Explore Rouen’s beautifully preserved medieval center, with its narrow half-timbered houses and elegant squares. Visit the soaring Rouen Cathedral, famously painted by Monet, and admire the Gros-Horloge, a magnificent Renaissance astronomical clock arching over one of the city’s busiest streets. Stroll to the Old Market Square where Joan of Arc was executed, marked today by a modern church and memorial. Time permitting, you can also discover churches such as Saint-Maclou or Saint-Ouen Abbey, masterpieces of flamboyant Gothic architecture that showcase the city’s rich spiritual past.

On the way to the coast, stop at a traditional Calvados distillery set amid rolling orchards. Learn how apples and pears are transformed step-by-step into Normandy’s emblematic apple brandy, from fermentation to distillation and long aging in oak barrels. Wander between gleaming copper stills and cool, fragrant cellars lined with wooden casks. A guided tasting introduces you to different styles and ages of Calvados, along with cider or pommeau, offering a deeper appreciation of the region’s rural traditions and unique terroir.

Arrive in Honfleur, a postcard-perfect harbor town that has inspired generations of painters. Walk around the Vieux Bassin, where tall slate-covered houses reflect in the tranquil water alongside colorful fishing boats and yachts. Explore the cobbled lanes filled with art galleries, boutiques, and cozy cafés, and visit Sainte-Catherine Church, the remarkable all-wooden church built by shipwrights, whose ceiling resembles an inverted ship’s hull. You may also visit the Eugène Boudin Museum or the old salt warehouses, and enjoy the lively ambiance of the harbor terraces and small squares that reveal Honfleur’s maritime and artistic soul.

Continue to Étretat, famous for its dramatic white chalk cliffs and natural stone arches sculpted by the sea and wind. Walk along the seafront promenade and pebble beach, then follow one of the coastal paths up to the viewpoints over the Falaise d’Aval, the “Needle” rock, and the opposite cliff crowned by the small chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde. Enjoy time to take photos, breathe in the fresh sea air, or relax with a drink in the village below. If time allows, you can also explore the gardens of Étretat, offering contemporary sculptures and spectacular panoramas over the coast. This final stop brings together wild coastal scenery, artistic inspiration, and pure Norman atmosphere before your return journey.