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 region of Upper-Normandy is composed of the Départements of Eure [27] and Seine-Maritime [76].  The region is bounded by the Départements of Calvados and Orne to the west, Eure-et-Loire to the south, and Yvelines, Val d'Oise, Oise and Somme to the east.  The English Channel lies to the northwest.  Haute-Normandie is mostly lowland belonging to the Paris Basin and is drained by the River Seine.

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 1 Day Tour by Voucher, to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris. Click for 2 to 4 Day  Mont St Michel Tours

The History of Upper-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 Upper Normandy


The Culture of Upper Normandy
Upper-Normandy's climate is wet.  It is densely populated, but the population declined slightly between 1851 and 1946, as in much of rural France during that period.  Immigration, and a relatively high birth rate, have accounted for an increase since World War II.  This recovery has favored Seine-Maritime, whose population is heavily concentrated in Le Havre, Rouen and small urban centers along the Seine river.

The Gastronomy of UpperNormandy
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 there is Brillat Savarin, a wonderfu triple cream fhat Andouet created, and 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 Upper Normandy
Animal Dieppe is an important fishing port.  Le Havre, Rouen, and other areas along the Seine River are highly industrialized.  Petroleum refineries outside Le Havre and between Le Havre and Rouen have established Seine-Maritime as a major petrochemical center.  Renault automobiles are manufactured in Cléon, outside Elbeuf, and near Le Havre in Sandouville.  Eure has benefited from its proximity to Paris, and its industries have expanded rapidly since 1950.  Many Parisians own houses in the countryside of Eure.

The Département of Eure still has a large rural population. Animal husbandry dominates agriculture, and the region is a leading producer of milk and beef.