Haute Normandie

Haute-Normandie is one the 26 regions of France. It was created in 1956, when Normandy was divided into Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie. This division remains somewhat controversial, with some calling for a regrouping. Rouen is the local capital, historically important with many fine churches and buildings. The region is twinned with the London Borough of Redbridge in the United Kingdom.

Normandy has always been a popular location for the British because of its easy accessibility from home, its similar climate and cultural similarities. The Queen is still the Duke of Normandy. The countryside is very pretty and largely unspoilt, with its lush meadows, rivers and brooks. There are over 600 km of coastline, some of which were the scene of the D-Day landings and attract millions of tourists every year.

During World War II, the town of Dieppe was the site of the ill-fated Dieppe Raid by Canadian and British units in 1942. later, Normandy was also the site of the Normandy Invasion or Operation Overlord that began on 6th June, 1944 which today is also known as D-Day. This was the successful invasion of German-occupied France by allied troops. Caen, Cherbourg, Carentan, and other Norman towns endured many casualties in the fight for the province, which continued until the liberation of Le Havre on 12th September.

The region is full of history, not only from its recent past during the Second World War, but towns like Bayeux, famous for its tapestry, depicting the Norman Conquest. Calvados, with its famous brandy, Giverny, near Vernon in Eure, which was home to Money and was captivated in its paintings.

Normandy is famous for its rich, rolling countryside, which provides plentiful pasture for dairy cattle and orchards for apples. The dairy produce of the region is renowned: its cheeses are world famous and include Camembert, Livarot, Pont l’Eveque, Brillat-Savarin, Neufchatel, and Boursin. Normandy butter is highly prized, as is Normandy cream, both of which are lavishly used in local gastronomic specialties. Fish and seafood are of superior quality in Normandy. Turbot and oysters from the Cotentin Peninsula are major delicacies throughout France.

Normandy is the chief oyster-cultivating, as well the biggest scallop-exporting region in France.

Normandy is a major cider-producing region (very little wine is produced). Perry is also produced, but in less significant quantities. The apple brandy, of which the most famous variety is calvados, is very popular. The mealtime trou normand, or Norman break, is a pause between meal courses in which diners partake of a glassful of calvados, is still observed in many homes and restaurants. Pommeau is an aperitif produced by blending unfermented cider and apple brandy. Another aperitif is the kir normand, a measure of cassis topped up with cider.

Benedictine is produced in Normandy.

Normandy is noted for its beautiful countryside with its rich agriculture, orchards full of apples with which to make Calvados the famous apple brandy. With its long sandy beaches it is popular with families with children.

The weather in Normandy can be fairly wet and windy with moderate summer temperatures, not unlike an English summer.

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