Slowly but surely, ‘low-cost’ flights are losing their appeal for those heading to France for two good reasons. The first being that low-cost flights often turn out to be anything but low-cost once all the extras have been added onto the bill, especially with baggage allowances. Along with this, there’s the obvious appeal of heading over to France by car, in order to open up the entire region for adventure and exploration.
One of the most convenient ways to travel around Northern France is to take your car on the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre. Brittany Ferries has overnight sailings available with their économie’ service which runs daily and perfect for those on a budget and looking for cheap ferry travel to France.
Unsurprisingly, many make a beeline for Paris and rarely consider the available stop-offs along the way. Should time permit however, there are several towns and villages that can be accessed en-route and should not be overlooked. So if you’d like to turn your road-trip back from Paris into an adventure, you won’t regret setting aside the time to visit any of the following:
Rouen
Formerly the capital of the Normandy region, the history of Rouen involves Joan of Arc, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart and many other legendary figures. Anyone with an interest in Medieval architecture will find themselves right at home in the historic centre of Rouen, with particular highlights including the Tour Jeanne d’Arc, Abbatiale de St Ouen and the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart’s entombed heart – Rouen Cathedral.
A guided walking tour comes highly recommended, though if you’re not particularly enthralled with historical architecture, there’s plenty of retail therapy to dive into. Local crafts, antiques, home décor and art galleries in plentiful supply, not to mention a world of artisan chocolate shops you might find hard to resist.
As for gastronomy, Rouen is famed for its local cider, cheese and seafood served up in both traditional and high-end contemporary manners. The duckling à la rouennaise is a local speciality, though the real highlight of the annual dining calendar is the fête du ventre that takes place in October.
Giverny
Giverny has a charming and idyllic quality to it – so much so that it not only inspired, but became the home of Monet. Art lovers flock to Giverny to soak up both its historically important sites and surrounding countryside. The home and gardens of Monet are now open to the public and make for a great afternoon excursion. Impressionism is the primary theme that underscores most key attractions and experiences in Giverny, including the Musée des Impressionnismes and its award-winning Jardin Remarquable.
Also worth checking out when paying a visit to Jardin Remarquable is the nearby town of Vernon, which boasts an unusual Old Mill – a structure suspended in a somewhat precarious position over the water below. There’s also the opportunity to take a trip on the Eure Valley tourist train – a great way of taking in the best of the surrounding countryside.
Honfleur and Le Havre
Last up, the port town of Le Havre should be seen as far more than just a convenient ferry port via which to head back to the UK. It is a lovely French seaside town in its own right, not to mention situated close to the world-famous Route du Cidre (Cider Route) you won’t want to miss.
In addition, prior to heading home there’s also much to be said for nearby Honfleur. The town itself is famed for its gardens, which have scooped up multiple awards over the years. It has also been an important French port throughout much of history, founded many centuries ago by the Vikings.
Right now, the port is a hotbed of local fishing activity, not to mention the perfect place to head for the region’s finest seafood. Calvados brandy and Crème de Calvados are also made locally and must be sampled, along with the local cheeses and other artisan products served up all over town. If you only have time to explore one street, make it Rue de la Republique – wall-to-wall boutiques, galleries and antique shops that encapsulate what Honfleur is all about.