Normandy - Northern France, The Road of Vikings and Corsairs

Tour start date(s):	07-08-2025
Duration:	8 days/7 nights
Location:	Paris (arrival, 1 night) - Rouen - Fécamp (1 night) - Étretat - Honfleur - Trouville - Deauville - Caen (1 night) - Mont-Saint-Michel (1 night) - Saint-Malo (2 nights) - Dinan - Fougères - Cancale - Chartres - Paris (1 night, departure)
Price (including tax):	3,060.00 USD (double), 4040 USD (single)/without flights

The road from Vikings to Corsairs spans a thousand years. Your journey will follow the fearless Norsemen who conquered part of northern France, to the refuge of other equally fearless seafarers, the French corsairs. Along this route, you will hear the stories of famous figures, from Joan of Arc, burned alive at the stake, to Coco Chanel, who introduced the world to a new style for women. You will visit beloved resorts of the chic Parisian public, landscapes that inspired 19th-century painters, fishing villages, fortress towns, and you will also visit what is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World – Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey.

Day 1
Arrival in Paris, meeting at the airport, and transfer to the hotel at any time. Check-in. Evening walking tour of Paris. Overnight in Paris.

Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel and transfer to the picturesque region of Normandy.

Visit the open-air museum in Giverny (80 km), where Claude Monet, the founder of Impressionism, lived, worked, and passed away for 43 years. Near his home, with its famous pink brick facade, Monet created a beautiful garden featuring archways made of climbing plants, flower beds of wisteria and azaleas, a pond with water lilies, and bridges in Japanese style. Many of Monet's paintings in the "Water Lilies" series were created in this garden. In 1966, Monet's son, Michel Monet, donated the estate and its garden to the state, and the Claude Monet Museum was opened there. Landscape designers from all over the world visit Giverny. In 1996, Hillary Clinton, then the First Lady of the USA, visited Giverny, and in 2007, the Japanese Emperor Akihito visited.

Next, we travel to the historic city of Rouen (70 km). This city of a hundred spires was home to fearless Vikings who settled here in 911 AD on the banks of the Seine. Founded in Roman times as Rotomagus, Rouen was conquered by the Normans in 876 and became the capital of the Duchy of Normandy. In 1431, Joan of Arc, the national heroine of France, was burned at the stake in the central square of the city. Main attractions include the Rouen Cathedral (which Monet painted in different light conditions), the Gros Horloge astronomical clock, a 14th-century chapel, St. Maclou Church (an example of "flaming Gothic"), St. Joan of Arc Cathedral, and many timber-framed houses dating back to the Middle Ages. In the summer, Rouen hosts regattas for sailing ships from around the world.

From Rouen, we head to Fécamp (70 km), a town once home to the first Dukes of Normandy, where William the Conqueror celebrated his victory in 1067. In the city center, we visit the famous Benedictine monastery, a gothic architectural marvel from the 12th–14th centuries. We will enjoy magnificent sea views, breathe in the purest sea air, and taste the famous Benedictine liqueur. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in the hotel or nearby.

Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and travel to Étretat (28 km).

This small fishing village is famous for its stunning and peculiar chalk cliffs, captured in paintings by Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and others. We will walk along the promenade, and you can climb one of the cliffs for a breathtaking view of the coastline.

We continue our journey to Honfleur (46 km). This former fishing village, located on the Flourishing Coast of the English Channel, was once a major port. The old harbor, with its narrow, tall houses closely packed together, recalls the city’s centuries-old history. The 15th-century wooden Church of St. Catherine, a monument of medieval architecture, has stood for 400 years. In the wine shops, you can taste and buy famous Calvados (apple brandy), cider, or pommeau (a mix of Calvados and cider). We visit the Château Du Breuil for a Calvados and cheese tasting (additional cost). Honfleur also has many fine restaurants, and if you're a seafood lover, we recommend trying the freshest oysters, langoustines, mussels, and other seafood.

We then continue to Trouville (18 km), a fishing village that became a popular resort in 1825 when the fashion for seaside baths began. Retaining its original charm, the town attracts many tourists. We continue to Deauville (3 km), which is separated from Trouville by a river. Deauville owes its current status as a prestigious resort to Napoleon III's half-brother, Charles de Morny, who envisioned turning the quiet fishing village into a "kingdom of elegance and sophistication." Today, the town is known for its comfortable hotels, beautiful Norman-style houses, sandy beaches, boutiques, casinos, racetracks, film and jazz festivals, book salons, yacht races, bridge championships, and classic car rallies.

In modern times, Deauville became famous thanks to Coco Chanel, who opened a store there. You will stroll along the boardwalk of Le Planche, built in 1923, where, just like the famous Hollywood Boulevard, the names of movie stars who vacationed in Deauville are displayed on the beach cabins. The resort’s landscapes are featured in the film "A Man and a Woman."

Next, we visit the town of Caen (53 km). Caen is architecturally one of the most interesting cities in northern France. William the Conqueror made Caen his capital. Until the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, the majority of the population in Caen were Huguenots. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Caen or similar hotel.

Day 4
After breakfast at the hotel, we walk through the historic center of Caen. The Caen Castle, dating back to the 11th-12th centuries, is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Western Europe. The Church of St. Étienne and the Trinity Church are also notable, as is the late Gothic Church of St. Peter, a pearl of Old Caen. We continue to the port of Caen-Ustram, from which ferries to England depart. On June 6, 1944, this was the site of the Allied landings, involving American, Canadian, and British forces. We continue our journey to Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey and check in at the hotel nearby.

Day 5
After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, which rises majestically on the rocky island of Saint Michael. It is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. According to legend, the archangel Michael fought Satan here. Mont-Saint-Michel is also mentioned in the legends of King Arthur, including a tale of Arthur defeating a giant on the mountain and the Holy Grail being walled up in the abbey’s thick walls. The abbey was founded in 708 AD and was home to Benedictine monks for many centuries. The three-tiered temple, with its refectory, gallery, and monastic courtyard, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is also one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the Christian world. Today, it is the second most visited place in France after Paris. We will visit the Abbey with an audio guide.

After visiting the Abbey, we travel to the Brittany region, specifically to Cancale (53 km), where there is an oyster farm with a wonderful view of the ocean and emerald coast.

We then head to Dinan (40 km). Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Dinan.

Day 6
Walk around Dinan, a medieval fortified town with a history dating back to the 11th century. The town is partially surrounded by a defensive wall built by Jean of Brittany in 1238. In the Middle Ages, Dinan was the residence of the Dukes of Brittany. The port of Dinan played an important role in trade and the city’s treasury. You can still see many preserved landmarks, such as the Clock Tower, the Basilica of Christ the Savior, and the picturesque Jerzeual road leading down to the river, flanked by charming medieval buildings.

Next, we head to the town of Saint-Malo (30 km), a fortified town and a haven for fierce corsairs. It is also the birthplace of Jacques Cartier, the explorer of Canada. We will explore the historic town, including Intra Muros (the old town), surrounded by fortress walls with a sea view and old forts. Overnight in Dinan.

Day 7
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and head back to Paris. We make stops along the way for sightseeing. The first stop is Fougères (90 km), where we will explore a medieval fortress from the 11th century, one of the largest in Europe and a key bastion of the Breton defense line. Next, we continue to Chartres (235 km), where the famous Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Chartres stands. The cathedral's towers soar above the town and surrounding Bos valley. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We also visit the charming De Breuil Castle, where Calvados is made. Afterward, we head to Paris (93 km). Arrival in Paris, check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Paris.

Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.

Cost of extra night in Paris (½ DBL - BB): $190.00

Hotels along the route or similar:
8-9.07.25 - Paris, Hotel Helios 4*
9-10.07.25 - Rouen, Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathédrale 4*
10-11.07.25 - Caen, Novotel Caen Côte de Nacre 4*
11-12.07.25 - Mont St Michel, Mercure Mont Saint Michel 4*
12-14.07.25 - Saint Malo, Hotel l’Adresse 4*
14-15.07.25 - Paris, Hotel Helios 4*

The tour includes:

• Accommodation in hotels with breakfast
• Transport along the route (bus)
• Entrance tickets: Giverny, Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
• Calvados tasting
• Russian-speaking guide accompanying the group
• Audio headsets

The tour does not include:

• Lunches and dinners
• City taxes at the hotel

Tips for the driver and guide