The Normans

Our day starts with an introduction to William, Duke of Normandy at his birthplace at Falaise. After an excellent French style picnic lunch, we’ll drive across Normandy to Alençon to see the castle where our Guide Lecturer will explain medieval siege warfare.

The centre of the Norman experience is the fabulous embroidery kept in Bayeux. Made in English nunneries to tell the story of the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, it is a wonder of the world. We might even get the chance of sampling a flight of calvados in a quiet café as we walk through Bayeux. Our guests will have the option of taking the bus to Gold Beach, where British soldiers landed on D-Day, or there is time for sightseeing and shopping in Bayeux. The evening will be free to explore Caen and medieval streets with their picturesque bars and shops.

This morning will have a leisurely start with a lecture on William’s legacy, both in France and in Britain. We will then journey to Rouen and lunch at the oldest restaurant in France and see the amazing collection of photographs of the famous who have sampled the delights of Normande cuisine before us – from Brigette Bardot to David Niven, Charles de Gaulle to American presidents. In the afternoon, we will explore Rouen, the Norman capital, and its fine cathedral.

The highlight of this morning is the visit to the burial place of William, the Abbey of Saint-Étienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes. It was founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror and is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in France. We’ll then be heading back to Calais, take the ferry to Dover and back to London.