Normandy, located in the northern part of France offers a diverse array of attractions that appeal to a wide range of interests. There are beautiful beaches, cliffs, charming towns and picturesque rural areas.
You can explore Normandy by train, but many tourist attractions are not accessible by train. Some of them are located far away from the train stations and I didn’t mention this attractions in an article.
The best starting points for train trips around Normandy are Rouen and Caen.
There are SNCF Intercities trains from Paris Saint-Lazare to Rouen Rive Droite (1 hr 30 min), Le Havre (2 hr), Caen (2 hr), and Cherbourg (3 hr).
Most important regional train connections are trains from Rouen to Caen and Le Havre.
Regional and trains from Rouen Rive Droite station:
Rouen – Caen
Rouen – Le Havre
Rouen – Dieppe
Rouen – Elbeuf St Aubin
Regional trains from Caen
Caen – Cherbourg
Caen – Lisieux
Caen – Granville
Regional trains from Le Havre
Le Havre – Montivilliers
Le Havre – Fecamp
Train connections with other regions of the France include trains from Rouen to Amiens (-Lille), from Caen to Tours and Rennes and TGV train from Le Havre to Marseilles.
Normandy by train – useful websites
Interactive map of train connections
Train travel in France – a comprehensive guide
Normandy by train – what to see
Caen – a modern city almost completely destroyed during World War II. Only two abbeys and several churched survived. You can learn about history of the pre-war city in Musée du Mémorial. Caen is a perfect base for visits to the D-Day beaches. Caen Castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Western Europe. Severely damaged during World War II, now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy). The nicest part of the city is the Vaugueux district.
Giverny – an interesting village, where you can visit the home of the Claude Monet with gardens and Giverny Museum of Impressionism. The nearest railway station is located 5 kilometers from the village, in Vernon, a town situated halfway between Paris and Rouen. Vernon has small nice city centre – most important landmarks are Collégiale Notre-Dame and Town Hall.
Rouen – the largest city in Normandy, with a population of over 110,000. The city is known for its architecture, French cuisine and Gothic cathedral severely damaged during World War II and rebuilt in the 1950s. The cathedral was frequently painted by Monet. It attracts tourists for its sculptures and colorful stained glass windows. In the city centre you visitors can see a lot of the tall, timber-framed houses that are typical of Normandy. These buildings are a reminder of the city’s past. Worth-see is also old Jewish quarter, 16th-century clock and Normandy Parliament. The Rouen Fine Arts museum has the best collection of impressionists outside Paris.
Bayeux – a picturesque town, located on the Aure River. Bayeux Museum (Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux) displays the Bayeux Tapestry, an extraordinary 70-meter-long embroidered cloth from 11th century. The tapestry vividly depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Another attraction of the town is Bayeux Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux) consecrated in 1077, a stunning example of Norman Gothic architecture. The town is also famous as the first town liberated by Allied Forces during D-Day – you can learn more about these days in the Battle of Normandy Museum and on the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France.
Trouville-sur-Mer – a popular seaside resort. In the past, Trouville-sur-Mer has been a fishing village, and it remains famous for its fish and seafood. Currently, it attracts visitors for its famous fish market. Even today, many politicians and actors have summer residences here. There are direct trains from Paris and Lisieux to Trouville-sur-Mer.
Deauville – another pleasant resort in northern France, separated from Trouville-sur-Mer by river. Popular destination for rich tourists renowned for its luxury stores and casino. A small town of Decauville hosts numerous cultural events in the summer. Many people arrive here to rest on the wide, sandy beach. Deauville resort is served by Trouville-Deauville train station.
Le Havre – a medium-sized city. The city centre was destroyed during World War II. After WWII it was rebuilt in concrete by architect Auguste Perret and is listed on UNESCO World-Heritage site. There is an interesting Musée Malraux with large collection of 19th & 20th century paints.
Granville – a picturesque coastal town, often referred to as the “Monaco of the North”. The upper town, known as “Haute Ville,” is surrounded by well-preserved ramparts. You can take a boat to the Chausey Islands, an archipelago of over 350 islands and islets. Boat tours to these islands offer opportunities for bird watching, fishing, and exploring the pristine natural environment. The town is the birthplace of the famous fashion designer Christian Dior. His childhood home, “Villa Les Rhumbs,” has been transformed into the Musée Christian Dior.
Mont Saint Michel – one of the most visited places in France. World-famous medieval abbey built on a rock in the bay – listed on a UNESCO world heritage site. Mont Saint Michel is surrounded by vast tidal flats, the island becomes accessible by a causeway during low tide. The nearest operational train station is located in Pontorson-Mont-St-Michel (10 km). Only a few trains daily stop here – from Caen, Paris and Granville. There are buses from Pontorson-Mont-St-Michel to Mont Saint Michel.
Cherbourg – a large port. Main attraction of the city is Le Cité de la Mer – a popular Maritime Museum with one of the deepest aquariums in Europe.
Fecamp – another popular seaside resort. 16 km from Fecamp is located Etretat world-famous for its White Cliffs. The stunning cliffs of the Alabaster Coast stretch along the English Channel, providing stunning views and scenic walking trails.
Dieppe – a popular seaside town with the closest beach to Paris. In addition to beaches and nice city centre, tourists can visit the castle (Château de Dieppe) which houses a museum.
A beautiful town of Honfleur is not reached by train. The nearest major railway station is located Le Havre, which lies 23 km north of the Honfleur via the Pont de Normandie.
D-Day beaches are also not reached by train but are located near Le Havre and Bayeux.
Tourist railways in Normandy
There are a few tourist railways in Normany. The list does not include miniature railways.
Chemin de Fer de la Vallée de l’Eure – tourist trains running on certain days from April to October on two routes:
Pacy-sur-Eure – Breuilpont
Pacy-sur-Eure – Cocherel
Diesel and steam hauled trains or railbuses. Total length of the routes is 22 km.
Chemin de Fer de la Vallée de l’Eure – official website
Train Touristique du Cotentin – a seasonal vintage diesel hauled train operating between Carteret and Portbail not far from Cherbourg. The journey on the ten-kilometer route takes 45 minutes.
Train Touristique du Cotentin – official website
Train Touristique Étretat Pays de Caux – a tourist train from Les Loges to Étretat (about 5 km). Passengers travel one way on velorail and return by a train with vintage carriages or a railcar. The train operates from April to November, with the number of runs depending on the day of the week; a detailed schedule is available on the website. I have no up-to-date information and I don’t know if vintage train is still running or only draisines are available.
Train Touristique Étretat Pays de Caux – official website
