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Normandy is a historical region of France. In the past, this region was administratively divided into two regions. Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie) with the capital Rouen and Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie) with the capital Caen.
Upper Normandy is made up of two departments: Eure (27) with the capital Évreux, and Seine-Maritime (76) with the capital Rouen. Lower Normandy is administratively divided into three departments: Calvados (14) with the capital Caen, Manche (50) with the capital Saint-Lô, and finally Orne (61) with the capital Alençon.
The territory of the region faces north on the English Channel. Here the coasts are partly formed by high cliffs and partly by long sandy beaches. The rest of the territory is flat especially along the valley crossed by the Seine. The highest point in the region is the Signal d’Écouves hill (413 meters), in the Armorican Massif.
WHAT TO SEE: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
From a tourist point of view, Normandy is known for its cathedrals, abbeys and castles (Rouen, Évreux, Caen, Coutances, Lisieux, Jumièges, Les Andelys). A major tourist attraction are also the places of the allies’ landing during the Second World War.
In this French region there are some sites declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Among them the Benedictine Gothic abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. The city of Le Havre, destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt between 1945 and 1964 by a group of architects led by Auguste Perret.
Another site that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage is then the site of the fort of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, part of the Vauban fortification system, a total of 12 fortifications scattered on the borders of France. The sites of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in France (Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle en France) are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of which is located in the region: The abbey of Mont -Saint-Michel. This abbey is one of the most important tourist attractions in France. The area is also known for very powerful tides.
The coast of the region, especially the section around Entretat, characterized by white and scenic cliffs, is another reason for a visit.
Institutional site of the region.
- NORMANDY (NORMANDIE)
- Area: 29,885 km²
- Population: 3,316,000 (2006)
- UPPER NORMANDY
- Area: 12,317 km²
- Population: 1,860,000 (2006)
- Capital: Rouen
- LOWER NORMANDY
- Area: 17,568 km²
- Population: 1,456,000 (2006)
- Capital: Caen
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