5 unusual places in Normandy

Head for Allouville-Bellefosse, a small village in the Pays de Caux region, 35 minutes from Rouen, for a getaway to discover a thousand-year-old tree that has made this village famous. Specialists date this oak to the time of Charlemagne, and it’s surelyone of the oldest specimens in France! Over time, the tree has hollowed out and now houses two chapels one on top of the other. Listed as a Monument Historique in 1932, the Allouville-Bellefosse oak seems to have stepped straight out of a fairy tale. It even inspired the film “Ils sont fous ces normands” starring Jean Lefebvre, Pierre Tornade and Bernard Menez. Atypical, this place will plunge your unusual stay into another dimension. It’s open all year round, free of charge.

Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer is located on the Côte d’Albâtre in the Seine-Maritime region, just a few minutes from Dieppe. Easily accessible by freeway from Rouen, this is one of the most unusual sites in Normandy. A vestige of the Second World War, a bunker sits enthroned on the beach at Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer. The bunker has a very special history. Erosion of the cliffs caused the bunker to fall sheer onto the beach, literally planting itself in the ground. The site was immortalized by artist JR and director Agnès Varda in the documentary film “Visages, Villages” in 2016.

Leaving Rouen, on the road to Mont-Saint-Michel, take a slight detour to discover a little corner of paradise in the village of Le Neufbourg. This pretty village in the Manche département is home to the Mortain waterfalls. You’ll be amazed by this place where nature has remained untouched. Take your picnic and sit down on the banks of the Cance, the local river. Enjoy the peace and quiet and stroll along the two natural waterfalls with their incredible charm. This unique spot in Normandy is one of the most unusual in the region. The 25-metre-high“grande cascade” is the highest in western France. Don’t hesitate to spend an unusual and romantic night in nearby accommodation such as nature cabins.

La Hague is famous for its cape and its spot for water sports enthusiasts. But did you know that La Hague is also home to France’s smallest port: Port Racine. This picturesque harbor is located in the hamlet of Saint-Germain-des-Vaux. This little port is only open to canoes up to 5.50 meters long. A little corner of paradise much loved by Jacques Prévert, Port Racine will charm you with its authenticity and simplicity. A change of scenery is guaranteed.

Experience a fairytale at Château de Sissi. It’s located in Sassetot-le-Mauconduit, near Fécamp in Seine-Maritime. Normandy is full of hidden treasures and unusual places, and this is just one more proof. In addition to its vast verdant park, you can visit this beautiful 13th-century château, which, as the story goes, was once home toEmpress Elisabeth of Austria in the summer of 1875. Just a stone’s throw from the cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre, treat yourself to a night in this marvellous princess castle.