Go green in Normandy – Sustainable Tourism

Valleuse de Vaucottes, Normandy eco tourism to go green in Normandy — *Valleuse de Vaucottes, © Marie-Anaïs Thierry, Normandy Tourism*

Lush countryside is not the only green thing about Normandy. Check out the region’s sustainable initiatives and events and go green in Normandy.

Caen Millennium blends past, present and future

*Vaugueux, the old district of Caen, © Ben Collier, Normandy Tourism*

First mentioned in documents generated by the Dukes of Normandy, the city of Caen honoured its past and shaped its future through 2025 with a wide range of events marking 1000 years of colourful history.

The castle has undergone a landscaping project with around 75% of the 4-hectare site having redesigned walkways leading to the museums and other sites within the castle walls. Highlights of the medieval fortress, one of the largest in Europe, include the battlements, Exchequer Hall and Saint George’s Church plus newly revealed hidden treasures such as the remains of the castle keep, the watchtowers and Porte Saint-Pierre jails.

Abbaye Aux Hommes, the Men’s Abbey, Caen — *Abbaye Aux Hommes, the Men’s Abbey, © S. Frères, Normandy Tourism*

A local study proved that encounters with works of art are good for our mental health, so residents and visitors alike can up their wellbeing at the many museums and monuments. The quiet cloisters of the Men’s Abbey and Women’s Abbey, for instance; an innovative iron sculpture along the castle ramparts over the summer months; and the leafy Cimetière des Quatre-Saisons.

With 25% of the city’s overall surface area made up of parkland, Caen is ranked 8^th on the list of France’s greenest cities. See the sites by following one of the two pedestrian trails, rent a bicycle, or use the free electric shuttle bus for trips within the city centre. In 2024, the wider area of Caen la Mer was awarded the Green Destinations label, Silver level, by the World Council for Sustainable Tourism in recognition of factors such as nature conservation and cultural preservation.

And as Caen looks to the future, the city’s Millennium commemorations also aimed to develop large-scale projects at the crossroads of culture and science, an initiative that will further cement Caen’s creative and dynamic reputation.

Discounts for low-carbon travellers – go green in Normandy

*La Bouille, the village was loved by artists such as Gaugin, Sisley and Turner © Ben Collier, Normandy Tourism*

We all want to do our bit for the planet and thanks to Normandy’s Low Carbon Rate initiative, visitors can now save money on their holiday budget too. More than 70 cultural and tourist sites are joining forces to offer a reduced rate to those who lower their carbon footprint through travelling travel by train, coach or bike.

On arriving at a partner site, simply present a dated ticket to a train station in Normandy, a bus ticket, or a photo of you and your bicycle to benefit from at least 10% discount on admission. And if you are not sure how to get to your destination by public transport, simply visit www.atoumod.fr to use the regional route itinerary calculator.

Included in the scheme are some of Normandy’s most high-profile visitor attractions. Museums such as Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg with its Art Deco Transatlantic liner terminal, Titanic exhibition, and stunning aquariums. Remembrance sites like the Pegasus Memorial Museum at Ranville, located beside the strategic bridge that was the first target on D-Day. And castles such as Falaise, birthplace of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and future King William I of England.

Meet some of the elegant equine residents of the Haras National du Pin, flagship stud in a national network of bloodstock breeding centres and dubbed the ‘Versailles of the Horse’ for its classic brick buildings. And discover the secrets of local lacemakers at the Fine Arts and Lace Museum in Alençon. Sustainable travellers can also save money on activities such as guided canoe trips, cycle tours and horse riding.

Details of the partner sites: en.normandie-tourisme.fr

Follow the 2025 Tour de France route through Normandy

“Standing with Giants” installation at the British Normandy Memorial — “*Standing with Giants” installation at the British Normandy Memorial Photo © Ben Collier, Normandy Tourism*

Many holidaymakers have discovered the delights of cycling through the Normandy countryside and in 2025, this lush landscape was on show to the world as the Tour de France returned to the region.

Competitors left Amiens in the neighbouring region of Hauts de France for a hilly 173km leg to Rouen, described by Victor Hugo as ‘the city of a hundred spires’ and a stage tour for the 19^th time. If you are following the Tour route, leave time to visit the magnificent cathedral, fine arts museum and church dedicated to Joan of Arc. Next day the riders faced an individual time-trial over a 33km loop from Caen, the first time that Le Tour went to William the Conqueror’s ducal city since 2006.

Another hilly ride awaits competitors on the third and final day in Normandy, a 201km ride from Bayeux to Vire. Home to the famous tapestry of William’s invasion of England in 1066, another stunning cathedral, and a moving Commonwealth cemetery from World War II, Bayeux had never previously hosted a Tour de France peloton, but Vire hosted four Tour finishes in the 1930s and featured on stage two in 1997.

The Guillaume de Normandie – new hybrid ferry for a sustainable future

Named after William of Normandy, holder of England’s top job from 1066, a new hybrid vessel from Brittany Ferries is a cleaner, greener cruise-ferry that joined the Portsmouth to Caen-Ouistreham route in 2025l, sailing three times a day.

Guillaume de Normandie and its sister ship Saint-Malo are the first ferries on the English Channel to be powered by hybrid-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-electric propulsion. They will each be equipped with the largest batteries of any ferry in the world and this hybrid technology will deliver reduced emissions throughout the voyage, but especially when manoeuvring in port where the ships will operate on battery power alone. A sustainable start to any holiday in Normandy.

Replacing the long-serving Normandie, the new ship sports a bright new design with colour highlights that are typical of the coastal area – the light blue timbers of traditional seaside villas and the vibrant primary colours of beach huts. For passengers wanting a bed but not necessarily a private cabin, new dormitory style bunk beds with a nautical feel look set to prove a popular option. In addition, passengers can choose from a wider range of deluxe cabin grades and, in a first for Brittany Ferries, the new ship will also offer cabins especially furnished for passengers with allergies.

And for travellers who cannot bear to be parted from their pets whilst on holiday, Guillaume de Normandie features 22 pet-friendly cabins with hygienic laminated floors and convenient access to a dedicated pet promenade area on the outside decks.

Caen ferry port at Ouistreham is just 15km north of the city with direct access to the autoroute network. Foot passengers can catch a bus into the city centre with Twisto (www.twisto.fr/en) or into Paris with Flixbus (www.flixbus.co.uk) or by train.