HOW TO PLAN THE BEST FAMILY TRIP TO NORMANDY
PART 3: OUR FAVOURITE NORMANDY FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
During our family trip to Normandy this year, we were spoilt for choice by the wide range of activities on offer. In this article
You can also read these articles about how we travelled to Normandy (part 1) and La Vallee Eurocamp parc in Houlgate (part 2) where we stayed during this trip.
I share of our favourite things to do in Normandy with kids, including delving into Normandy’s Jurassic past (and where you can find fossils on the beach), a high-tech system for learning about William the Conqueror’s birthplace and the colourful museums and film experiences which have given us a better understanding of the Normandy landings in World War Two.
Some of the activities are free and for those with a price tag I’ve indicated whether we think they represent good value for money or not. I’ve also given ideas of what else is in the area and a list of useful links to make it easier to plan a visit.
JURASSIC NORMANDY
PALEOSPACE, VILLERS SUR MER, CALVADOS
Paleospace
WHAT IS PALEOSPACE?
Open since 2011, Paleospace is a small modern museum with an educational focus
near the coast at Villers sur Mer. It houses dinosaurs, marine reptiles and numerous small fossils dating back to 160 million years ago when Normandy was covered in a tropical sea. Paleospace is one of only two palaeontology museums in France.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
- Wander around the display cabinets and see reconstructions of Normandy’s biggest prehistoric carnivores and herbivores as well as genuine dinosaur bones, casts of dinosaur tracks, fossilised dinosaur eggs and a large collection of fossils.
- Learn about the Jurassic period through interactive exhibits and displays. From April to October 2017 there’s a major temporary exhibition called “THEROPODS: CARNIVOROUS DINOSAURS” also known as “TWO FEET AND EAT MEAT! Here you can find the Allosaurus and the only Spinosaurus in France.
- Watch a film telling the story of the fossils from the cliffs of ‘Les Vaches Noires’ (Black Cows). The film directs visitors to the beach just a few minutes drive from the museum to hunt for their own fossils.
- There’s a room devoted to the Greenwich Meridian which passes through Villers.
- Watch the birds and insects which currently inhabit the 110 hectares of coastal freshwater marsh land outside the museum through telescopes in the comfort of the viewing area.
WHERE IS IT?
14640 Villers sur mer
41 kms north-east of Caen.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Family of 5 – €31, Family of 4 – €26, Adult €8, Concession €5.90
VALUE & VERDICT?
€31 for our family of 5 is not an inconsiderable sum, especially as we’re used to so many of our museums in the UK being free, but we did enjoy this small, manageable museum. For me the most exciting part of the museum is the collection of real dinosaur eggs which were found in Aix-en-Provence. I had no idea such a thing existed. Wow. Just imagine!
The museum is easily accessible as it’s all set on one storey.
If you find the price tag too steep, you could just head to the beach and try some free fossil hunting instead!
WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA …
You could hire a bike from across the road and cycle around the pretty coastal town of Villers sur Mer or you could do what we did and head to the beach on a quest for your own fossils – see below.
FOSSIL HUNTING ON THE BEACH, VILLERS SUR MER, CALVADOS
ABOUT THE FOSSILS
Because Normandy was covered by sea during the Jurassic Period, it has a rich palaeontological heritage. The beach at Villers-sur-mer during low tide is an ideal place for a spot of fossil hunting.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
Park at Villers-sur-mer and pop into the tourist office to check for tide times as there is a risk of being cut off. Facing the sea, turn left and walk along the beach for a few minutes until you arrive at the Falaises des Vaches Noires (Black Cow Cliffs). We found it easy to tell when we were in the right place as other families were doing the same thing. Wander around the beach, turn over stones and see if you can find your own treasure!
If you’re concerned about the ethics of fossil foraging, like I was, the museum assures us that it’s good to collect them before they’re eroded or washed away by the sea.
WHERE IS IT?
Villers sur mer
43 kms north-east of Caen.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Nothing – although parking charges may apply.
VALUE & VERDICT?
We found our hunt very addictive and although we didn’t manage to unearth any giant ammonites like the ones built into The Postel chair displayed at Paleospace ….
…. we did gather our own collection of slightly more modest finds which was rather exciting!
A free, fun way to spend an hour or so outdoors.
NORMAN NORMANDY WITH KIDS
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S CASTLE, FALAISE, NORMANDY
Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant, Falaise
WHAT IS WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S CASTLE?
An impressive fortress on the site of the castle where William the Conqueror was born. You and your children can roam this mediaeval castle using high-tech gadgetry to learn about the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror and twelfth century castle-life.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
- You can wander around the grounds, watch a film about the evolution of the fortifications over the last 1000 years and see stereoscopic images through binoculars which superimpose historic impressions over what you can see today.
- Inside you’re given digital tablets and as you explore the castle you can have fun pointing it at targets to activate 3D viewing then by moving it around the room you can see a 360º impression of how life would have been inside the castle during the 12th and 13th century.
- Life-like projected characters also tell you more about the history of the castle.
- You can access the keeps and the roof which offers panoramic views of Falaise.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The castle has a calendar of special events and we happened to visit on a day when they were holding a mediaeval games workshop. The boys loved this and I think they would have stayed there all day, given the chance!
The same group was also running a craft section where we could make our own playing counters modelled on intricate pieces like these.
Both the games and the craft activities were free and great fun so I’d recommend looking out for their special events days if you’re considering a visit.
WHERE IS IT?
The castle is at Falaise, just over 25 miles (41 kms) south of Caen.
ADDRESS
Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant, 14700 Falaise
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
A family pass costs €20 (2017) including 2 adults and up to SIX children! Children under 6 go free.
THE VERDICT?
We think this is brilliant value for money. Everyone had fun exploring the castle with the iPads and the additional free activities were a real bonus.
THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY, BAYEUX, NORMANDY
La Tapisserie de Bayeux
WHAT IS THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY?
The Bayeux tapestry is a huge 70 metre long work which retells the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy in 1066, by means of hundreds of pictures sewn with wool into a linen backdrop. It would have been an effective way of sharing the story of the conquest with a largely illiterate audience.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
- Before you enter the room where the 900 year old tapestry is displayed behind a protective glass case, you’re given a free audio guide which is available in 16 languages. There’s a children’s version too.
- Upstairs there’s a permanent exhibition room showing how the tapestry would have been made as well as other Norman exhibits and models.
- There’s a cinema showing a 16 minute documentary which brings the tapestry action to life with battle re-enactments.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Adult – €9.50, Concessions €7.50, Youth €4, Under ten’s free.
THE VERDICT?
They don’t seem to have a family ticket meaning that entry for our family of five would have been €34 for the couple of hours we were there, so it’s a bit pricey. Having said that, when planning our itinerary for Normandy, The Bayeux Tapestry was at the top of my list of ‘must see’ attractions. It’s amazing that this delicate piece of medieval history is so well preserved and that you can get so close to it. Despite knowing its length, it was still much bigger than I had expected!
WHERE IS IT?
13 bis rue de Nesmond, 14400, Bayeux
WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA . . .
Have a look around the mediaeval city of Bayeux ….
…then head off to the Bayeux Adventure (below) for some exhilarating family fun!
THE BAYEUX ADVENTURE, BAYEUX, NORMANDY
Bayeux Aventure
WHAT IS THE BAYEUX ADVENTURE?
Bayeux Adventure is a leisure park in an attractive rural setting to the east of Bayeux featuring an impressive series of seven high ropes courses and a wide range of other outdoor activities.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
- If you decide to try out the high ropes courses, you’ll be kitted out and given a training session to teach you how to use the climbing equipment.
- If, like me, you’ve never done this before, you can start on super easy beginner ropes which are only just above floor level.
- As your confidence grows you can move onto harder and higher treetop challenges. After the initial training there’s no individual supervision but there are staff wandering around who can shout up with advice if you get a bit stuck.
- If high ropes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other outdoor activities to choose from including a 180 metre zip wire, pedal carts, bubble football, tree climbing with harnesses, a giant elevated play net, paintballing, extreme jumping, archery tag, a mini farm, a maize maze, a bouncy castle and a toddler play area.
The activities may not all be open all the time. When we visited, the extreme jumping was closed.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
€16.50 per person for the full adventure package
€11.50 for a leisure package
€6.50 3-5 year olds. Under threes go free.
VALUE & VERDICT?
We tagged this trip onto our visit to the Bayeux Tapestry as it’s in the same area. Although we had a good few hours here we could have done with more time to fit everything in as there’s a lot to do. I found parts of it scary and physically challenging, particularly climbing across the cargo net, but it was the most fun I’ve had for ages!
WHERE IS IT?
Address: 14400 Cussy, Ferme de Rabodange
Tel: 0624 111816
WORLD WAR TWO IN NORMANDY
PEGASUS MEMORIAL, RANVILLE, CALVADOS
Memorial Pegasus
WHAT IS PEGASUS MEMORIAL?
Securing Pegasus Bridge in Ranville was the 1st accomplishment of D-day, paving the way for the allied beach landings and ultimately the successful liberation of France. Central to Pegasus Memorial is the actual bridge which has been moved from its original site and is now on display in the grounds of the museum. The liberation of the bridge in June 1944 by the 6th British Airborne Division was immortalised in the feature film “The Longest Day”.
A total of 4500 men from the 6th Airborne division were killed, wounded, missing in action or became prisoners during the campaign. The Pegasus memorial is dedicated to their valour and their sacrifice.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
Hear a talk in English by one of the bilingual experts, who uses a huge model of the area to demonstrate the importance of Pegasus bridge, the key part the 6th Airborne Division played in the campaign and their missions following the invasion.
Watch a film in the cinema featuring Prince Charles who inaugurated the museum on 4th June 2000.
Go outside where there are numerous well presented artefacts. We were allowed to walk on the original Pegasus Bridge which is on display, complete with bullet holes which bring home how real this all was.
Bullet holes in Pegasus Bridge
Hundreds of gliders were used during operations for dropping troops and cargo. Made of plywood, they were lightweight and disposable.You can see a damaged glider on display behind glass and as no original gliders remain intact, they’ve built a full size 20 metre replica of a horsa glider using wartime methods, complete with the white stripes which were rapidly painted onto allied planes before D-day to identify them.
In the grounds you can also see also one of the hundreds of Bailey Bridges, temporary structures which could be built and dismantled quickly and easily when troops needed to cross water.
Finally we went back inside to look around the huge exhibition hall which displays an impressive collection of artefacts which is ever-growing due to donations and loans.
In addition to the displays which are written in both french and English there’s a fancy system in place which allows visitors to read them in ten languages on their smart phones.
WHERE IS IT?
Memorial Pegasus, Avenue du Major Howard, 14860 Ranville
15 kms north-east of Caen.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Adult €7.50, Child 8+ €5.00
Guided tours are included in the price.
VALUE & VERDICT?
The museum is extremely well laid out and the artefacts are presented in an interesting and organised way, both in the exhibition hall and outside. We found the staff knowledgeable and happy to offer information and enthusiastically answer questions. As our children are 8 and above, the cost for our family of five would be €30 so not the cheapest outing, but the interesting guided tour was included in the entrance ticket.
We visited on our last day in France as the museum is close to the ferry port but we ended up rushing to see everything in the hour or so we had left. If we went back, I would allow a couple of hours for a proper look round and to take in the interesting history lesson which offers a really good insight into the events of D-Day. We would definitely recommend a visit.
WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA …
- Walk around the corner to where the new bridge is in situ and see where the first allied troops to set foot in Normandy landed just yards away from the museum.
- The museum is very close to Ouistreham so if you’re catching a ferry from there, you could tie your visit in with departure or arrival day.
- You could drive to the long sandy beach at nearby Cabourg. My boys have tested it out and apparently it’s an excellent place for playing football.
Or drive a little farther on for a taste of how the beautiful people live at Deauville, an elegant coastal resort and home to prestigious horse races and an annual film festival.
ARROMANCHES 360 DEGREE CIRCULAR CINEMA, CALVADOS
Arromanches 360 Cinema circulaire
WHAT IS ARROMANCHES 360 DEGREE CIRCULAR CINEMA?
Above the beach and artificial harbour at Arromanches is a nine screen circular cinema which offers regular showings of the 19 minute film “The 100 days of Normandy”. Archival footage has been collected from around the world, much of it previously unseen, and edited together to produce a powerful, immersive retelling of the liberation of western europe.
The film is a tribute to combatants from all sides and to the 20,000 civilians who died during the hostilities.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
All five of us stand inside the circular cinema and wonder which direction to look in as sounds and images bombard us from all around. We watch the events of world war two unfold and hear the distinctive voices of Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler. We see troops preparing to land in Normandy, saying a prayer, enjoying a cigarette, smiling at the camera, not knowing if they’ll make it back home. We hear fighter planes and when bombs start to drop they seem to be coming from all angles, a riot of noisy explosions and images. We experience a fleeting insight into the fear and confusion the soldiers would have experienced.
“We shall fight them on the beaches … we shall never surrender!”
We see stretchers, planes overhead and in amongst all the chaos, children innocently playing ring-a-roses. We see surrender and victory!
And we see the cemeteries honouring those who paid the ultimate price.
WHERE IS IT?
Chemin du Calvaire, 14117 Arromanches-les-bains
15 kms north east of Caen.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Full rate €6, reduced rate €5.50, accompanied children under 10, disabled people and all war veterans free
VALUE & VERDICT?
Entry to the cinema for our family of five would be €23. If your children are under ten you won’t have to pay for them. My eight year old found it a bit noisy and for children much younger than that may find it scary and difficult to follow.
The film “The Hundred Days of Normandy” is informative, powerful and offers a taste of what it must have been like to be at the heart of the action. If you want a greater understanding of the Battle of Normandy and how the outcome of World War Two pivoted on taking back Normandy, go and see it. The film was recommended to us by friends before we went and now I’m recommending it to you. We found it so powerful and moving that I was tempted go straight back in and watch it again.
WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA …
Walk out of the cinema and down the hill to “Gold Beach” at Arromanches, where the British 50th Infantry Division landed . All around this coastal resort you can see reminders of the allied mission; the remains of Mulberry artificial harbours which enabled the rapid landing of 220,000 soldiers plus their vehicles and supplies over the hundred days.
At The Landings Museum (Musee du Debarquement) which is built on the site of the British artificial harbour, you can learn about the construction and running of the port which was built the day after the landings and was key to the success of the campaign. There’s a large collection of wartime artefacts on display, paying tribute to the nations involved in the landings.
An English version of a film featuring archival footage offers an insight into the major logistical and strategic achievement of the allies.
AMERICAN CEMETERY AND VISITOR CENTRE, OMAHA BEACH, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER
Cimetière Américain
WHAT IS?
This memorial set in 172 acres of land, honours the 9387 American soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy.The French government gave this land as a permanent burial ground without charge or taxation.
WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE?
Be silent and respectful while looking upon row upon row of perfectly aligned headstones dedicated to the American soldiers who fell in combat.
Visit the Garden of the Missing, the chapel, the Overlook, the symbolic statues and the memorial. In the visitor centre you can ask the staff questions and sign the visitor book.
WHERE IS IT?
Overlooking Omaha Beach, the launching point of the U.S. invasion of Normandy
ADDRESS
Normandy American Cemetery, 14710 Coleville-sur-Mer
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
It’s free to visit.
THE VERDICT?
We thought it was important to bring our sons here to remember and pay our respects. It’s beautifully maintained, peaceful and moving.
WHERE TO STAY NEARBY?
We stayed at Eurocamp’s La Vallée Parc in Houlgate, Normandy. You can read all about it or watch the video tour of the parc here. The parc is within walking distance of the charming Norman town of Houlgate and its golden sandy beach and is a great base for the attractions mentioned in this guide.
HOW TO GET TO NORMANDY?
La Vallée campsite is conveniently located for UK travellers as it’s just a short drive from the Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Caen cruise-ferry crossing. Click the link above for my written and video review.
There’s such a lot to do in Normandy and this is far from an exhaustive list as there are so many places we didn’t get chance to visit but these places all stood out for us as in their own way. Have you been? We’d love to hear in the comments below if you have any other recommendations for places to visit in Normandy with kids.
PIN THIS ARTICLE FOR LATER!
NORMANDY WITH KIDS – USEFUL LINKS
DISCLOSURE:
OUR NORMANDY PRESS TRIP WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO NORMANDY TOURISM, EUROCAMP AND BRITTANY FERRIES.
ALL OPINIONS ARE OUR OWN. MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS.
Now I remember why we chose to move to Normandy – there is just so much to do here and you can never be bored. Off to share this great post on on gite FB page!
Thank you for your lovely comment and for sharing the post Rosie. That’s made my day!
I love normandy! There is a few there we visited just recently too. There is so much to do x
What a fab list! There is so much to do in Normandy! We would love to visit in the Camper x
What a fab round up ? My husband’s family are from Normandy, although many of them have retired down south now. We did many of these things on our first ever family holiday over 9yrs ago when my eldest was then only 3months old!! (obviously not the treetop adventure!)
We really must go back – you’ve inspired me!
Oh wow – this post really does have everything you need! I’ve been to Normandy several times, and crossed fewer than a handful off this list. You were very brave, trying that Bayeaux Challenge!