We explored Normandy by car, starting from Paris, which is after all only two or three hours away from the coast. The car allowed us to be flexible with our itinerary and explore the region freely (check out the Rentalcars.com site to compare and find the best price if you need to rent a car).
On our Normandy road trip, we found art-filled châteaux and boutique B&Bs, expansive seaside resorts, picture-perfect countryside manors, and more. So let us take you on a tour of the ones we picked as our favorite hotels in Normandy!
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Discover Loire Valley
A visit to Normandy would not be complete without an overnight stay at an authentic French château — and the 18th-century Chenevière is it. Located in the countryside near Port-en-Bessin, a sleepy seaside town, the hotel is a five-star property with two restaurants on-site and a great swimming pool. Breakfast is a mix of buffet and à la carte items, and the honey, made on the grounds of la Chenevière, is delicious. There are twenty-nine guest rooms and suites, but large families or groups (up to eight) can book Escures House, a standalone cottage located away from the main building.
We love it for: We were lucky to stay in the Executive Deluxe Room. Try to book it if you can — it’s the only room of its kind and the most unique in the château. It’s located on the highest floor and offers a perfect blend of a traditional interior with a modern style.
Pro tip: Le Petit Jardin restaurant, open for lunch and dinner and located in the glass-roof conservatory, is well-known and popular. Book in advance.
Read our full review: Château la Chenevière, Port-en-Bessin
What to see in the area? We stayed at la Chenevière to see the D-Day landing beaches and other WW2 sites, including the lesser-known Longues-sur-Mer battery — and Bayeux, located only ten kilometers from the hotel. The town is famous for its iconic Bayeux Tapestry, created in the 11th century to tell the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
Alternatively, book Château la Chenevière via
Expedia | Agoda or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Château la Chenevière. Photo © Château la Chenevière
You cannot go more genuine than the Château de Boucéel. It’s a classic country manor — and a Historical Monument — surrounded by old trees, and facing a pond, the favorite of ducks and a flock of geese. But the chateau is not only a luxury B&B establishment but also home to the aristocratic family that owns it.
“In 1923, when he was 17 years old, Arnaud de Roquefeuil began his diary. […] Arnaud drew his everyday life and the things he liked for his own pleasure […]. He could not conceive that in 1939 he would go off to the war and that this chronicle would become an important historical document.”— A Small-Scale History That Confronted History Writ Large
When exploring the rooms, filled to the brim with heritage artifacts, you are likely to encounter the Count or Countess de Roquefeuil, who will be happy to chat about the family’s role in the WW2 resistance movement or how the house survived the French Revolution.
We love it for: The feeling of staying at someone’s home extends to some clever ideas, such as the Honesty Bar with a selection of wines and a fridge filled with small meals (created by a Michelin-starred chef) that can be re-heated by guests, even in the middle of the night.
What to see in the area? The hotel is situated in the bay of the Mont Saint-Michel and has a good location for exploring the famous island and its abbey.
Alternatively, book Château de Boucéel via
Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Château de Boucéel – Mont Saint Michel. Photo © Château de Boucéel
Discover the top boutique hotels in the City of Lights
The Barriere Hotels is a collection of exquisite five-star hotels and resorts, and Hotel Barrière Le Normandy is widely regarded as one of the top choices for your stay in the region. It’s a fully-fledged seaside city resort, offering guests a spectrum of facilities, including health and fitness. The interiors create the perfect mix of seaside chic with the French sense of elegance and ensure a relaxing, comfortable stay. Le Normandy is located by the seafront promenade, offering easy access to the famous Deauville beach.
We love it for: We loved our time at the Barrière Le Normandy overall, but the hotel’s excellent seafront location calls for a special mention. Also, it takes only two-and-a-half-hour to drive here from Paris. It can be a great first stop on a Normandy road trip.
Pro tip: If you’re looking for something special, book the magnificent 58m² suite dedicated to A Man and a Woman, which Claude Lelouch filmed at the hotel and for which he won the Palme d’Or in 1966.
Read our full review: Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy
What to see in the area? Just stay put in Deauville. It’s beach time! But, if you want to venture a bit further, check out the picture-perfect Honfleur or, in the other direction, the pretty village of Beuvron-en-Auge.
Alternatively, book Hotel Barrière Le Normandy via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Hotel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville. Photo © Hotel Barrière Le Normandy
D’Audrieu is a Historical Monument located between Bayeux and Caen. As often the case with the classic châteaux, the property includes sprawling grounds (twenty-five hectares of it) that include gardens and a park. Today, having been transformed from an aristocratic family home into a beautiful five-star hotel, d’Audrieu wows with sophisticated style and luxurious rooms. The facilities include a spa, an outdoor heated pool, a gastronomic restaurant (Le Séran), and an impressive wine cellar.
We love it for: Excellent cuisine — and the very dedicated head chef. One night, after a day of sightseeing, we were frankly too tired to have a proper dinner. But the chef could not bear the thought of us going to sleep hungry, so in no time, he whipped up a light seafood salad, perfect for the occasion.
Pro tip: For a unique stay, try the treehouse cabin — rather than booking one of the rooms or suites in the château. It really is built on a tree, but it has complete amenities and a balcony overlooking the elegant English garden.
What to see in the area? Bayeux, or the city of Caen, with its castle and medieval abbeys, including the Abbey of Saint-Étienne.
Alternatively, book Château d’Audrieu via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Château d’Audrieu – Relais & Châteaux. Photo © 2LCollection
The best five-star hotels in Paris
La Ferme Saint Siméon is a remarkable seventeenth-century inn that claims to have cradled the early Impressionist movement. Known then as Auberge de la Mère Toutain, it’s where rising artists came to stay when seeking inspiration in Honfleur. Today it is a five-star hotel beautifully positioned to overlook the Seine estuary. It is designed to nurture nostalgia for the spirit of Impressionist art in its decor, service, and fun activities (such as painting lessons). The hotel features a gastronomic restaurant with a menu that celebrates regional cuisine. There is also a lovely Spa area with sea views.
We love it for: The perfect mix of nostalgia and modern elegance, where the historic Normandy-style building is enhanced by high-quality furniture, luxurious fabrics, and modern comforts.
Pro tip: For an extra memorable experience, the hotel can organize an authentic, old-fashioned horse carriage for a trip to the center of Honfleur.
What to see in the area? Honfleur, of course. The hotel is not located in the strictest town center, but that’s its advantage as it can get extremely crowded during the season.
Alternatively, book La Ferme Saint Siméon via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: La Ferme Saint Siméon – Relais & Châteaux. Photo © Saint-Simeon Collection
Les Manoirs is a charming, boutique-scale hotel located in a listed Historical Monument. In total, there are twenty-seven rooms and suites spread over the 16th-century manor house and modern duplex cottages, one of which we stayed in. The hotel features a wellness area with a jacuzzi and sauna and a heated outdoor swimming pool (closed in winter).
We love it for: The peaceful tranquility of the bucolic location and the hotel’s well-maintained gardens.
Pro tip: Keep in mind that this is too small and too remote a hotel to feature a restaurant. However, the room service is maintained, with food provided by an excellent local restaurant specializing in Normandy cuisine.
Read our full review: Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville
What to see in the area? With its wide beach and seaside resort vibes, Deauville is only minutes away. Better still, explore the historical villages of Pays d’Auge with beautiful cottages, Calvados distilleries, and cider-producing farms. Further south, there is Camembert, where the famous cheese comes from.
Alternatively, book Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville via
Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville. Photo © Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville
A French Escape
Hôtel Saint-Delis is a sister hotel of La Ferme Saint Siméon, both members of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux portfolio. However, Delis is tiny by comparison. It only has nine guest rooms and suites, and while it serves excellent breakfasts in a large dining room, it has no restaurant (see Pro Tip for more). Hôtel Saint-Delis is located right in the heart of Honfleur, with the old harbor only minutes away on foot.
We love it for: Guest accommodation, ranging from Classic rooms to Junior Suites. Each has a unique floor plan and size, creating an intimate, personalized atmosphere. All also have superb bathrooms, beautifully designed and equipped with a steam shower (the Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites also have jacuzzi baths).
Pro tip: There is no restaurant, but excellent dining facilities at La Ferme Saint Siméon or Auberge de la Source are just a stroll away. There are plenty of other establishments in the neighborhood, including Vieux Honfleur, one of the oldest restaurants in Normandy (established in the 13th century).
What to see in the area? The hotel is ideally placed to discover Honfleur. The town can get quite busy in the summer but for a good reason. It is as charming and cute a place as we imagined!
Alternatively, book Hôtel Saint-Delis via
Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Hôtel Saint-Delis – Relais & Châteaux. Photo © Saint-Simeon Collection
Come here for the simplicity of the red-brick house and a half-timbered building in the style of a community hall — tucked away in a lush garden.
The hotel features nineteen bedrooms with wooden-beam ceilings and rustic chic interiors. The excellent restaurant has a traditional inn ambiance, and the garden features fish ponds (stocked with sturgeon and trout).
We love it for: The garden — where apple trees, weeping willows, flowers, grasses, and shrubs are arranged into a peaceful space to take breakfast in summer or simply stroll and enjoy the peacefulness.
Pro tip: The hotel can organize guided tours, which can add a lot to the experience — whether it’s an excursion to the D-Day beaches, a wine-tasting tour, or a Cider Route.
What to see in the area? Honfleur — but as the hotel is located outside the famous town, think of the wider area too, as it has plenty of attractions.
Alternatively, book Auberge de la Source via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Auberge de la Source – Hôtel de Charme. Photo © Saint-Simeon Collection
The Domaine d’Ablon promises a tranquil stay in pastoral surroundings. The half-timbered buildings are set among verdant greenery and celebrate the style of traditional farmhouses, artfully blending the past with the comforts of today. The interiors have a sense of refined luxury but with the ambiance of a family home. The hotel feels like a luxurious village rather than a hotel — some suites are located in a converted barn; some are in standalone cottages.
We love it for: The vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens are the hotel’s pride, and the fresh produce is reflected in the excellent cuisine.
Pro tip: The top accommodation is the self-contained 14th-century cottage with a kitchen and garden.
What to see in the area? Le Domaine d’Ablon is close to Honfleur, but its location also provides easy access North, with Le Havre just beyond the Seine. Further north-east, there is Étretat, famed for the picturesque cliffs and the cliff-top experimental garden with curiously shaped topiary and sculptures. Keep in mind, though, that the town can get extremely busy while parking in the town is limited (we ended up parking somewhere in the fields on the side of the road and then walked — just like thousands of others…)
Alternatively, book Le Domaine d’Ablon via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Website: Le Domaine d’Ablon – Small Luxury Hotel Of The World. Photo © Le Domaine d’Ablon
Not quite all hotels we checked out or researched made it to our list of the absolute best hotels in Normandy, but the following names deserve at least a mention. Check them out!
Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.
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Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 01/09/2024
