10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Normandy That You Shouldn't Miss

This famous 15th-century cathedral is the largest surviving wooden church in France.

The Benedictine Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the most remarkable examples of mediaeval religious and military architecture and was one of Christianity's most important pilgrimage sites from the 8th to the 18th century.The Abbey comprises a superb ensemble of clerical buildings including the abbey church, the cloister, the refectory, the monks' ambulatory and the gardens of what has been known as the ""Merveille"" (Marvel) since the 12th century. In summer, the Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel is best seen in all its splendour after sunset during the special “sons et lumières"" shows. Designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > 2nd May to 31st August: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. > 1st September to 30th April: from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission 1 hr before closing time. Closed: > 1st January, 1st May and 25 December. Admission fees: Adults : 9€; Concessions (18 to 25) = 5,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups

These beautiful gardens inspired Impressionist Claude Monet's most famous work.

This stunning Gothic structure is considered by some to be the town's most important architectural landmark.

This museum houses the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-m long piece of embroidery that graphically tells the story of the 1066 Battle of Hastings.Listed UNESCO Memory of the World. Duration of visit about 1h30. Annual closure in January

The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Bayeux is an impressive building, a mix of Romanesque in the 11th century crypt and glorious Gothic in the 13th-century nave. In the 11th century after the Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066, ties with England were strong. You'll see a reference to the turbulent past above the south transept portal where sculpted scenes show the life of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral on the orders of King Henry II of England. The Bayeux Tapestry was kept here from the 11th to the 18th centuries, probably displayed for the first time on the day the cathedral was consecrated in 1077 in the presence of William the Conqueror.

The Palais Benedictine, an architectural masterpiece of gothic and Renaissance inspirations, proposes guided tours all year long on Saturday, Sunday, holidays (except May 1st, December 25th and January 1st), and every day during school holidays at 3pm. Discover the museum, the one and only Benedictine distillery in the world and the cellars. Eventually, enjoy the contemporary art exhibition, before heading to the Winter Garden where is offered a tasting of one of the three Benedictine Expressions*. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. Consume with moderation

The first thing you notice about the Musée d'art moderne André Malraux-MuMa Le Havre is its breathtaking coastal setting. As you approach the spacious, light-filled museum building, Henri-Georges Adam's monumental concrete sculpture The Signal heightens the experience, framing a slice of the maritime landscape that inspired many of the works in the museum's collections. Le Havre has nurtured artists like Monet, Dubuffet, Friesz, Dufy and Braque. And MuMa is a pillar of the city's art history. Inaugurated in 1961 by André Malraux, then France's Minister of Cultural Affairs, MuMa is known for its late-19th and 20th-century collections. From the Impressionists to the Fauves, the museum's collections have been enriched by gifts such as works from the studio of Eugène Boudin and the Marande donation. More recently, Hélène Senn-Foulds donated an impressive collection built up by her grandfather, Olivier Senn, in the early 20th century. Thanks to the donation, MuMa's collection of Impressionist works is today one of France's largest, and the public can now enjoy works by Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Degas, Courbet and Corot.