Region Overviews: France Travel Guide: Overview
Long considered a global center of art, science, philosophy and sophistication, France boasts incredible diversity in its offerings to travelers.
These places will make an impression on your family. From D-Day beaches to bountiful orchards, windswept plateaus and storybook villages. Iconic settings will stir your emotions, while the sheer beauty of your surroundings will spark your joie de vivre. Brittany and Normandy are a rare blend of history and natural splendor.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Casual Hotels
Start Saint-Malo / End Caen
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Discover the magical island monastery and cathedral of World Heritage Mont-St-Michel, an important European pilgrimage center and home to Europe's most dramatic tide change | Bike an unforgettable route with vistas of the magnificently wild Emerald Coast | Unparalleled sea views await in the fortified city of St-Malo | A stop at a crêperie is a must as you enjoy rural rides and traditional Breton towns | Spin through St-Suliac, one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages | Saunter along an attractive maze of cobblestone lanes, 13th-century half-timbered houses and art galleries in the charming harbor town of Dinan | Take a family ride to Cancale, the oyster capital of Brittany.
A Second Empire villa set in the heart of Brittany with easy access to the beach and to the region's best sights.
Ride Normandy's scenic waves of country roads | Explore the well-preserved battery at Longues-sur-Mer | Behold the ruins of artificial ports constructed to aid in the D-Day invasion in seaside Arromanches | Pause at Juno beach and check out the remains of the Mulberry harbor | Stroll through neatly manicured gardens at Château de Brécy | While away the afternoon by the pool or at the spa at our welcoming castle-hotel.
Not far from the landing beaches, a charming 18th-century castle turned hotel surrounded by sprawling formal gardens and featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant. (pool)
Continue your family journey along the coast in an area of Normandy beloved for its grand manors and delicious cider and cheeses | Bike quiet roads through a chartreuse forest | Visit the gorgeously ornate 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry | Ride alongside rolling pastures, apple orchards and peaceful woodland | Cycle past elegant estates en route to the ruined clifftop bunkers of the German stronghold Pointe du Hoc | Join a local historian for a private tour of Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer | Wander through lovely Bayeux, a great spot for an afternoon café.
A gracious 18th-century château nestled amid the trees just outside the historic center of Bayeux.
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Long considered a global center of art, science, philosophy and sophistication, France boasts incredible diversity in its offerings to travelers.
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