This 8-night and 9-day tour through Normandy offers a wide-ranging journey into the region’s rich culture, dramatic history, and artistic legacy, shaped by conquerors, liberators and artists. Beginning along the D Day beaches, visitors reflect on the immense sacrifice of Allied forces at the key sites of Utah, Omaha and Gold beaches. Site visits are complemented by explorations of some of the region’s best war museums including the Airborne Museum, Overlord Museum and Canadian Juno Beach Centre.

In exploring the region’s rich medieval history we wander the streets of Rouen, where Gothic architecture and tales of Joan of Arc shape the city’s identity, and at the Mont Saint-Michel experience the breathtaking tidal island crowned by a soaring abbey. In Caen we gain a deeper insight into the early life of William the Conqueror and at the charming town of Dol de Bretagne enjoy the marvellous cathedral, distinct Breton character, and familiar associations with the Scottish Stewart dynasty. At the dramatic ruins of Château Gaillard overlooking the Seine, we have a glimpse into Richard the Lionheart’s sturdy fortifications, providing a fitting capstone to our exploration of medieval Normandy.

Normandy is also famous as the inspiration for some of France’s most well-known Impressionist painters. We visit the home and picturesque gardens of Claude Monet’s house at Giverny, which shaped his art in such a powerful way. Our last stop is the beautiful town of Honfleur, where pastel harbour houses and maritime heritage have inspired rich artistic creativity.

This tour is a unique and enjoyable blend of remembrance, architecture and artistic beauty.

In September 1066, a large Norman fleet crossed the Channel - the opening move in William of Normandy's eventual conquest of Anglo-Saxon England. Nearly nine centuries later in 1944 their descendants, and the descendants of those they'd conquered, would return across the Channel to launch Operation Overlord -a campaign not of conquest but of liberation.

On this tour we'll visit some of the key locations associated with these momentous events and the people involved in them. In the Medieval section of the tour we'll look at some of the great buildings of Medieval Normandy, from abbeys and cathedrals at Caen, Bayeux and Dol, to castles at Creully and Chateau Gaillard and spend time at the superb UNESCO World Heritage site of Mont St Michel. In turning our attention to the events of 1944 we'll visit some of the sites where airborne troops from Britain and America landed to secure the flanks of the invasion beaches, follow in the footsteps of some of the brave men - British, American, Canadian and French - who fought their way ashore on D-Day and visit some of the region's superb military museums and moving war cemeteries.

Finally, In addition to being a place where history was made, Normandy has also been a region loved by countless artists. Corot, Boudin, Dufy and, of course, Claude Monet are just some of the painters who found inspiration there. With visits to the charming gardens of Giverny, the busting port of Honfleur, and the regional capital Rouen, with its magnificent cathedral and historic streets, we'll also enjoy this important aspect of Normandy's fascinating heritage.

Day 1: Outward travel - Assemble at Ashford International station and drive to Caen via the Channel Tunnel on Le Shuttle or if making your own travel arrangements meet us at the hotel. Lunch stop en-route and brief stop at Pegasus Bridge. Check in to our Caen for 6 nights. Welcome drinks and introductory talk before dinner. (D).

Day 2: D-Day 1: US Sector – today we travel to the historic town of Ste-Mere-Eglise where US airborne troops landed in the early hours of 6th in what were the first Allied actions of Operation Overlord. Here we visit the Airborne Museum where we get a superb insight into the strategic importance of the Cotentin Peninsula and the highly risky nature of paratrooper warfare. We then move on to the La Fiere causeway, scene of a desperate four-day struggle to establish control over a critical crossing of the River Merderet. Our tour continues to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, liberated by a unit of the US 501st parachute regiment. At Utah Beach we see where the US VII Corps fought to establish a beachhead before they attacked the strategic crossroads at Ste-Mere-Eglise.

We then return to Omaha Beach to study the bloody battle to establish a beachhead there on the morning of the 6th. To place these dramatic events in context we visit the excellent Overlord Museum at Colleville-sur-Mer which illuminates the events through a combination of exhibits, dioramas and immersion technology. We end the day at the poignant site of the American National Cemetery and memorial at St Laurent. (B, D).

Day 3: D-Day 2: UK and Canadian sectors – today we examine the British involvement in Operation Overlord and start with a visit to La Riviere and Gold Beach where we follow the exploits of 69th Infantry Brigade and learn how the only D-Day Victoria Cross was won. Our visit will include Crepons, where Stan Hollis won his VC, and Creully, site of General Montgomery’s HQ and the centre for BBC broadcasting of D-Day. We also enjoy a drink at the Hotel St Martin.

We then move to Courseulles-sur-Mer where we explore the role played by the British Second Army and 3rd Canadian Infantry Division at Juno Beach. Despite failing to capture their objectives the invasion here pushed further inland than any other landing force on D-Day. We spend time at the Juno Beach Centre as well as examining some of the many bunkers that still lie here. (B, D).

Day 4 Bayeux – we start our day at the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer which commanded the juncture between Omaha and Gold beaches. It famously fought a duel with the Allied fleet on D-Day before it was silenced in the evening. From here we make the short journey to Bayeux to visit the breathtaking Romanesque Cathedral, consecrated in 1077, and reflecting the magnificent wealth of this city in early medieval times. We then enjoy the Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History where we view a superb range of paintings, prints and archaeological artefacts.

After lunch we visit the informative Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, situated in this the first city to be liberated in continental France. We also visit the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest British cemetery in Normandy. Late afternoon is a good time to enjoy a drink in the historic Lion d'Or Hotel whose guests read like a celebrity rollcall: Hemingway, Eisenhower, Spielberg, Hanks, Prince Charles and Chirac. (Please note that the Bayeux Tapestry is closed for renovations until October 2027). Dinner at customers’ own expenses this evening. (B).

Day 5: Caen – today we explore this amazing city and its history. Caen was mostly destroyed in WWII, but we are still able to appreciate its former glory including the splendid Abbaye aux Dammes and Abbaye Aux Hommes where William the Conqueror is buried. Our tour will also explore the story of the city in WW2 including Liberation Square and the informative Memorial du Caen. (B, D).

Day 6: The Mont Saint Michel and Dol-de-Bretagne - we drive to the stunning Mont Saint Michel moving back in time to experience Normandy’s medieval era. The magnificent Romanesque Abbey on this island is the jewel in the crown of France’s Atlantic coast. Proceeding further we explore the historic town of Dol-de-Bretagne unknown to many as the place of origin of the Scottish Royal House of Stewart. Here we admire the sturdy ramparts and medieval houses including one thought to be the oldest in Brittany. (B, D).

Day 7: Rouen and the story of Joan of Arc – today we drive to the historic city of Rouen with its close connections to one of France’s most celebrated medieval female leaders, Joan of Arc. We spend the rest of day in the town where we have the opportunity to explore the Cathedral, Castle, Le Gros-Horloge, Church of St Joan of Arc and Le Bouchet Garden (site of Joan's execution). Hotel in Rouen 2 nights. (B, D).

Day 8: Château Gaillard and Giverny –we visit the remarkable castle of Gaillard standing sentinel above the River Seine below. Originally built by England’s Richard the Lionheart it was a potent symbol of Angevin power. In contrast we move to Giverny, home to Claude Monet, and site of his grave. We enjoy the pleasant surroundings of this beautiful town and visit the Museum of Impressionism. (B, D).

Day 9: Honfleur and departure - we drive to the beautiful seaside town of Honfleur to admire its picturesque harbour and peaceful surroundings which inspired the Impressionist painter Claude Monet and the landscape artist Eugène Boudin. After our relaxing visit we return to the UK via the Channel Tunnel on Le Shuttle to Ashford International station where the tour ends. (B).