Tailormade tour Normandy Coast and the Loire Valley self-drive touring holiday France

After arriving in Calais via the Eurotunnel, begin your drive through Pas-de-Calais and into the varied and dramatic landscape of the Normandy, crossing the mighty Seine by the Pont de Normandie. Your stop for two nights is in the countryside near Honfleur.

Honfleur itself is perhaps best recognised for its tall, colourful French townhouses that line the harbour, and overlook the Seine Estuary, and, of course, its artistic connections. The nearby Trouville-sur-Mer is an equally ‘arty’ town and gathering place for contemporary and modernist authors, with its quirky architecture and vibrant lifestyle. Popular names associated with this town include Marguerite Duras, Marcel Proust, Claude Monet, and Gustave Flaubert, all of whom chose to either live or stay in Trouville. Exhibitions are regularly held at the Villa Montebello, the former residence of Napoleon. Across La Touques, and accessible by boat or train from Trouville, is the chic resort of Deauville, a town still beautifully traditional in appearance, but with the ambience and reputation of a modern, designer town. A favourite haunt of Napoleon and Coco Chanel, Deauville is, like its counterpart across the water, a popular and prestigious town in Normandy. As well as being home to the Deauville Film Festival, Deauville is a hub for sports such as horse-racing and polo. After a day at the races, or looking around the many boutiques of Place Marny, perhaps take a relaxing stroll down the Promenade des Planches. Visit Deauville on a Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday, to catch the market in the Place du Marché and purchase some of the speciality cider and camembert. Just half an hour inland will bring you to the winding waterways of Pont-Audemer, and Pont-l’Évêque, both quintessentially picturesque Normandy towns, and at the heart of the Calvados region.

Today it’s worth having a day of the historic Normandy landing beaches along the coast. The first point you reach is the famous Pegasus Bridge, where you should have a drink at the Café Gondree on the bridge, the first house in France to be liberated. The museum nearby gives illuminating background to the D-Day landings and the feats of the troops landing at Pegasus Bridge. Cross the river and then head to the north and the start of the landing beaches with Sword, Juno and Gold in that order. The area has military cemeteries and memorials well-worth pausing to contemplate. At Arromanches you will see the remains of the Mulberry harbours and another fine museum. From here it’s a short drive to your hotel for the next two nights.

The focus today can be two-fold: Bayeux itself and the remaining landing beaches and their memorials along the coast. Bayeux has plenty to see and do, from its Cathedral, the tapestry and the British cemetery. On the coast, there is the Battery at Longues sur Mer, Omaha Beach and the American memorial and the Pointe du Hoc.

Your journey into the Loire Valley takes you through the rolling green fields of the Parc Naturel Régional de Normandie-Maine and onto the very banks of the Loire itself. You stay in the eastern Loire south of Blois for two nights.

The town of Angers is shaped by its abundant gardens, and its magnificent centrepiece – the Château d’Angers, home of the Apocalypse Tapestry. Many more opportunities arise in Angers for visitors to explore the waterways of France. Perhaps take a traditional river shuttle across the local waters or travel a little further on a Loire de Lumière river cruise that explores the 300km of navigable waterways in the Loire Valley region. Wildlife cruises are available, as well as dinner concerts and cocktail evenings in the summer months. Head to Trélazé to partake in the unique experience of scuba diving in the slate quarry or drive to Marcé for balloon rides or micro-light rides. Any visit to the Loire Valley, however, insists upon an exploration of the best of the region’s châteaux. The Château de Brissac, home to the 13th Duke of Brissac, offers an informative and delightful tour through the Duke’s collection of ancient paintings, the private theatre commissioned by the Duchess in the 19th century and dedicated solely to opera, and culminating in a tasting of the wines produced on the Duke’s estate in the Duke’s own wine cellar. Utilise this visit and perhaps another visit to a nearby château to taste the produce of the Anjou-Saumur vineyards, amidst which Angers sits, such as the Saumur-Champigny reds and Coteaux-de-l’Aubance whites; the Coulée-de-Serrant, a dry white wine, is the most famous of the wines of this area.

This is really a day to explore the south bank of the River Loire perhaps stopping to visit the Chateau de Chenonceau before reaching Amboise.

There are numerous places of importance to visit within a very short drive. Amboise, on the banks of the river Loire, is home to the Chateau d’Amboise, a 15th century residence of Charles VIII and where you will find the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. Nearby is the Chateau du Clos Lucé where Leonardo Da Vinci lived. In the grounds are displays of working models of this designs. Not far from Amboise is the Château de Chenonceau, known sometimes at the ‘Ladies Castle’ due to its string of female owners, such as Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers, is not to be missed. This château offers an extensive art gallery and a collection of exquisite Flemish tapestries, as well as wine-tasting opportunities. You can dine in L’Orangerie, the on-site restaurant, or relax in the tea rooms, before exploring the wax museum or enjoying a boat ride. In the warmer summer months of July and August, night strolls around the castle and its grounds are very atmospheric, particularly with the backdrop of music by Arcangelo Corelli. Whilst in Amboise, you may want to visit the capital of the region, Tours. It is an ancient university town and this region purports to speak the ‘purest’ form of French. The old town is a delight with its narrow streets and tall, gabled, half-timbered houses. The Cathedral of Saint Gatien dates from the 12th century but most of it is obviously flamboyant Gothic, completed about the same time as the Chateau de Chenonceau. In Montlouis-sur-Loire, we recommend visiting the Domaine de la Taille aux Loups to taste the local wine: the dry and fizzy Moelleux wines from this region.