Tour Ideas from Cherbourg

[june1]

We will have a day in Cherbourg and have been to Normandy Beaches, Mt. St. Michel, Bayeux, Honfleur, Loire castles, Rouen all on a France tour. What else to do around Cherbourg preferably on our own.

Thanks,

June1

[John Bull]

Falaise, via the villages of the Bocage?

But needs a car

JB

[june1]

John Bull,

Thankyou for the good idea.

 

You helped me last year on a cruise around the British Isles and I appreciate it.

June1

[John Bull]

No prob, June, glad to be of help.

 

Best bet is the N13 to just beyond Carentan, down to St Lo, then follow the lanes across the Bocage, thro Villers-Bocage & on to Falaise.

Restored castle of William the Conqueror, proper castle, not chateau. (Norman invasion of Saxon England, 1066 & all that, as per Bayeux tapestry), & some quaint shops & bars.

 

Since the fastest route back to Cherbourg is about 2 hrs (N158/Caen ring road/N13), give yourself plenty of time for delays (the roads are fast except for the Caen ring but you never know) & stop off at the German WW2 cemetery at La Cambe (1 hr from Cherbourg), quite a contrast to the American cemetery. Or, if you've not been there, Ste Mere-Eglise (half-hour from Cherbourg), excellent airborne museum.

 

If its a sunday, you'll find car-hire difficult

 

Bonne chance :)

JB

[tartanexile81]

We walked from the port to the railway station in Cherbourg and took the train to Bayeux. Thought it was a a lovely town with a beautiful cathedral, the Tapestry of course and the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery. We had a great lunch and just enjoyed the typical French atmosphere. The French railways timetables can be found at

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

[cccruisin]

No prob, June, glad to be of help.

 

Best bet is the N13 to just beyond Carentan, down to St Lo, then follow the lanes across the Bocage, thro Villers-Bocage & on to Falaise.

Restored castle of William the Conqueror, proper castle, not chateau. (Norman invasion of Saxon England, 1066 & all that, as per Bayeux tapestry), & some quaint shops & bars.

 

Since the fastest route back to Cherbourg is about 2 hrs (N158/Caen ring road/N13), give yourself plenty of time for delays (the roads are fast except for the Caen ring but you never know) & stop off at the German WW2 cemetery at La Cambe (1 hr from Cherbourg), quite a contrast to the American cemetery. Or, if you've not been there, Ste Mere-Eglise (half-hour from Cherbourg), excellent airborne museum.

 

If its a sunday, you'll find car-hire difficult

 

Bonne chance :)

JB

Hi! We are 2 couples sailing on the QM 2 in September. Roll Call is like dead. Trying to find a tour for Normandy with very little success and in Cork Butler Buses says already booked - I think Cunard must have hired him - anyway any suggestions would be very appreaciated!! Thanx

[John Bull]

Hi! We are 2 couples sailing on the QM 2 in September. Roll Call is like dead. Trying to find a tour for Normandy with very little success and in Cork Butler Buses says already booked - I think Cunard must have hired him - anyway any suggestions would be very appreaciated!! Thanx

 

My suggestion was for someone who's been there, done that.

 

But can I suggest that the 4 of you hire a car (problematic on a sunday), to visit the D-Day beaches & sights.

You don't mention your port, the US sights are closer to Cherbourg but ships tend to depart a little later from Le Havre, so you can see the important sights from either port. Omaha, US cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Ste Mere Eglise, mebbe Arromanches, mebbe the German cemetery at La Cambe (very different to the US cemetery). Bits of real France around too :)

Easy enough without a guide, worth some research but there's plenty of signage, english-language books, folk to answer a few questions at most sights.

Or Mont St Michel from Cherbourg.

Or Rouen from Le H.

Or Bayeux from either - easy train journey from C'bourg.

 

Sorry, can't help with Cork.

Try the British Isles board?

 

JB :)

[cccruisin]

Thank you for the input. We arrive at Cherborg port on TuesdaySsept 13. We have tried the Britian board, the Cunard board and the QM2 board for Cork = got one or two inquiries. never heard such quite boards like Cunard has. we will keep trying.....