Located less than two and a half hours from Paris, in the heart of Normandy, Calvados is a department that boasts an exceptional historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage. This walking tour, ideal for the whole family, allows you to discover the riches and iconic sites of this department, from Deauville to Bayeux!
You will be charmed by the variety of landscapes you encounter, from the seaside resorts of Deauville/Trouville to the D-Day beaches, via the port of Honfleur. Another asset of the region is that you can eat and drink well there! Cider, Calvados, Pont l’Evêque cheese, Camembert, Livarot, Teurgoule, mussels and other seafood! Enough to delight your taste buds after a good day’s walking.
Calvados is also a department with an eventful history:
Viking invasions and the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.
The Allied landings on 6 June 1944 and the terrible fighting that followed…
Deauville/Trouville and the Flower Coast
Your arrival in Normandy is at Deauville station, a seaside resort built in the 19th century to welcome the Parisian bourgeoisie in search of sea bathing and a change of scenery. Deauville is striking for its opulent villas, its grand casino and its racecourse. For nearly 50 years, the town has also celebrated American cinema, welcoming numerous stars every September who immortalise their visit on the famous ‘planches’ (boardwalk) that line the sea.
Just opposite, on the other side of the Touques river, you will discover Trouville, its fishing port and fish market, and you can stroll around the many shops and terraces on Rue des Bains! In the evening, Trouville is the ideal place to enjoy seafood specialities in one of the many restaurants in the town centre.
Then, along the coastline towards the Seine estuary, you will travel along the Côte Fleurie, passing through the villages of Villerville and Cricquebœuf and admiring the gardens, orchards and sandy beaches before reaching the port of Honfleur, the second stop on your journey!
Honfleur, cradle of Impressionism
Located on the south bank of the Seine estuary, the picturesque slate-roofed houses of the port of Honfleur inspired many Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet, Gustave Courbet and Eugène Boudin. Honfleur prospered between the 15th and 17th centuries thanks to the triangular trade and served as a base for expeditions to conquer the New World: Canada, the West Indies and Louisiana. As you stroll through its winding streets, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time. The old buildings have lost none of their authenticity, with some dating back to the Hundred Years’ War!
Don’t miss the opportunity to take a detour to the Notre Dame de Grâce chapel, which offers a breathtaking view of Le Havre opposite and the Seine estuary.
In the heart of the landing beaches
The next stage takes you to the D-Day beaches. After a private transfer across the Caen plain, you arrive at Arromanches, on the Gold Beach sector, famous for the remains of its artificial harbour and its museum dedicated to the events of 6 June 1944. You then continue along the cliffs to the fishing port of Port en Bessin, passing the German battery at Longues sur Mer, where the guns used by the German army are still in place.
The next day, starting from Port en Bessin, your route takes you to the village of Colleville sur Mer and Omaha Beach, the sector where American troops suffered the most casualties on D-Day. A visit to the memorial and the beach is a must, before heading to the cemetery where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are now buried, a testament to the fierceness of the fighting on that tragic day.
Your walking tour ends with a crossing of the Bessin countryside to reach Bayeux. Don’t miss a visit to the Tapestry Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It traces the glorious epic of William the Conqueror during the conquest of England in 1066 in the form of embroidery.
(The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for renovation for two years. It is scheduled to reopen in October 2027).
The town centre of Bayeux, spared from bombing, is full of medieval buildings, shops and good restaurants, a charming way to end your stay!
Honfleur: Hôtel du Dauphin***
Port en Bessin: 6.3 Resto Home maison d'hôtes ou hôtel Ibis***
Coming by train from Paris:
Departure from Paris Saint-Lazare station.
You arrive at Trouville-Deauville station.
The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes on average.
Coming by car:
Free parking at Trouville beach
Paid parking