PROFESSIONAL FAMILIARISATION TRIP WELCOME TO NORMANDY! Discover the hightlights in Normandy... 26TH – 30TH MARCH 2015 The Normandy Tourist Board will be pleased to meet you on Thursday, 26th March in the Mont-Saint-Michel. Being so easily accessible from Paris and with such a wealth of places to visit from medieval times through the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural heritage sites, Normandy is an obvious destination for your groups. We will travel in a fully equipped coach. During this Normandy famtrip we will take you in exciting places such as the Mont-Saint-Michel, “The Wonder of the Western World”, surrounded by a magnificent Bay, which is the theatre of the greatest tidal ranges in Europe. It was the first site in France to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, the high point of medieval architecture, constructed on a rock pinnacle, is the ideal view point from which to admire the limitless horizon of the Bay. During the Middle Ages, the Mont-Saint-Michel was an important place of pilgrimage with a mythical status. You will also have a complete knowledge of the recent changes of the new access as part of the venture to restore Mont-Saint-Michel’s maritime character, after a long term project. Today, an elevated new bridge and footbridge provide new access routes and thus, at high-tide, the Mont once again is transformed into a magical island. We will have the pleasure to stay one night at the Mont-Saint-Michel. The following days we will visit the D-Day landing Beaches. There are many sites, museums and memorials relating to 6th June 1944 and to the Battle of Normandy.
The D-Day landing Beaches: the stretch of the Norman coast with its code names Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword is world famous for the part the beaches played in the Second World War. On 6th June 1944, the D-Day Landings of allied troops in Normandy heralded the liberation of France and Continental Europe. The Battle of Normandy Historical Area is a veritable open-air museum covering three counties in Normandy and includes all the sites, museums and memorials associated with D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Then, we will head and spend the evening and night near the charming Flowered Coast of Normandy. On Sunday, we will visit the lovely port of Honfleur, next to Deauville, a gem and a key tourist destination in Normandy, which has inspired so many artists. Honfleur offers the warm welcome of a little town with its picturesque backstreets, old houses, little shops, charming hotels and typical restaurants, but also a variety of monuments and the wealth of a cultural and artistic heritage. The last day in Normandy will be dedicated to Rouen and Giverny. Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy, world famous for its medieval architecture and its story with Joan of Arc. Its Cathedral has been immortalised by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet who painted its façade nearly 30 times. You’ll
enjoy a complete visit of the old town, included the brand new Panoramas XXL of Rouen, a new cultural project of international stature unique in France (opening December 2014), and the Joan of Arc museum. In the afternoon, before getting to Paris for the Rendez-vous en France workshop, we will stop off to visit the charming village of Giverny, a very popular place for art lovers, where Claude Monet lived half of his life. During your trip, time will be allocated to visiting accommodation centres tailored to your groups. You will have the chance to meet up with local tourism professionals who will give you practical information and inspirational ideas to help you plan your next trip to Normandy. No trip to Normandy would be complete without sampling the excellent local hospitality and food and drink. Please rest assured these aspects of the famtrip will not be neglected! Transport, lunches, dinners and overnight accommodation for four nights are included courtesy of the Normandy Tourist Board and its partners. This trip is only open to operators and wholesalers who have tour programmes to France and is limited to one attendee per registered company.
We look forward to welcoming you soon in Normandy, this incomparably beautiful region of France.
Enjoy your stay in France, in Normandy! Bon voyage en Normandie ! For further information, please contact: J茅r么me Mercier Papin, Marketing Manager Normandy Tourist Board Tel. +33 (0) 2 32 33 67 69 - Email: j.mercier-papin@normandie-tourisme.fr
www.normandy-tourism.org