4-Day Normandy Road Trip – Towns, Cliffs & Way Too Many Croissants

4-Day Normandy Road Trip – Towns, Cliffs & Way Too Many Croissants

Welcome back to our road trip 
along France’s northern coast. This episode is all about Normandy.
We dive into its vibrant capital Rouen, famous for Joan of Arc and its 
medieval charm. From there, we follow the dramatic cliffs of Étretat to the 
surreal island monastery of Mont Saint-Michel, the second-most-visited place in France. In the previous video, we already traveled through Hauts-de-France. We are challenging ourselves and 
our camper van to drive the whole northern coast of France up to the Cap de la Chèvre on a single 
gas tank to avoid getting sidetracked and caught in terrible weather. It’s so cold and so rainy. Cap de la Chèvre literally means Cape of the Goat, but we lovingly call it Cape of the Billy thanks to our obsession with the French goat cheese. So come along with us for a first taste of Normandy’s 
charm. The city of Rouen, a place full of history and picturesque alleyways, where you can almost 
feel time slow down. And boom, just like that, we arrived in Rouen. We strolled around the city 
already a little bit. But the first thing we tried to hit here is the Place du Vieux-Marché, the 
place where Joan was burned at the stake. Now, after that, she was declared a saint, right, we 
know that. And they actually built a church here. And this church, I have to say, and the 
whole place here is fantastic. I’m going to show you a little bit of this church because 
it looks crazy. I wouldn’t even know if it’s a building or something else. Some people call 
it a Viking ship upside down and stuff like that. But the cool part is there’s actually more 
inside here. Let’s take a look at the market. Yes, there’s a fully-fledged market pretty 
much connected to the church. There’s a huge bell very close to the connection. So like it’s 
very obviously connected. I don’t know. I mean, it’s a technicality. Anyway, we’re not 
here for the market because when you exit the market and go to the other side of a 
place, there are all these restaurants, probably all touristy. So we’re not going to hit 
them. But there’s actually like half-timbered houses along the street that look very, very 
cool. But also you have to really kind of like enjoy and experience the church, which is 
in the middle of a square. And this thing, like I said, it’s massive, interconnected, 
but also modernist. So, it looks different from every angle. So you have to really kind of 
experience and walk around. Really, really cool. And then this place is also actually 
so compact. You have so many pathways, the garden, and the different angles of this 
church. It’s very, very cool. But what makes it really European? There’s actually a second 
church right next to the first one. Well, actually, it’s just ruins, but it 
gives it a European feel of old and new standing next to each other. Yeah, it’s 
a really, really cool spot. I didn’t expect that. And we haven’t even been inside yet. 
Right, let’s just do that and head inside. Next, we’re heading to Rouen’s great clock, just a stone’s throw away and almost 
visible from Place du Vieux-Marché. The Gros Horloge is a massive astronomical 
clock dating back to the 14th century. The clock’s mechanism was first installed in a 
Gothic belfry and later a Renaissance arch was added to frame the golden dial. Beneath it, 
the gilded decorations and sheer scale make the centuries of history tangible. The clock isn’t 
just about telling the hour. It also shows the days of the week and the lunar phases, which 
makes you appreciate how advanced and clever this creation was for its time. We decide to 
climb the belfry for a new perspective on the city of Rouen. Apparently, the construction 
wasn’t that straightforward. The first person on the job lacked the necessary expertise and the 
city had to bring somebody else to finish it. So, let’s hope the thing is stable and the 
stairs don’t crumble under my feet. Okay, we set our sights on the next target. The 
Cathedral Notre-Dame de Rouen and actually I’m just going to continue filming because we 
are already here. Rouen is so compact. It’s so crazy. You just basically walk like 50 m 
or something and you’re next to a beautiful, beautiful cathedral. Oh my god, it’s so 
detailed. I have to put on my glasses. The one cool fact about this cathedral is that, upon its 
completion in 1876, it was the tallest building in the world for a whopping 4 years, until it 
was eclipsed by the Cologne dome. But yeah, what’s really amazing when you come to this place 
is that this is one of the more detailed facades I’ve seen on a church. Oh my god, there are so 
many cool figurines and little tiny details here and there. Yeah, it looks magnificent. 
Okay, it’s time to get inside. Let’s go. Hey everybody, good morning. We are back 
on the road again to the cliffs of Étretat. It’s another set of beautiful cliffs and 
apparently Monet painted them multiple times during different weather conditions and 
during different lighting. We actually want to hit these cliffs during high tide because 
these cliffs have a set of three arches, and we kind of want to see this contrast of 
arches coming out of the water. But first, we need to get there. It’s 90 km, which 
is roughly 90 minutes with our van. All righty, we arrived here. This is actually 
not the cliffs, as you can see again, if we are not sure, we will be able to park 
there. The situation with the parking spots in France is very specific. There are a 
lot of these kinds of height restrictions, like physical height restrictions, there. So 
we’re not going to risk it and just stay here. We’re going to prep some food because it’s 
still pretty early, and then have some lunch, and after lunch, we’re going to 
head to the cliffs. See you then. We just had our lunch and 
it was raining outside. So, we decided to quickly take a 
shower. But after this respite, we’re ready to head to Étretat. The bus ride 
takes just 10 minutes, followed by another 10 minutes of walking to reach the beach. Look at 
that. Isn’t that cool? Isn’t this a cool beach? And on the other side, another set of cliffs. 
That looks fantastic. We are decisive people. So with a coin flip, we go first, right, hiking 
up to see what’s on top and secretly hoping for an amazing view. Instead, we find a random church. 
Oh, Europe, sometimes you are so predictable. In any case, the coastline here is called Alabaster 
Coast because of its chalky cliffs. It’s most famous for its free natural arches. Just a bit 
down the road, the beauty finally reveals itself. We continue a little hike along a 
path with no clue what we’ll find. Maybe a beach, maybe a small alcove, maybe 
more beautiful views. Nope. It’s a narrow, somewhat stinky tunnel about 30 
m long, growing darker as we move through it. Some tunnels here are only 
accessible at low tide, so be careful. After taking in a few more sights, we head back to 
the main beach. So, we are back at the beach level and we are going to head to the next set of cliffs 
on the other side of this main beach. But first, we’re feeling a little bit hungry. So, we’re 
going to go and taste the local Croissant. This is a well-earned rest. And as per tradition, 
we’re buying a croissant at the place where we are. Oh, this one is burned again. Check this 
out. This seems to be a local specialty because we actually had one already today at the 
place where we’re staying with the camper. And it was also way darker than expected. 
So, anyway, enough blabbing. Let’s dig in. Okay. Yeah, this really seems 
to be a local specialty. Super super crunchy on the outside. 
Inside, though, not so flaky to be honest. But the cliffs aren’t done calling us yet. 
We return to the beach and head left this time. After a couple of stairs, another 
gorgeous view opens up. From the viewpoints, the sunlight makes the cliffs 
glitter in a mesmerizing way, especially the Porte d’Aval and the needle. All 
of this makes the climb completely worth it. So, this is it for the hike. The views have 
been breathtaking and the landscape here is super varied. So hilly, so cool. I like hilly 
landscapes. But sadly, there’s just one path basically going through it. So, it’s very, 
very linear. Normally, we like the stuff to be a little bit more exploratory. Let’s put it 
like that. Anyway, we are done for today and we’re super hungry. So, we’re going to head down 
to the town. Just going to grab something in the town. Hopefully, it’s going to be good. But this 
is it for today. I’m going to see you tomorrow. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. 
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. This is getting out of hand. 
It’s so cold and so rainy. Good morning, everybody. It is cold and rainy. 
The weather is terrible for the next week or so. We really need to finish up this journey so we can 
head south. Today we are going to Honfleur. It’s supposed to be a beautiful fishing village. Many, 
many different painters painted it under different lighting conditions. I guess this is like the 
French painter thing, paint it in different lights during different seasons. Anyway, we’re heading 
there right now, it’s just half an hour. Let’s go. Oh my god. 6.90 Euro. What the hell? After paying what feels like way 
too much to cross a small bridge, we finally roll into Honfleur, a fishing 
village on the Seine, that somehow feels both lively and laidback. The harbor hits 
first. Pastel houses leaning towards the water, boats gently bobbing, cafes buzzing on the 
quay. Monet painted the scene over and over, trying to catch every kind of light. And once 
he arrived, a bunch of Impressionists followed like moths to a flame. A big reason for that 
is that Honfleur was home to Eugène Boudin, Monet’s early mentor, who pushed him to paint 
outdoors and capture the ever-changing skies. A short stroll away is Sainte Catherine Church. 
But trust me, this isn’t your average Gothic relic. Built in the late 15th century by local 
shipwrights, it’s made entirely of wood and shaped like two upside-down ship hulls. They 
used old school wooden construction, no saws, just ax skills passed down from the Vikings. And 
yes, the bell tower is deliberately built off to the side. Lightning loved hitting it and they 
didn’t want the whole church going up in flames. All the while, Honfleur’s art-infused charm 
plays out in its narrow streets. Twist a corner and boom, another secret gallery, another poetic 
courtyard, another splash of color. It makes total sense why artists got hooked. No techy souvenir 
shops here, just pure undiluted inspiration. All right, and we’re done. And actually, it 
started to rain again. Just finished our meal and can go back to the car and then drive the 
2 hours and 30 minutes to our next destination. Since we’re racing the weather, we want to drive 
all the way to our last stop in Normandy today, Mont-Saint-Michel. And in the middle of 
the road, after 550 km, we dropped to 50% of a full tank. This is probably okay. Right 
now, it doesn’t really matter because it’s already 6:00 p.m. and securing a parking 
spot for the night is the real priority. The first farm we arrive at has a beautiful 
view of Mont-Saint-Michel, but a huge red sign tells us they’re full. But it’s okay, we 
are prepared. We rush to another farm nearby, and horror of horrors, there’s another sign 
saying it’s full. The owner is closing up and leaving the shop. But after a short conversation, 
we’re actually lucky. The sign is from yesterday, so we’re all set for the night. So, it is not 
full. Uh, it was full yesterday. Um, but yeah, we got lucky on the second try. This looks a little 
bit less idyllic, a little bit more cramped, but it’s for free. And so far, we have actually spent 
not a single euro on accommodation. So, the streak continues. The next morning, with our bikes out 
and our target locked in, we hit the road towards Mont-Saint-Michel. We reach the village border in 
just a few minutes. A little further down. There it is. And wow, we pause just to take it in. The 
island rises like a crown over the tidal flats. The island itself is about 1 kilometer 
offshore, but a convenient bridge connects it to the mainland. During high tide, this 
bridge can almost vanish beneath the water, making Mont-Saint-Michel look like it’s floating. 
The plan is to return later during peak high tide, hoping to catch the island fully surrounded by 
water and reflected in the bay. But for now, it’s a few hours away. So, we dive into the 
town, and it’s crowded. Mont-Saint-Michel attracts around 3 million visitors a year 
and it feels like everybody showed up today. We stroll through the village and what should I 
say? It’s almost comical to call it a village. It’s tiny. One main street, a few lanes up the 
ramparts, and then the abbey. That’s it. But man,  it’s full. Every single house has a function. 
Mostly selling you something. Would you like a katana sword with your cup of ice cream, Monsieur? 
The alleys on the main street have some serious charm, but I’d lie if I said it doesn’t get buried 
by the masses. You really have to stand still for a while, soak in the buildings’ impressions, 
and tune out the hectic energy to enjoy it. We decide to flee the busy streets and head 
up the ramparts. And while still crowded, at least the view lets the eye wander and the 
mind rest a bit. The ramparts are massive, and so is the whole wall, with natural defenses 
of quicksand and mud flats during low tide and quickly rising water during high tide. These 
walls meant Mont-Saint-Michel never fell to an opposing force. Impressive. But also, why 
did this monastery need such crazy walls? Tell  me in the comments. Um, is this how you engage 
the audience? Uh, I’m still learning. Anyway, we have just to turn a few more corners and 
then we’ll be at the entrance of the abbey. We start out at the top of the main church. 
And apparently it’s moon season today. Also, just in case you didn’t know, like me, an abbey 
is a monastery, not just a church. Basically, a place where monks lived with all the 
buildings and rooms they needed. Anyway, carrying on. The church is small, but you have to 
remember we are on a mountain here. Somebody had to carry up all those stones. Certainly makes 
it more impressive. And it probably has one of the best terraces of any church in the world. 
Take a look at that. Wow. That’s a great spot for a wedding. Well, you can’t get married 
here since the abbey is a national monument, but have you ever seen a mechanical 
horse in front of a church? Well,  now you have. The view today is horrible, 
though. Bad weather is catching up with us. We need to head south as soon as possible. But first, 
let’s at least get inside to escape this misery. The Abbey complex is full of cool rooms with fancy 
ceilings, a cloister with a tiny green patch, and endless hallways. You wonder and wonder 
what their function was. Dining hall, storage, kitchens, it’s all here. Uh, probably. But 
what really struck me is how patchwork some of the corners and buildings are. It feels 
like somebody dropped a bunch of 3D models in here but forgot to align. Instantly 
reminds me of some video games that do the same. But now I know those are 
all apparently historically accurate. It’s high tide time and we head out 
to a spot where we hope to see the island surrounded by water. Sadly, 
there’s still sand everywhere. The bay has been silting because of the old 
causeway and land reclamation. Today,  you have to be lucky or smart to see the rock 
fully surrounded by water. Come in spring, bring a full moon and do 100 situps to 
summon some of the highest tides in Europe, up to 14 m difference. Then you’ll get the fairy 
tale view. Or just be clever with the perspective. We’re kind of bummed, but still impressed. And 
honestly, it’s mindboggling. This rock that looks like a Disney castle standing there, 
magnificent and proud, defying nature and man for centuries. As for the magical picture, 
I’ll always remember the first time we set our sights on it. Hovering alone over the corn 
fields as we approached it in the evening. Hey everybody, we are back at our car and are 
actually almost ready to continue our journey. But first, since we’re staying at the farm, we have 
to purchase something as a gesture of gratitude. And this actually concludes our video. If you want 
to check out how the goods we picked up right now taste, you’ll have to see the next one, because 
we’ve finished with Normandy. We added about 470 km to our trip and used about 60% of our fuel. So, 
in Britany, we really need to make sure that we hit the spots and get to the finish line. Anyway, 
if you like the video, give us a thumbs up, and if you want to get notified when the next one 
is released, subscribe and hit the notification bell. I hope you enjoyed journeying with us 
and I’ll see you hopefully in the next one.

Missed Episode 1? Start the journey here:
👉 Episode 1 – Hauts-de-France: https://youtu.be/Cv7JwRJSpOA

This 4-Day Normandy road trip is Episode 2 of our Northern France Coastal Adventure, continuing our coastline journey after exploring Hauts-de-France. We start in Rouen — the medieval city of half-timbered houses, cobblestones, and a cathedral so tall it practically touches the clouds. From there, we head toward the dramatic cliffs of Étretat, wander the colorful harbour of Honfleur, and wrap up the adventure at the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel.

This cinematic vlog is packed with coastal views, history, and my ongoing struggle to pronounce French place names correctly.

In this video (Episode 2):
• Exploring Rouen’s medieval streets & cathedral
• Driving toward the coast
• Étretat’s jaw-dropping cliffs (and the wind trying to launch me into the ocean)
• Honfleur’s harbor — easily one of the cutest places on Earth
• Trying to capture the perfect shot of Mont-Saint-Michel

Stay tuned! Episode 3 — Brittany and more coastal adventures — is coming soon.

If you enjoyed the adventure, hit the like button, drop a comment, and subscribe — it helps more than you know! Merci ❤️

#NorthernFranceCoastalAdventure #NormandyRoadTrip #NorthernFranceTravel #RouenFrance #EtretatCliffs #HonfleurHarbour #MontSaintMichel #FranceTravelVlog #CinematicTravel #CoastalRoadTrip