The economy of Normandy is primarily based on agriculture and produces milk products, grains and apples. This region is known for horses and cattle farming. Geographically, Normandy has a variety of landscapes including forests, valleys and a cliff studded granite coastline. Inland, the important Seine river meanders through the region and is used for transportation, recreational boating and is a popular tourist attraction.
The main cities in the province of Normandy, France are Caen, Rouen, Le Havre and Cherbourg. Caen was mostly destroyed during World War II, but tourist can still see examples of Roman and Gothic architecture in the Chateau de Caen Castle, the Ladies Abbey and Men's Abbey. Rouen is located on the Seine River and is a major port city for industrial shipments and is home to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Le Havre is a large cargo port that sits at the base of the Seine River on the English Channel. Cherbourg is a navel base and a shipbuilding center.
Normandy, France is home to the famous beaches where the D-Day invasion of Nazi occupied France occurred on June 6, 1944. The historic beaches and surrounding towns are filled with memorials, museums, cemeteries and bunkers. The Caen War Memorial provides a history of the invasion through a large collection of artifacts, video presentations and exhibits. Other notable World War II tourist sites include the D-Day Landing Museum, Port Winston, the American Cemetery and the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument.
For the art lover, the town of Giverny offers tours of Claude Monet's home and gardens and contains the American Art Museum that highlights 19th century painters. A popular tourist attraction in Normandy is the Mont Saint Michel, which is a Gothic abbey that is perched on a rocky islet. Other popular tourist attractions are the Dieppe seaside resort, the resort town of Deauville and numerous horse shows throughout the region.
Transportation to most Normandy cities is available by train from Paris. By boat, ferry connections are available from England to port cities including Caen, Cherbourg, and Le Havre. Plane service is available on regional carriers to local airports in Caen, Rouen, Le Havre, and Deauville. The closest non-regional airport is the Roissy CDG airport. Normandy is also an easy drive from Paris on the E05 Interstate and most towns are assessable by road throughout Normandy.
