Cruising to Northern France is an unforgettable experience. There are so many A-list places to see and so much variety.
There are two cruise ports in Northern France - - Le Havre and Cherborug. Both are on the English channel and serve as jumping off places for shore excursions into Normandy and the interior of France.
If one is interested in art, there is Monet’s home at Giverny. The grounds of the house were the subject of many of the Impressionist master’s finest works. Restored to how they looked in his day, a visit to the gardens is like stepping into the paintings.
An emotional experience of a different kind is a visit to the D-Day landing beaches along the Normandy coast. Peaceful now, this area still retains reminders of the struggle that took place there in 1944 for quite literally the future of the world. If one knows the history of the battle, one can walk the area and see where the various incidents occurred. However, even if one is not a history buff, places like the American Cemetery with its rows upon rows of grave markers bring home the human element of the story.
Yet another experience is journeying into Paris for the day. Paris is a significant distance from the ports. However, there is enough time during the typical port call to make a visit. Paris is one of the world’s great cities and there will not be time to get to know her in depth. However, for those who are new to the city, there is enough time to get a quick overview of the landmarks and a feel for the atmosphere. For those who have been there before, there is time to make a focused visit limited to one or two aspects of the city.
Beyondships’ photo essay on cruising to Northern France begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-1.html
There are two cruise ports in Northern France - - Le Havre and Cherborug. Both are on the English channel and serve as jumping off places for shore excursions into Normandy and the interior of France.
If one is interested in art, there is Monet’s home at Giverny. The grounds of the house were the subject of many of the Impressionist master’s finest works. Restored to how they looked in his day, a visit to the gardens is like stepping into the paintings.
An emotional experience of a different kind is a visit to the D-Day landing beaches along the Normandy coast. Peaceful now, this area still retains reminders of the struggle that took place there in 1944 for quite literally the future of the world. If one knows the history of the battle, one can walk the area and see where the various incidents occurred. However, even if one is not a history buff, places like the American Cemetery with its rows upon rows of grave markers bring home the human element of the story.
Yet another experience is journeying into Paris for the day. Paris is a significant distance from the ports. However, there is enough time during the typical port call to make a visit. Paris is one of the world’s great cities and there will not be time to get to know her in depth. However, for those who are new to the city, there is enough time to get a quick overview of the landmarks and a feel for the atmosphere. For those who have been there before, there is time to make a focused visit limited to one or two aspects of the city.
Beyondships’ photo essay on cruising to Northern France begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-1.html
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