Travel the French Countryside from Normandy to the Pyrenees.
Any trip to France, no matter the length, can be an unforgettable experience. To travel the French countryside on a 14-day road trip that covers the regions of Normandy, Dordogne, and the Pyrenees Mountains is almost perfect. It gives you enough time to feel as though you have been fully immersed in the culture but not so long that it becomes tiring.
Western France may not be as “popular” as some of the other regions of France such as Paris or southern France but is in no less impressive. Small quaint villages, marvelous chateaux, and numerous wineries make for a beautiful place to explore.
Western France
France is a rather large country when compared to its European neighbors, so don’t expect to see it all in just 14 days. You need to take some time to do a little research into the different regions and see what those regions have to offer. If art and culture are exciting to you, then Paris is where you need to be! Want to experience what it might be like to live like French Royalty? The Lorre Valley is for you! If you want to see where some of the most significant battles of WWII took place, then visiting Normandy is a must! Maybe visiting vineyards and learning about French wine excites you? Your problem is going to be which of the seven major wine regions to visit!
We recently spent two weeks traveling through the French countryside, and it was a dream come true. It started almost five years ago when we first visited the Normandy American Cemetery, located in the Normandy region of France. We knew at that moment we wanted to be a part of the D-Day 75th Anniversary activities. So we took two weeks, beginning on Memorial Day, to travel not only the Normandy region but through most of southwest France.
We started our journey in the upper Normandy region of France in the town of Etretat. This area is best known for its beautiful white cliffs and natural arches that flow into the sea. Similar to the white cliffs of Dover, the French white cliffs stretch some 80 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. You can admire the cliffs from the beach in Etretat, or climb up the hillside to the top of the cliffs for a spectacular view from above.
The small town of Etretat is a great place to spend the night. This town offers not only fantastic scenery but excellent restaurants and cozy accommodations. Our one night there was spent at La Famiglia, an apartment just a couple minutes’ walk from the beach. It was a pleasant stay and offered everything we needed. The owner was helpful and made us feel very welcome.
The next morning, we made our way a little farther south through the countryside, where we attended the Memorial Day services at both the Normandy and Brittany American Cemeteries. Both ceremonies were beautiful and respectful. It was amazing to see so many of the French people there to show their appreciation and respect. Local French families adopt many of the graves throughout all the American Military Cemeteries. These families visit the graves regularly making sure to bring along fresh flowers.
Dordogne Region: Days 4 - 7
From Normandy, we drove south into the Dordogne region. Here we found ourselves surrounded by stately chateaux, lush green hills, small villages that seem to grow out of the mountainside and delicious foie gras.
With so much to do and see in this region, we opted to stay for three nights. The area is well known for its primitive cave painting, picturesque villages, and castles. There is something in this region for everyone.
Sarlat, France
We visited the small, medieval town of Sarlat, with its exceptional market that comes to town twice a week. The market consists of street after street full of local farmers and vendors offering the freshest French foods. Everything from fresh meats and cheeses, local fruits and vegetables, to regional wines and freshly baked bread. Delicious!!!
Domaine du Château de Monrecour
Our accommodations here were exceptional. We stayed at Domaine du Château de Monrecour. Originally built in the late 15th century as a farm, it became a hotel in the late 1990s. The current owners have added more touches, including two heated swimming pools and a beautiful restaurant, “The Monrecour Table.” The hotel staff, as well as the restaurant staff, were extremely helpful and accommodating, including serving us dinner, even though we arrived slightly after dinner hours. We especially enjoyed the foie gras. It was delicious! It almost melted in your mouth. We enjoyed it so much we went back a second night.
Pyrenees Mountains: Days 8 - 10
After a few days in Dordogne, we made our way farther south and into the Pyrenees Mountains. This mountain range that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean separates France from Spain and reaches elevations near 11,000 feet. Driving up and over the mountains offers breathtaking views. What makes these mountains so spectacular, is just how deep and sharp are the ravines. As we drove along the curvy roads, there are sheer drop-offs and no guardrails!! Small villages hidden away in the mountains were just breathtaking. Keep your camera handy, because as you travel through the French countryside, the scenery offers breathtaking photo opportunities around every corner.
Cirque de Gavarnie
The highlight of this area was the Cirque de Gavarnie. Located just outside of the village of Gavarnie the Cirque is a natural formation of stone cliffs that curve around and contain numerous waterfalls. Here is where you will find the largest waterfall in France and is known as la Grande Cascade de Gavarnie, falling 1,385 feet. It is possible to hike up to the falls but bring your hiking shoes. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk from the village to the falls.
Gavarnie is a small village with lots to offer, besides the views. The area receives about a million visitors a year, so the town is well equipped to handle the tourists with its several charming boutique hotels as well as restaurants and places to shop.
The Pyrenees has so much to offer from hiking, canoeing, and skiing. You will find lots to keep you busy.
Normandy Region – part 2: Days 11-14
We then made our way back to the north and into the Normandy region once again. Being in Normandy was the whole reason for our trip. To spend time here remembering 75 years since the allied invasion of Normandy during WWII, was everything we could have imagined and more.
Chambre d'hote le 18-20
With so much for us to see and do, we wanted to be in the middle of everything. We stayed in a beautiful bed and breakfast, Chambre d’hôte le 18-20, located just outside of Bayeux, France. Our accommodations were perfect!! The home had a beautifully decorated interior. The owners were lovely and worked very hard to speak English. Each morning they provided an excellent breakfast with homemade jams, freshly baked bread, fruit, and coffee. In the back of the house, is a picturesque garden with old stone barns that made for perfect backdrops to an entire garden full of beautiful flowers.
As we traveled through the area, each town was offering its unique celebrations, including parades, liberation balls, camp reenactments, concerts, fireworks, and so much more. To drive through these villages and see homes and businesses flying American flags next to their French flags was so heartwarming.
We passed what seemed like thousands of military vehicles from WWII, full of French men role-playing as American soldiers. We saw what looked like every type of military vehicle, from jeeps, tanks, motorcycles, military ambulances, and some that I didn’t recognize, not to mention the planes, such as the Dakotas, both flying overhead and on the ground. It was like a second allied invasion of France!
D-Day 75th Ceremony
The highlight of the trip was to attend the D-Day ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery. It was a beautiful sunny day, the only sunny day of the week. Seated on the stage was over 130 WWII veterans, with 30 of them having fought on D-Day. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for them to be there looking out over a peaceful area, 75 years before, almost to the minute, was anything but peaceful.
As we were waiting for the ceremony to begin, the cameras started zooming in onto the faces of the veterans sitting on the stage. Those images were displayed on the giant TV screens located throughout the cemetery. Suddenly, thunderous applause rose from the crowd, and everyone stood to their feet. The appreciation that was shown to these men by everyone at that ceremony, but especially the French people was remarkable.
As we waited for the dignitaries to arrive, up on the screens, were live pictures of the President’s helicopter approaching the cemetery. Again, people jumped to their feet and applauded. I heard one French woman shout above the crowd, “Thank you, Mr. President, for coming.”
We were fortunate enough to have acquired press passes, which allowed us to get close to the stage and to share firsthand the ceremony with our followers. There is something special to be in the presence of the President of the United States, regardless of which side of the political aisle you stand. The speeches given by both President Macron and President Trump spoke to both the sacrifice of those who fought, as well as our appreciation for them. It was amazing to see five American soldiers who fought on D-Day, given the French Legion of Honor, which is the highest honor given by the French.
Travel the French Countryside: A Trip of a lifetime.
I am sorry that my words don’t seem to convey just what an experience we had that day. When we gather to remember the D-Day 100th, these men will not be with us. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the veterans of WWII because I am a Granddaughter of a WWII POW, and proud to say so.
I would highly recommend visiting this part of France. We did all of this and more in the two weeks we were there. With a little research, you will be able to decide on the things that interest you the most and be able to plan your days accordingly. There is such a large selection of things to do, and you will find something that everyone will enjoy.
5 Comments
Christine Z
Wow – what a trip! That chateau looks amazing – staying in one (or a castle) is on my bucket list! I can’t believe you were there for the D-day celebration. I remember seeing it on TV. This entire 2 weeks sound amazing and I love your pictures.
admin
Thanks, Christine…Yes, it was amazing!! Too much to share in one post. We basically drove the entire length of France and the scenery was amazing! I hope you get to stay in a castle soon!
Katy
So excited about doing parts of this trip in August, we’re driving from Rome to Brittany and back again. Not as far south as the Pyrenees, but we’ll be spending a few days in Normandy. Thanks for the tips!
admin
We love to drive when we take our trips because you get a much better feel of the area. You get to see and do things that you miss is flying or taking the train. Have a great trip!!
Catherine
What a beautifully crafted article, and great overview of western France!! I love the photography, and the video is very nice! I’ll be sure to bookmark this article for when we visit France!