The scenery • With its little touches of subtle contrast, this land of "
impressionists", part maritime part rural, has four regional nature reserves: Normandie-Maine, Perche, Boucles de la Seine, Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin. The coastline is dotted with points of interest from the Mont-Saint-Michel to the Baie de Somme (Barfleur, Deauville, Honfleur, Etretat and Pays de Caux for example) and a few pleasant surprises for nature enthusiasts. There is a seal colony, which has become a symbol of the region. They are very much at home in the Beauguillot estate (a nature reserve) in the
Baie des Veys (guided observation tours, for groups only, once a month, in autumn). The areas around the loops (boucles) of the Seine and the hillsides along the Orne and the Eure rivers offer some very pleasant scenery.
Gastronomy and local produce • The undulating
pays d'Auge is something of a flagship. This large "garden and orchard" in Normandy produces 3 very well-known PDO cheeses: Camembert (with its traditional producers), Livarot and Pont-l'évêque. Naturally, the profusion of apples and pears produce a very fine traditional
cider, as well as Pommeau and Calvados.
Hiking • The pleasures of hiking once again take up the road of the Santiago pilgrims in the Bay of
Mont-Saint-Michel. The GR 223 follows the contours of the Cotentin, and the Val de Saire, near Barfleur. But you can also walk along the coast towards Nez de Jobourg and the dunes at Carterets-Barneville, where with any luck you will see the dolphins leaping in the sea off the coast (don't forget your binoculars!). Elsewhere, there are plenty of walks to visit the considerable historical heritage of the region: impressive abbeys, the Viking origins of William the Conqueror, etc.
Cyclotourism • Green routes are also springing up near the coast (Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, Dieppe) and in the heart of the countryside (Forges-les-Eaux, pays de Bray, etc.). And the
Eure provides very fine cycle paths and veloroutes between delightful towns such as Pont-Audemer, Le Bec-Hellouin, Evreux and soon Gisors and Giverny, famous for the gardens laid out by
Monet.
Navigable waterways • Waterways are not so prominent here, although is pleasant to take a boat out on the River Orne, and to sail on the Seine, between Rouen and Vernon. But the region has so many other centres of interest...