Introduction to the Regions - Lower & Upper Normandy

Formerly a French province, Normandy [Normandie], with its old capital at Rouen, is now divided into two regions bordering on the English Channel: Upper Normandy [Haute-Normandie] and Lower Normandy [Basse-Normandie]. During the Roman period, the region formed part of Gallia Lugdunensis (Celtic Gaul). With the Frankish invasions it was made a constituent part of the kingdom of Neustria.
Ten centuries have passed since the Vikings invaded the province of Normandy. The early Scandinavians might have come to ravish the land, but they stayed to cultivate it. It came to be known as Normandy about 911, when Charles III, king of France, turned it over to Rollo, the leader of a menacing band of Viking raiders.

The Normans produced great soldiers, none more famous than William the Conqueror, who defeated the forces of King Harold at Battle Abbey in 1066. In 1066,William II, duke of Normandy [a descendant of Rollo], led an invasion of England and established himself there as William I, king of England. Consequently, Normandy remained an English possession until conquered in 1204 by Philip II Augustus, king of France. During the Hundred Years’ War, the region was held at various times by both French and English forces; it was finally recovered by the French in 1450. The Channel Islands, which were once a part of Normandy, remained in the possession of England. The English and the French continued to do battle, on and off for 700 years, from 1066 to the decisive Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The region of Lower-Normandy is composed of the northwestern French départements of Orne [61], Calvados [14], and Manche [50]. It was formerly western Normandy . The capital is Caen. The region is bounded by the Départements of Ille-et-Vilaine, Mayenne, and Sarthe to the south and Eure-et-Loir and Eure to the east. Manche and Calvados border the English Channel.

Beautiful Mont-Saint-Michel with [photos] is situated, facing the Channel, at the far Lower Normandy's western extremity. The abbey is built on solid granite, with a quaint little village at her base, and very dangerous surging tides.  Order your official tour pass to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris.

The History of Lower Normandy
Normandy takes it's name from the Normans during the early middle ages.  The Normans were a mixture of Gauls and Vikings who laid siege to Paris under the leadership of Rollo, thus he was given the area of Normandy in return for his defense of the area against pirates.

William, the Duke of Normandy was Rollo's descendent, and in 1066 he invaded England [the last to successfully invade England] and became King William I of England.  The area remained under English rule until 1087. Several battles from 1106 through 1214 took place, and during the Hundred Years War Normandy was occupied by the English.

Normandy prospered after the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion, due to the fact that several major towns joined the Reformation, and more battles ensued throughout Normandy.   Normandy during the French Revolution tended to support the Federal Republic rather than that of the Jacobins in Paris.

Normandy was the turning point during World War II, with the successful [but very costly in soldiers lives] D-Day invasion of German occupation of France, by allied troops.  To visit the Normandy D-Day memorials and battlefield areas, click here.

The Geography of Lower Normandy
The uplands of the Massif Armoricain extend into Manche and western Calvados and Orne; eastern Calvados and Orne are a part of the Paris Basin. A humid climate prevails, with annual precipitation in the Cotentin peninsula of Manche approaching 35 inches (900 mm).

The Culture of Lower Normandy
Basse-Normandie is sparsely populated. The process of rural depopulation, which characterized much of France in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, was especially pronounced in Basse-Normandie, whose population declined by more than 38 percent between 1851 and 1946. It has subsequently grown, and most of the recovery has occurred in Calvados, which has benefited from the growth of Caen.

The Gastronomy of Lower Normandy
The gastronomy of Normandy in general tends to run to the fish and seafood dishes, since it is fresh and abundant. However, they have some wonderful lamb, chicken and duck dishes that are quite wonderful. 

Normandy is famous for it's butter, there is no match in American butters.  Then the following four cheeses are well noted worldwide.  Each is quite distinctive, and should be sampled - you're sure to find one or more become a favorite of yours.  The great Normandy cheeses are Camembert [it's been around for hundreds of years], and between that and Brie are the two most consumed French cheeses worldwide.  Then there is Brillat Savarin, a wonderful triple cream fhat Andouet created, Neufchâtel [similar but creamier and lighter, with a more distinguishing taste, than regular cream cheese], and the two 'stinky' cheeses of Livarot and Pont L'Evêque.  These French cheeses are unsurpassed as far as quality and taste compared to similar cheeses made in the U.S. or elsewhere.


The Economic Activity of Lower Normandy
Animal husbandry dominates agriculture. The regions of Auge in Calvados and Perche in Orne are major producers of beef. Camembert cheese is produced in Orne; Pont-l’Évêque and Livarot in Calvados also produce fine cheeses. Large numbers of horses are raised in Manche. Port-en-Bassin in Calvados and Cherbourg are major fishing ports. Industries are concentrated around Caen, whose manufactures include electronic goods and Citroën automobiles. The production of iron, which is concentrated around Caen in May-sur-Orne, Soumont, and Potigny, is in decline. Orne has benefited from the decentralization of Parisian industries since 1950. Tourism is being developed along the coast of Calvados between Honfleur and Cabourg.