Rouen - Rouen's Cathédrale Notre Dame is steeped in history. The building houses a tomb containing the heart of Richard the Lionheart. In the late 19th century, the great Impressionist artist Claude Monet produced a series of paintings depicting the cathedral. And Normandy's most cherished landmark survived a bombing raid by the British Royal Air Force in April 1944. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Rouen -

Allow plenty of time to browse the hallowed rooms of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen. Look out for works by local boy Robert Antoine Pinchon, a Post-Impressionist landscape painter of the Rouen School. Pictured: 'Le Pont aux Anglais, soleil couchant,' (1905).

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Rouen - Saunter through the historic quarter and pause under the Gros Horloge, a 14th-century astronomical clock which is installed in a Renaissance arch.

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Honfleur - Sited on the Seine estuary and noted for its old port, Honfleur is distinguished by its traditional harbor front houses with slate-covered frontages. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Omaha Beach - Forever associated with D-Day and the Normandy landings, Omaha Beach saw some of the heaviest fighting during the Allied invasion. Today, 75 years after that fateful day on June 6, 1944, the beach remains a place of pilgrimage for an ever-dwindling number of veterans. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Colleville-sur-Mer - The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial near Colleville-sur-Mer is the final resting place of 9,388 souls. The cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Bayeux Tapestry - Embroidered over nine centuries ago and a rare example of secular Romanesque art, the Bayeux Tapestry depicts in exquisite detail events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. Once displayed in Bayeux Cathedral, the tapestry is now exhibited at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux.

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Bayeux Cathedral - Consecrated in 1077, the cathedral stands on a site once occupied by Roman sanctuaries. The interior features a number of stained glass windows celebrated for their intricate design and vivid color. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Lillebonne - About 40 km (24 mi) east of Le Havre are the impressive ruins of Roman baths and of a theater, which date back to the first century CE. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Lillebonne - Included among the Roman artifacts unearthed at Lillebonne is this well-preserved Orpheus mosaic, which is displayed at the Musée départemental des Antiquités Rouen. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Étretat - The Normandy coast makes for spectacular clifftop hiking. Boot up and head out to Étretat and its awesome chalk cliffs. The three natural arches and a pointed formation called L'Aiguille, or "the Needle," is a much-photographed natural wonder. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Le Havre - A major Channel port that was largely destroyed during the Second World War, Le Havre was rebuilt between 1945 and 1964, for the most part using precast concrete. Architect Auguste Perret won applause for his modern designs, and the city's central hub is one of the few inscribed contemporary UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Le Havre - Among one of Auguste Perret's more famous buildings is Église St-Joseph (St. Joseph's Church). It acts as a memorial to the 5,000 civilians that lost their lives during the Second Would War. Pictured is an interior view of the concrete spire.

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Le Havre - Le Havre dazzles with its museum offering but if you only browse one make sure its Musée d'art moderne André Malraux. It houses one of the nation's most extensive collections of Impressionist paintings. Works include those by Claude Monet and other artists who lived and worked in Normandy. Pictured: 'Fécamp, bord de mer' (1881).

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Claude Monet (1840–1926) - Paris-born Monet moved with his family to Le Havre when he was five years old. The region and its landscape would have a profound influence on the man credited as a founder of French Impressionist painting. Pictured: 'Impression, Sunrise' (1872), which depicts to the port of Le Havre.

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Le Havre - Acclaimed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer is responsible for Le Volcan ("the volcano"), the city's premier cultural venue and its most conspicuous landmark.

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Caen - As much a museum dedicated to the history of violence and conflict in the 20th century as it is a memorial to the Second World War and the momentous events of D-Day, this striking facility is best appreciated by taking the full-day tour, which includes excursions to historic D-Day sites. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Caen - Scene of a major D-Day objective of the British airborne troops, Pegasus Bridge became one of the defining symbols of the Battle of Normandy. The original bridge now resides in the grounds of the Pegasus Museum, which is part of the wider Memorial Pegasus facility.

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Château Gaillard - The ruins of this medieval castle loom large over Les Andelays and the River Seine. Richard the Lionheart oversaw its construction, which began in 1196. A popular tourist attraction, the castle affords jaw-dropping views of the surrounding countryside.

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Longues-sur-Mer - The Normandy coast is peppered with reminders of German wartime occupation, and you don't have to go far before coming face-to-face with impressive defensive fortifications like the Longues-sur-Mer Battery. Located between the Allied landing beaches of Gold and Omaha, this mighty gun shelled both beaches on D-Day.

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French cuisine - French haute cuisine is well represented throughout Normandy by restaurants like SaQuaNa in Honfleur. Here, chef Alexandre Bourdas has garnered two Michelin stars for his inventive menu. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Château de Caen - Officially designated as a Monument historique since 1886, Caen's chunky-walled castle was built on the orders of William the Conqueror. The foundations of William's 1060 residence can still be seen within the grounds. The dry moat provides an inspiring circuit for walkers.

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Seine-Maritime - The evocative ruins of Abbaye de Jumièges make a diversion to this region of Normandy an enlightening experience. What you see today largely dates back to 1067, but there has been a Benedictine monastery on this site since 654. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Deauville - The flashy seaside resort of Deauville has long been home to French high society. Its upmarket credentials are further enhanced with its hosting of the annual Deauville American Film Festival. The 2019 edition begins September 6 and runs to September 15.

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Giverny - Artist Claude Monet's home for the last 43 years of his life is now a charming house-museum, the Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet. Tour the interior before wandering through the flower-flecked gardens—inspiration for some of his most famous paintings. (Photo: Wikimedia /CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Mont-Saint-Michel - More than 3 million people a year visit this tiny island situated at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The destination and its magnificent 11th-century abbey is one of the most recognized landmarks in France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Calvados - Toast your visit to this charming corner of France with a glass of calvados, a beautifully smooth and potent apple brandy made almost exclusively in Normandy. It can also be made using pears. Santé! (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Cheese, please - Among Normandy's culinary claims to fame is its dairy produce, and especially its cheeses. The region is famous for Camembert, a French favorite. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei - It's certainly worth venturing inland and discovering rural Normandy. The region is dotted with dozens of impossibly pretty villages like this one, set in verdant woodland on the River Sarthe. Its medieval bridge is the subject of many an artist's canvas. (Photo: Flickr /CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Dieppe -

This busy Channel port is often overlooked as tourists drive off ferries and motor elsewhere. Take time out discover gems like Château de Dieppe. Restored in the 15th century, the castle affords glorious views across the city. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Normandy beyond the beaches

As the region commemorates D-Day, there's plenty to see in Normandy

06/06/19 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Normandy

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings in France, when on June 6, 1944, Allied forces took part in the largest seaborne invasion in history. Code named Operation Neptune, the operation is better known as D-Day.

Three quarters of a century later, the landings and subsequent Battle of Normandy (code named Operation Overlord), which resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control, is being commemorated in a series of special events and remembrance services taking place in France, the UK, the United States, and Canada.

Normandy has served as a place of pilgrimage for Second World War veterans for many decades. Besides the five D-Day beaches—Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword—the region is dotted with numerous monuments, museums, and memorials dedicated to the fallen. And then of course, there are the military cemeteries.

By the end of June 6, the Americans alone had lost 3,000 men at Omaha Beach. In all, around 10,000 combatants were killed during the invasion. Many rest in the 30 or so war cemeteries located across the region, from all sides of the conflict.

While these D-Day visitor attractions make for fascinating and poignant exploration, discovering Normandy beyond its wartime past reveals a destination renowned for an extraordinary array of cultural treasures, natural wonders, unique gastronomy, and even a red carpet Hollywood-style film festival!

Normandy's regional capital is Rouen. Sitting on the River Seine, the city is an eye-popping tour de force, celebrated for its soaring Gothic cathedral, picture-book medieval quarter, and a bewildering choice of first-class museums.

With its engaging history and storied past, Rouen is a perfect introduction to this corner of France. Spend a few days here absorbing its rich cultural vibe before reaching out further afield and letting Normandy conquer your senses.