Itinerary: Normandy-Brittany-Loire Valley

This is a 6 day self drive itinerary out of Paris taking in the western French regions of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley. This can be a loop itinerary starting and finishing in Paris or linked with Itinerary 4, Charente-Aquitaine-Midi.

Day 1: Paris-Rouen-Bayeux

Pick up your rental car from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Get the best choice and rates through Driveaway Holidays.

Rouen is the capital of Normandy and was William the Conqueror’s home base. During the middle ages it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of northern Europe. Rouen of today is still an important city in France with a well preserved medieval quarter and a large and impressive cathedral. Spend some time in Rouen to break your journey.

Bayeux is a historic town of around 15,000 in the Calvados Departement of Normandy. It is best known for the Bayeux Tapestry which was commissioned by William the Conqueror to commemorate his great victory over England at Hastings in 1066. The tapestry is over 70 metres long and is housed in a purpose built museum in Bayeux. It basically tells the story of the lead up to the Battle of Hastings. It is one of the most important and instructive artworks remaining from this period in history. Bayeux is the closest large town to the D Day beaches and as such is a popular base for visitors to Normandy. Official tourism site of Normandy

Distance 310km

Overnight in TBA - Search Expedia for hotels in TBA

Day 2: Bayeux-D Day Beaches-St Malo

Spend the day exploring the D Day beaches. Start at the small port of Ouistreham which was the site of the eastern most of the five invasion beaches know as Sword which involved British forces. In Ouistreham visit the Museum of the Atlantic Wall. The seaside town of Courseulles-sur-Mer is the site of Juno Beach which was where Canadian forces landed. The Juno Beach Centre is a maginificent new museum funded by the Canadian Government. Arromanches-les-Bains is a small town that is the site of the second British landings of Gold Beach. Visit the Musee du Debarquement (Landings Museum) in Arromanche-les-Bains. The famous American War Cemetary overlooks the broad Omaha Beach near the small village of Colleville-sur-Mer. This was the location for the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. Not far from the American War Cemetery is Pointe du Hoc where US Rangers scaled a vertical cliff to attack German fortifications. Sainte Marie du Mont is the site of Utah Beach, the second US invasion beach and the large modern Utah Beach Museum. Sainte Mère Eglise nearby is the site of major US airborne landings commemorated by the Airborne Museum dedicated to the US Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions. This battle was featured in the mini series Band of Brothers.

Depart Sainte Mère Eglise for the medieval port city Saint Malo and overnight.

Distance Sainte Mère Eglise to Saint Malo 184km

Overnight in Saint Malo - Search Expedia for hotels in Saint Malo

Day 3: St Malo-Cancale-Mont St Michel-Pink Granite Coast

Depart St Malo and follow the coast back towards Cancale. The picturesque fishing village of Cancale is popular with visitors due to its reputation as the "oyster capital" of Brittany. Cancale is a great place for lunch if you are a seafood lover.

From Cancale make for Mont-Saint-Michel, a small rocky islet topped by a famous Gothic abbey in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The abbey was built in the 13th Century and is an architectural masterpiece. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most iconic sites of France.

The Pink Granite Coast has fascinating rock and sand formations and a number of attractive beaches. Early evening is a great time for photography of the pink granite. Stop in the town of Perros Guirec overnight.

Official tourism site for Brittany Total distance 270km

Overnight in Perros Guirec - Search Expedia for hotels in Perros Guirec

Day 4:  Perros Guirec  - Carantec - Roscoff - Quimper - Carnac

Continue following the Pink Granite Coast around to Trebeurden and around to Plougasnou and stopping at and Roscoff.

Stop at the beautiful seaside town of Carantec before continuing on to Roscoff.

Roscoff is a tranquil fishing village on a stunning coastline which is also a major ferry port with links to England and Ireland. Roscoff is also the jumping off point for the charming Ile de Batz and its exotic gardens.

From Roscoff drive south to Quimper and onto the southern Brittany resort of Carnac and overnight.

Total distance 315km

Overnight in Carnac - Search Expedia for hotels in Carnac

Day 5: Carnac - Vannes - Angers - Tours

Spend the morning exploring stunning sheltered beaches. The area has a micro-climate further enhancing its popularity as a holiday resort. Visit the nearby Standing Stones of Carnac, a field of upright stones dating back thousands of years.

Depart Carnac for the attractive port city of Vannes and then on to Angers.

Angers sits on the banks of the River Maine and can trace its human habitation as far back 400,000BC. It was home to a Gallic tribe known as the Andecavi who were overrun by the Romans who called the city Juliomagnus. In the 12th Century Angers was the capital of the ancient provence of Anjou which controlled much of southern France. Today this stately and historic city of approximately 160,000 people is a hub for tourism of the Loire Valley and a major university research centre. It is also the place where the well known liquour Cointreau is made.

Tours is an attractive garden city on the banks of the Loire River that was established as a Gallo-Roman settlement around 2000 years ago. Tours today has a large student population and is the main centre for the Loire wine region. Overnight in Tours.

Distance 355km

Overnight in Tours - Search Expedia for hotels in Tours

Day 6:

Spend the day driving around the Loire Valley visiting many of the famous Chateaux in the area. Return your vehicle to Orlean Railway Station and take the evening train back to Paris.