William the Conqueror Discovery tour

Gone are the days when the Middle Ages were seen as a dark and barbaric era. Today, medieval Normandy is above all a landscape filled with monuments, castles, abbeys and cathedrals, in the heart of preserved towns and villages. It tells a story of our childhood memories that link to a saga of warriors arriving by sea, conquering princes, valiant knights, bold kings and wars that lasted a hundred years.

This landscape is a constant reminder of the ancient duchy of William the Conqueror and the Norman territory. Let's discover his story through this brand new car tour!

Bayeux's historic centre boasts a remarkable architectural ensemble. 2,000 years of history are revealed with half-timbered buildings, tower houses and private mansions. Stroll around the cathedral, the bishop's palace and of course visit the famous Tapestry Museum (closed Sept 2025-2027)!

Falaise was founded in the Middle Ages and developed in the shadow of its imposing fortress. Birthplace of William the Conqueror, it was an important economic centre, famous for its trade and industry.

Richard the Lionheart, the great great grandson of William, was the troubadour prince who boasted that he owned Excalibur, the sword of the mythical King Arthur! It took him only two years (some say even one year) to built Château Gaillard near the village of the Andelys on the high chalk cliffs overlooking the Seine.

In Honfleur, discover how William the Conqueror’s past comes to life and transport yourself to the heart of the epic conquest of England through a unique immersive experience!

Houlgate, on the pretty Côte Fleurie, has a historic past that does not go unnoticed. The William the Conqueror column is one of these symbolic reminders of this era.

About 3km away from the centre of Houlgate, is the port town of Dives sur Mer and it is a must visit! With a medieval past still very much in evidence today, William’s favourite town boasts some architectural gems that will delight you!

On your way back, let yourself be transported to the charming streets of the city of Caen and discover its most famous historic monuments, the two great abbeys - Abbaye aux Hommes and Abbaye aux Dames. They were founded by William the Conqueror in order to be forgiven by the Pope for having married his distant cousin, Mathilde of Flanders despite the refusal of the church.

Do not miss to visit the ducal castle, built by William in 1060. It became a favourite amongst Normandy dukes and English kings who made it one of the biggest medieval strongholds in Europe.

Open the door to a wonderful journey through time! Let’s visit the land of art and architecture, culture and popular traditions, chivalrous literature and legends. Come to medieval Normandy!

• 1 night in Bayeux

• 2 nights in Evreux

• 1 night in Cabourg

Tours can start on any day from any town on the itinerary but must follow the route in either direction. Approximate tour distances are calculated from the first to the last location. Should any location be unavailable we'll advise alternatives.

Route planning

For route planning you may wish to visit Google Maps, viamichelin.com or theaa.com.

Hotel directions

With your travel documents you will find an information sheet for each hotel which has been booked for you giving directions together with some further details.

Arrival

Unless stated, you will be expected to arrive at each of the hotels pre-booked for you by 6pm each day. This should allow you time to have a fairly leisurely drive between hotel stops but if you find you will be arriving later than this please ring and advise the hotelier so that your room is held for you.

Extra charges

Details of which meals are included at your hotels are shown on your travel documentation and on these pages. All additional meals, drinks, phone calls etc must be paid for prior to departure from the hotel.