ll introduce you to some of them in the following post.
Brittany in Northern France
Brittany is located in the northwest of France and is the country’s largest peninsula. This is where Asterix and Obelix lived when they defended themselves against the Romans You can feel everywhere that the Bretons are still a bit unique: The black and white Breton flag hangs from the masts, the inhabitants cultivate their own culture, and they even speak their own language! But don’t worry, you’ll get by just fine with French and English.
1. Concarneau in Brittany
The beautiful little town of Concarneau is located near the large Breton town of Quimper. Large fortress walls surround the picturesque old town, “Close Ville,” which was built directly on the seashore. The small streets of the old town, with their cafés and shops, invite you to stroll and linger. Sailboats frolic in the harbor, like a postcard!
Author Jean-Luc Bannalec probably thought the setting had potential, and wrote the crime series “Inspector Dupin,” which is very popular in Germany and is set in Concarneau. The crime series has since been made into films by ARD. If I had read the books, I would have immediately recognized the harbor and the L’Admiral restaurant.
2. The Glenan Archipelago
From Concarneau, we took a small ferry to the Glenan Archipelago. Who says you have to go to the Caribbean for beautiful beaches? This small archipelago in the Atlantic is just as beautiful! The water is blue and crystal clear, the beaches brilliant white. We spent a whole day relaxing on a tiny island. The weather was great: the sun was shining and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. Amazingly, the water was ice-cold, making it the perfect way to cool off.
And then something strange happened to us: Because the sea was so cold, I only went in up to my legs. After standing for a while, I noticed that my feet were being bumped. And indeed: there were lots of tiny fish all around me, nibbling at me. It didn’t hurt, of course, but it was very fascinating.
By the way, there are restrooms and a small kiosk on the small island. But you should definitely put on plenty of sunscreen and bring a hat and/or a parasol. There isn’t a single patch of shade on the entire island. That can be really unpleasant.
After a relaxing day, we took the ferry back to the mainland. On the return trip, we experienced another highlight: dolphins! I had never seen them in the wild before and was absolutely thrilled when they suddenly swam alongside the small boat.
3. Côte de Granite Rose
We continued on to the Côte de Granite Rose (in German: Rose Granite Coast). In my opinion, it was the most beautiful destination on our road trip through Northern France. This stretch of coast is located in Brittany between the towns of Trébeurden and Paimpol. I recommend a short hike along the coast. We stopped at a motorhome parking lot and started from there.
The coast is made up of meter-high red rock formations. Walking through them is simply something special! The cliffs are often more than two meters high and often extend far into the sea. It’s also incredibly beautiful to see how the red and gray tones of the rocks alternate with the purple of the lilacs growing everywhere among the stones.
4. Fort La Latte Castle Ruins
The Fort La Latte castle was built on a headland in Brittany in the 13th century. It is located very close to the well-known tourist destination Cap Fréhel, but is itself one of the most visited attractions in Brittany. The castle offers spectacular views, and it’s very interesting to walk through the old walls and imagine how someone really lived here.
Normandy in Northern France
Normandy lies northwest of Paris and boasts a 600-kilometer-long coastline. But it has much more to offer: from castles to abbeys and historical sites, it’s a region you definitely shouldn’t miss!
1. Mont Saint Michel
Le Mont Saint Michel is arguably the most famous landmark in Northern France. It’s a small island completely surrounded by water during high tide, and home to a small abbey that takes up almost the entire island. Millions of visitors come here every year. And that’s the downside: after sleepy towns and lots of nature, Mont Saint Michel seems overcrowded. Nevertheless, you can still appreciate the charm of this place. And if you venture a few streets away from the tourist trails, you can also enjoy the island in peace.
2. Omaha Beach in Normandy
A detour to Omaha Beach might dampen your holiday spirit a bit, but it’s an absolute MUST! “Omaha Beach” is the stretch of coast between Colleville-sur-Mar and Saint-Laurant-sur-Mar where Allied soldiers landed during World War II. We now call June 6, 1944, D-Day. Many soldiers died during this operation. The German soldiers were prepared for an attack, and bad weather and the rough Atlantic made the landing difficult. Nevertheless, the Allied troops were eventually able to capture Omaha Beach.
However, the war graves in Normandy demonstrate that losses were high on both sides. Over 32,800 Allied and 77,600 German soldiers lost their lives on D-Day and the days that followed. While the day is not forgotten today, many people are once again swimming at Omaha Beach. I personally couldn’t bring myself to do so, even though it is a beautiful beach. Nevertheless, I’m glad that this stretch of coast has once again become a cheerful place that radiates joie de vivre rather than death.
3. The Port Town of Honfleur
Further towards Germany lies the small port town of Honfleur. It is known for its seafood, with fish restaurants lined up along the harbor. This small town in Normandy is very beautiful with its half-timbered houses and narrow streets. Also special: Honfleur is home to the largest wooden church in France.
Here we finally tried the buckwheat pancakes “galette,” which are famous in northern France. I ordered a “Galette Complète,” filled with cooked ham, egg, and cheese. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it that much; it was too heavy and overpowering for me. But see for yourself; maybe I’m just a gourmet philistine!
4. Cliffs in Ètretat
Our last destination in Normandy was Ètretat. This place is also often used as a screensaver. The steep, white cliffs with their unusual rock formations are truly eye-catching. We first strolled through alleys lined with half-timbered houses and then spent the day on the pebble beach, framed by chalk cliffs.
My conclusion about Northern France
If I’m honest, the road trip through France is still the best vacation I’ve ever taken. I can’t tell you why, but every time I think back to this road trip through Normandy and Brittany, my heart starts to leap. I didn’t expect much when I set off, and I was pleasantly surprised by every place and every experience. Please go to the north of France and discover for yourself: the beautiful places, the delicious food… simply the feeling. So, get going!
