This picturesque Normandy seaside town leaves an impression.
Once the stomping ground of French Impressionists like Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin, Honfleur is every bit as picturesque in real life as it is in the paintings. Candy-coloured buildings line the harbour, where yachts and fishing boats set sail along the Seine Estuary, while the 15th-century Saint Catherine’s Church and the modern Pont de Normandie are architectural masterpieces. Campers make a beeline for the sandy Plage du Butin just north of town―a favourite among vacationing Parisians―where the family campground has plenty of space for tents and caravans, and there’s also an aire (motorhome park) with electric hookups right in town.
From Cabourg to Honfleur, the northeast coast of the Calvados department is nicknamed the “Côte Fleurie” or “Floral Coast” for its wildflower-speckled countryside. Deauville, Trouville-sur-Mer, and Houlgate are among the most visited resorts, where the Belle Epoque villas provide an elegant backdrop for a beach camping vacation.
No visit to Normandy is complete without a tour of the region’s many WWII memorials, battlefields, and D-Day Landing Beaches. Start in the port city of Caen, visit Omaha, Juno, and Utah Beaches, and tag on a visit to Bayeux to see the world-famous tapestry. Road-trippers will find plenty of pit stops en route, whether you prefer a 4-star holiday park or a tranquil rural Hipcamp.
Inland from Honfleur, the Seine River winds through the Normandy countryside to the city of Rouen. Check into a caravan park with an on-site swimming pool or rent a mobile home in country towns like Fiquefleur Equainville or Pont-l'Évêque, or head into the Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande to enjoy hiking, biking, and horse riding along miles of forest trails.
Summer is the high season is Honfleur, and as one of the closest beaches to Paris, the small town is overflowing with tourists come July and August. Time your visit for the annual Honfleur Festival (July) and make the most of the wildflower season along the “Floral Coast.” As in the rest of France, camping season runs from April through October, but some campgrounds stay open year-round, and those that do often have special offers during low season.