Swiss Normandy (August 21st)

Not many people know that Normandy has a section where there are lots of hills and dales called Swiss Normandy.  While nothing like the Alps, it is still a restful and beautiful area to visit on a bike.   I have been there several times and always love going back.  Driving time from Paris is about 2.5 hours by auto-route or about 4 hours if you travel the back roads. 

The roads in Swiss Normandy tend to be narrow and run through picturesque country.  

The French do not spray herbicides on the plants at the side of the road leaving ugly brown dead plants like they do in the US.  Instead, when they become obtrusive, they use a large device to cut the branches way from the road.  This leaves a beautiful path through the foliage that often joins above to make these closed and covered woodland roads.

The villages tend to be small sometimes consisting of only a few stone houses. 

Here is an old farm house that no one lives in.  These dot the landscape.  Build in the 1700 or 1800s many are still structurally sound and could be made livable again.  

The woods are lovely dark and deep and I have miles to go before I sleep.  

Up the hill I went on this road.  Great views all around.

There are stone cliffs throughout Swiss Normandy with fast moving and cold streams that are frequently used by canoeist and kayakers. 

Here some rock climbers test their mettle.

Many small monuments are located in Normandy dedicated to the American soldier.  Here is one at a cross road.  Note at the bottom it shows the name of the town that created the memorial - and in the next picture the road sign pointing to that village.

Historical note: (The 368th fighter group - established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb group in early 1942. Trained under Second Air Force before deploying to England in September 1942, becoming one of the first heavy bomber squadrons of the VIII Bomber Command 1st Bombardment Division. Highly decorated squadron during Air Offensive over Nazi Germany and occupied Europe.)

This small town had only a few houses so you can see the significance given to the American soldier by these small villages.

Finally, a picture of me as I take a few minutes rest.