Experiences and adventures
Discovering Normandy’s flora and fauna means immersing yourself in a true haven of greenery. It serves as an open-air laboratory for nature lovers.
The richness and diversity of its ecosystems, from coastal marshlands to towering cliffs and deep forests, make it a prime destination for observing plant life and wildlife.
The Norman region invites you on a respectful and fascinating journey through its varied and unique landscapes.
The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is an exceptional natural site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It offers unique landscapes around its abbey and medieval city that attract visitors from around the world.
The bay offers rich biodiversity and forms a unique ecosystem where sea, sand, salt meadows, and marshes meet. These areas are covered by the sea at high tide then revealed, offering a special garden with salt-resistant plants like glasswort and sea purslane.
The environment around Mont-Saint-Michel serves as a privileged observatory for numerous bird species.
The bay is home to ducks, brent geese, black-tailed godwits, flamingos, and many others.
Bird watching can be enjoyed on foot during walks through these characteristic landscapes. Many guided tours are available, led by experts who know the territory, its fauna, and flora intimately. They’ll teach you to recognize plants and identify animals in their natural habitat.
Low-tide bay crossings are possible to explore these exceptional spaces safely.
Normandy’s coastline stands out for the great diversity of its landscapes harboring varied flora.
Along the majestic cliffs, you’ll discover plants adapted to wind, salt, and drought such as rock samphire, stonecrop, and sea thrift. The Coastal Conservancy has cataloged several hundred different plants, some rare and protected.
The proximity to the sea, the tiered arrangement of flora, soil composition, and weather conditions have enabled the development of this unique botanical heritage.
Don’t miss the raw and iconic site of the Étretat cliffs just minutes from Rouen. You’ll be amazed by the beauty of these white chalk arches that have inspired many painters.
With its proximity to the sea, Normandy is perfect for numerous nautical activities. During a sea excursion, you might encounter some of the marine species present: dolphins, porpoises, seals.
If you choose to walk the customs officers’ path to appreciate the beauty of Norman territory, you’ll be accompanied by various bird species. Seagulls, black storks, curlews, and other gulls will be your walking companions in this postcard-perfect setting.
Along the pebble beaches at low tide, beachcombers will find crabs, shrimp, limpets, and other anemones. This walking adventure accessible to all will delight both young and old.
Southern Cotentin is home to the Beauguillot Domain National Nature Reserve. It attracts thousands of visitors annually for the richness of its living ecosystem. A major ornithological site, it has observation posts and a panoramic tower for admiring the 35,000 water birds it hosts each year without disturbing them.
Guided tours are organized in the park to discover the hundreds of plants, insects, amphibians, and birds that inhabit this wild territory.
A peaceful nature outing that can be extended with a walk to a nearby French heritage site: the D-Day beaches, particularly Omaha Beach.
Treat yourself to an electric boat ride through the Cotentin and Bessin marshes park. You’ll enjoy a relaxing moment immersed in the fauna and flora of these wetlands.
A true biodiversity bubble spanning 30,000 hectares, it appeals to lovers of calm and preserved nature. Walkers move through flora typical of wetland environments: flood meadows, hedgerows, and peat bogs.
This park offers opportunities for guided or self-guided walks to observe ducks, herons, and kingfishers along the water in its marshes.
It has been shaped by humans for hundreds of years for agricultural activities and with its tide gates to regulate water. It maintains a strong bocage identity typical of these wild, maritime, and verdant spaces.
Just minutes by car from the city of Rouen, the state forests of Roumare and Lyons await you for an immersion in a preserved ecosystem. Around a bush, you might catch sight of a deer running or a squirrel jumping.
The Roumare forest also contains a small wildlife park with deer, hinds, wild boars, and fallow deer. It also offers walking and cycling trails.
Forest biodiversity is very rich. Imagine walking among beech, oak, and chestnut trees, enjoying their refreshing shade in summer and hunting for mushrooms in autumn.
The Croix-Dalle forest is easily accessible by car from the city of Dieppe. Less frequented, it will delight you if you’re looking for a green break while enjoying the quiet.
Used for its wood and grazing since the Middle Ages, this forest offers opportunities for walking, cycling, or horseback riding. Deciduous trees, mosses, ferns, and hawthorns make it a verdant playground for reconnecting with nature.
It is home to numerous animals: deer, stags, hedgehogs, foxes, and many bird species.
To discover flora and fauna, Normandy represents an excellent destination thanks to the diversity and preservation of its natural environments. It offers numerous experiences to reconnect with nature and appreciate the region’s environmental richness. Come explore these remarkable sites, contribute to the conservation of this unique biodiversity through eco-responsible stays. Experience holidays close to nature with Huttopia.
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Experiences and adventures
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