Normandy Private Food & Calvados Tour

Bienvenue en France! Your adventure begins in Paris, the fabled “City of Light.” A private Mercedes will be waiting to whisk you from the airport to your first destination: Giverny. This delightful country village has long been a pilgrimage place for Impressionism devotees. Claude Monet lived here from 1883 until he died in 1926 in a pastel-pink house surrounded by utterly idyllic gardens. Enjoy a private guided tour of the artist’s home and stunning gardens; marvel at the symmetrically laid-out gardens bursting with every conceivable type of flower. They, indeed, are a sight to behold.

Vernon, a picturesque town on the banks of the River Seine in the Eure department, is another highlight of your 1st day. Its charming streets and squares are filled with lovely half-timber houses dating back to the 16th century. Construction of Vernon’s Gothic church began in the 11th century, although it wasn’t completed until the 1600s. The stained-glass windows are stunning.

Of course, you must make room for the sensual and historic. After your tour, your chauffeur will take you to Le Jardin des Plumes, one of Normandy’s best restaurants. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in the convivial surroundings of a contemporary and very welcoming restaurant. Highlights include Les escargots de la Broche (snails from a particular farm in Normandy), served with mint in a delectable pastry case. But make room for the main event, which could be a roast rabbit or perhaps frog legs served in delicious tempura. This divine Gallic feast will be paired with a selection of wines. Although Normandy has no viticultural heritage, fine wines from nearby French regions will complement your meal. Champagne and Chablis would be ideal.

After lunch, you deserve some luxurious rest and relaxation. Your chauffeur will take you to your hotel, Château d’Audrieu,  a glorious chateau in Normandy’s splendid countryside. Check in, relax, and unwind. A pampering spa awaits you, or perhaps you’d prefer a stroll and an evening aperitif. The evening is yours at leisure.

Today is going to be very special indeed. After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, your driver will take you to the lovely town of Bayeux. It has become famous throughout the English-speaking world thanks to a majestic 68m-long piece of painstakingly embroidered cloth: the 11th-century Bayeux tapestry is yours to admire at leisure. Its fifty-eight vivid scenes intricately narrate the story of the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The Battle of Hastings showdown is depicted graphically, with a spectacular appearance of Halley’s Comet, which blazed across the sky in the same year.

Lunch is served at L’Angle Saint-Laurent, another of Normandy’s gastronomic hotspots. This quaint, inviting restaurant specializes in local delicacies and is understandably popular with discerning locals. Following an aperitif, lavish your tastebuds on thin slices of Normandy scallops, butternut squash soup served with chorizo, or perhaps the legendary Normandy duck foie gras. Main courses get better and better – if Normandy pork chop served with semi-roasted gherkin and pearl barley doesn’t whet your appetite, then Normandy veal filet, served with baked eggplant sprinkled with smoked mozzarella and buckwheat surely will. The restaurant will also serve excellent wines to match each course.

After lunch, prepare to be utterly captivated by one of France’s most iconic images: the slender towers and sky-scraping turrets of the abbey of Mont St-Michel rising from stout ramparts and battlements, the whole ensemble connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway.

Marvel at the extraordinary architecture – this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to the Middle Ages. During the Hundred Years’ War, the English blockaded and besieged Mont St-Michel three times. The bay became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979. It is also famed for having Europe’s highest tidal variations.

After a surfeit of culture and gastronomy, it’s time to return to your luxurious accommodation. The evening is entirely at your disposal.

Today brings a new variety of sights, smells, and sounds of Normandy. After breakfast, your luxury Mercedes will take you to France’s most famous cheese village – Camembert. Even those not aficionados of the renowned cheese will love this enchanting village. With its timber-framed farms built on lush green slopes, Camembert offers an authentic entry into Normandy’s’ timeless rural life. Of course, you’re here to learn more about the village’s signature export, so we’ve arranged a VIP tour and tasting at Fromagerie Durand.

The invention of Camembert is generally credited to Marie Harel, who was supposedly given the secret of soft cheese-making by an Abbott from Brie on the run from Revolutionary mobs in 1790. But whatever the truth of the legend, you’ll enjoy an unparalleled tour at what is arguably Normandy’s most excellent artisan cheese producer.

And there’s more to follow. After you finish sampling delicious Camembert, we’ve arranged another VIP visit to Calvados producer Pierre Huet Cambremer. One of the leading lights of boutique Calvados production, this family firm has made Calvados (apple brandy) for generations. Gain invaluable insights into the unique apple-growing terroir of the region and enjoy their exquisite collection of apple brandies – this is a significant highlight of the tour.

Lunch is a light affair today – we recommend an utterly traditional lunch of crêpes at Les Jardins du Pays d’Auge, just next to the Calvados distillery. Bon appétit!

The afternoon then calls for something exceptional indeed. Chateau du Breuil is one of the region’s most historic and renowned Calvados producers, so a VIP tour and tasting in their grandiose premises will be memorable. Remember, you’re not driving today, so enjoy the tasting to its full extent and indulge yourself.

When you’re ready, the chauffeur will take you to Cabourg. This exclusive seaside town was reportedly Marcel Proust’s favorite vacation spot, and it’s easy to see why. Chic, understated, and supremely elegant – Cabourg has an effortless class about it. We’ve arranged your stay in the town’s leading hotel, Le Grand Hôtel, which offers sea views and exemplary service. Check in, relax, and enjoy a blissfully relaxing stroll along the promenade.

After a gourmet breakfast at your hotel, we invite you to become better acquainted with Caen. Founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Caen, the capital of the Basse Normandie region, suffered 80% destruction during the Battle of Normandy. Tastefully and lovingly restored, Caen today is a fascinating destination, offering a walled medieval chateau, two ancient abbeys, and several excellent museums, including a groundbreaking war memorial. Situated 3km northwest of the city center, the innovative Memorial – Un Musee pour la Paix (Memorial – A Museum for Peace) provides an insightful and vivid account of the Battle of Normandy.

Lunch should prove to be equally memorable. We’ve reserved a table for you at a leading Michelin-starred restaurant, Ivan Vautier, which boasts a gorgeous garden terrace. It’s an enticing package – world-class service, gastronomy, and wine in the most sumptuous surroundings. Your personalized lunch-tasting menu, tailored to your tastes and dietary requirements, might feature a sea bream fillet served with French beans, tomato shallots, red pepper, or sous-vide cooked pork loin. Naturally, the wine pairings will be 1st class.

After lunch, your driver will take you on a tour of Normandy’s most famous strip of coastline – the five D-Day landing beaches. Code-named’ Operation Overlord,’ the D-Day landings were the largest military operation in history. On 6 June 1944, swarms of landing crafts hit the northern Normandy beaches, and tens of thousands of soldiers from the USA, the UK, Canada, and elsewhere began pouring onto French soil. The code names for the five landing beaches were Utah, Omaha, Gold, June, and Sword.

We also have made time for you to explore the Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial at Colleville Sur Mer. The military cemeteries scattered across Normandy are a powerful reminder of the actual cost of the liberation of Europe from Nazi domination. The American cemetery above Omaha Beach was established in the late 1940s when American war dead were brought here from temporary cemeteries established during the fighting. Strolling around the memorial, one cannot help but be moved by the sheer scale of the devastation and marvel at the courage of the US service members who helped liberate Europe.

When you’re ready, your chauffeur will take you back to Cabourg for a relaxing evening at your leisure. A glass of Champagne before dinner? Why not!

This morning, you’ll have the chance to visit Normandy’s coastal gems, towns of such charm and elegance that you’ll never want to leave. Your driver will start today’s tour at Houlgate, a chic and compact resort with a lovely beach perfect for the aimless ambler. After enjoying the tranquility of Houlgate, prepare to be dazzled.

Honfleur is, without question, Normandy’s most charming seaside town. Long a favorite with painters but now more popular with the Parisian jet set, Honfleur’s nautical tradition dates back millennia. After the Norman invasion of England in 1066, goods bound for the conquered isle were shipped across the channel from here. Today, Honfleur’s beating heart – and unmissable attraction – is the Vieux Bassin (Old Town) from where explorers once set sail for the New World—now filled with pleasure yachts, the pastel-colored buildings that surround the port beg to be explored. A local expert will guide you around this magical town, explaining highlights and offering amusing insights and anecdotes about local characters throughout history; together, you will explore quai Sainte-Catherine – lined with tall, taper-thin houses. There is something timeless about this part of the world.

The Eglise Ste-Catherine also begs to be explored. Initially intended as a temporary structure, this extraordinary Church has stood in the square for over 500 years. Constructed by the people of Honfleur during the 15th and 16th centuries, after their stone predecessor was destroyed in the Hundred Years’ War, the Church was built using wood to save funds for strengthening the surrounding fortifications. The Church’s free-standing wooden bell tower is magnificent.

Lunch is at your discretion, but we recommend Restaurant L’Homme de Bois, a traditional brasserie serving exquisite shellfish, fish, and meat dishes in a candle-lit dining room. Specialties include mussels, fish soup, and lobster.

After your gourmet and leisurely lunch, relax in your comfortable Mercedes as we ferry you to a very glamorous and luxurious hotel, La Ferme Saint Siméon, on the outskirts of Honfleur. After a painless check-in, why not avail yourself of the pampering spa – the essence of tranquility. The evening is free, but the hotel has an excellent onsite restaurant. Alternatively, they will be happy to recommend restaurants in Honfleur.

Today, we would like you to experience the epic beauty of Rouen. After breakfast, your chauffeur will whisk you away to one of Normandy’s key highlights. An expert private guide will be waiting to ensure you enjoy the very best on a bespoke tour of this medieval gem. With its elegant spires, beautifully restored medieval quarter, and soaring Gothic cathedral, the ancient city of Rouen understandably features on everyone’s bucket list.

Known to the Romans as Rotomagus, Rouen has had a turbulent history – it was devastated several times over the centuries by fire and plague. The old city’s main thoroughfare is delightful and demands a lengthy investigation. It was the scene of Joan of Arc’s execution in 1431 – the warrior who helped to defeat the English during the Hundred Years’ War was tried and executed on a charge of treason. She died a martyr, burned at the stake.

After your VIP tour, we invite you to lunch at a quintessential Rouen tavern – La Petite Auberge. One of their specialties is snails, but if that’s not your liking, then a host of gastronomic delicacies wait. A local highlight is Canard a la Rouennaise – duck stuffed with its liver and served with a red wine sauce, a Rouen-style delicacy. Enjoyed with a glass of red Burgundy, perhaps Volnay; nothing is finer.

In the afternoon, your driver will detour to Pont-l’Évêque, a hamlet synonymous with cheese for centuries. Some of the most enduring names in the pungent world of French cheese come from Normandy, and Pont-l’Évêque is undoubtedly the prettiest destination. During World War II, the Battle of Normandy severely damaged the hamlet, but it has been carefully restored. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, order a glass of wine with a selection of local cheeses, unwind, and soak up the atmosphere.

In the evening you’ll return to your hotel. Why not reserve a table at their excellent restaurant or bar?

This is your last full day in Normandy, so we have organized a spectacular send-off! After breakfast, your driver will take you to Deauville airport, where a VIP helicopter tour of the surrounding region awaits. The itinerary encompasses Honfleur, Le Pont de Normandie, and Etretat. The quaint village of Etretat is renowned for its twin cliffs, Falaise d’Aval and Falaise d’Armont, which flank a pebbly beach. Enjoy unparalleled views of the d’Aval and d’Armont cliffs, with d’Aval famously likened to an elephant dipping its trunk into the sea by French writer Maupassant. The adjacent Aiguille is a 70m-high spire of chalk-white rock rising from the surface of the waves. Utterly breathtaking.

Following that exhilarating ride, a gourmet lunch awaits. We promised you a spectacular finale, and l’essentiel does not disappoint. Deauville’s most elegant restaurant would have you start with poached langoustine, cooked in a smoked eel broth, garnished with Thai grass, or veal tartar served on a bed of cashews, pistachio oil, and wasabi. Marrying classic French gastronomy with fusion influences, l’essentiel is Normandy’s most sophisticated restaurant. Pigeon, stuffed cabbage, and tamarin juice call for a memorable pairing; fortunately, the restaurant’s cellar is formidable! Our top choice? Chateau Trotanoy.

What could surpass this hedonistic feast? We’ve decided to let you enjoy Deauville at your own pace. Impossibly chic, Deauville has served as a playground for the rich and famous since its founding in 1861 by Napoleon III’s half-brother, the Duke of Morny. Today, it is packed with excellent restaurants, deluxe hotels, and glamorous boutiques and is home to two racetracks and a high-profile American film festival.

So, where to start? In Deauville, the rich and beautiful strut their stuff along the beachside Promenade des Planches, a 643m-long boardwalk lined with cabins named after famous Americans (mainly film stars), before swimming in the nearby Piscine Olympique or losing some euros at the casino. Alternatively, you can unwind at a seafront cafe with a glass of Champagne.

When you’re ready to depart, the chauffeur will return you to Honfleur. We sincerely hope you’ve had a blast. The last evening is at your leisure, so why not explore some of Honfleur’s lovely and hospitable restaurants?

We are sorry to say that today marks the end of your tour. Your private chauffeur will transfer you back to Paris or your next port of call at your convenience.

We hope you had an unforgettable time on this gourmet, luxury tour of beautiful, historic Normandy. Bon voyage!