HISTORIC Normandy

Few places anywhere in the world can combine medieval and modern history quite so seamlessly as Normandy, in northern France. Here, World War II cemeteries and memorials rest serenely, harmonious in the shadow of the truly magnificent Norman cathedrals, all but a stone’s throw away from the lush, green countryside for which the region is so famous.

The birthplace of William the Conqueror, this area is immortalised in modern-day memory as the site of the D-Day landings.

If you’re heading from Paris, your first stop on this journey should almost certainly be the town of Giverny, on the border of Normandy.