Bayeux, Normandy

Tuesday morning Bel and I picked up our hire car to start the driving leg of our tour of France. After a 3 hour drive north through the French country side, adjusting to driving on the right at 130km, we reached the beautiful town of Bayeux in the Normandy region.

We found our hotel (more bnb), after navigating progressively narrowing streets, close to the centre of the old town. Once there the next challenge was parking! Success! My first reverse park on the right – thankfully not too tight.

Our hotel was really pretty “Manoir Sainte Victoire” – a 15th century home with our room located one floor up a stone spiral staircase.

Once unpacked we went to explore the village.

It was only a small village centre, made up of about 4-6 blocks – centred around the large cathedral. Beautiful.

We eventually stopped to grab an afternoon snack and drink. The bread and cheeses are sooo goood.

Then headed back to our room to change for dinner, with a quick stop at the boulangerie!

Dinner was at an Italian/ French restaurant. I had my first Galette! Food is definitely going to be a big theme in this trip 😊

After dinner we waited in our room for it to get dark (around 10) so that we could see the light show at the cathedral (they were doing a mini vivid), by the time it came round I had fallen asleep but Bel made it down.

The following morning we joined a tour of the Normandy beaches. The beaches were the landing points for the June 6, 1944 D-day invasion. It was a full day tour, and the whole experience was very sobering.

We started with a British war cemetery, one of the 27 cemeteries in and around Bayeux. Being British it also included the Australian airmen that joined the invasion.

Next was the village of Sainte Mere Eglise, famous as a landing zone for the thousands of paratroopers that started the invasion. Also made famous in the movie the Longest day, and series Band of Brothers.

We drove from here, through the infamous hedge rows, down to Utah beach where we explored the landing site and Museum. It was really hard to get your head around the bravery and loss of life that occurred here and across all of the landing sites. The starting point of the liberation of Europe and the end of WWII.

Next was Pointe du Hoc, where the US rangers scaled the cliffs while Australian pilots bombed the german army above. Apparently the Aussie pilots were chosen because they were crazy crop dusters that could fly in very low under the guns. The site has been left untouched and is covered with craters.

Last was Omaha beach, the brutal landing depicted in the movie Saving Private Ryan, and then the US cemetery where we witnessed the last post and lowering of the flag.

We finished the day on a happier note with one of the best meals we have had so far on this trip, at a small traditional French restaurant. Four courses for 28 euro, and they even had our favourite rosé. Everything was really good, and we also had some fun as I asked the waitress to only speak in French to me – she enjoyed the challenge. I managed to stumble my way through the night and she gave me a few lessons along the way.

Our last day in Bayeux was a casual day exploring. We started with blogging over breakfast and then a coffee.

before visiting the museum to see the Bayeux Tapestry, almost a thousand years old , 70m long, depicting the story of the Norman conquest of England by William the conqueror. No photos were allowed unfortunately.

Lunch was next and we went on a mission to find some local Moules et Frites.

The afternoon was spent doing a little shopping before relaxing in the sun back at our hotel – the weather continues to be amazing, sunny with a cooling breeze; such a big change from the wet Sydney weather. It was great to just chill and soak up our surroundings.

Dinner was at 8.30, at Moulin de la Galette. We have quickly realised that at this time year if you don’t book you don’t eat, so booked at lunchtime and got the last table. The food was great once again, we both had galettes, mine was duck and potatoes, Bel’s was ground beef and bacon. They were much better than the previous one I had.

After dinner we walked past the church to see the lights.

To our surprise, and Bel’s excitement, there were also markets running, as well as a small concert. The atmosphere was perfect, we enjoyed the concert – we even had a dance, and then wandered through the markets until after midnight and picked up a few odds and ends. The perfect way to end our stay.