Trails in Normandy

What is the common link between the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) and Normandy? The Vikings, of course! These legendary warriors, straight from the great North, did not only invade France 🇫🇷 in the 9th century. One of the greatest among them, Rollo, a figure surrounded by legendary stories, is said to be the founder of the Duchy of Normandy. William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, even became King of England from 1066 to 1087. That's the grand History, inseparable from Norman culture, which you will encounter throughout your visits. You can now chat with a Norman with ease, while praising the merits of buttery and creamy cuisine 😄. Caen, Rouen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, or even Honfleur are great cities to discover, with a rich cultural heritage, beautiful half-timbered houses (like in Alsace!), and many spots to visit. Remember to take a raincoat: Normandy has an oceanic climate ☔️, like England or Belgium. Le Havre, entirely rebuilt after the bombings of World War II, is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bocages and plains make up the landscape of Normandy, with its highest point (Signal d’Écouves, 413 meters) located in the Orne, a rather hilly department of Normandy. Other departments in Normandy, Calvados, Eure, Manche, and Seine-Maritime offer flatter landscapes. If you love the forest 🌳, you'll be spoiled in Normandy, with notably the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche and the Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande. The D-Day beaches (Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, Sword Beach, Gold Beach, Utah Beach...) are must-see stops on a visit to Normandy, just like the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, open to runners and walkers. Watch out for the high tides, no joke. The seaside coasts of Normandy offer a variety of landscapes: endless cliffs on the Alabaster Coast (including those at Étretat) or in the Pays de Caux, fine sand beaches near Deauville or Trouville (Côte Fleurie)… A few islands are also part of the Norman heritage, including Guernsey and Jersey. Yet, you will be on English soil 🏴. Another legacy from the time of the Duchy of Normandy!

So, ready for a trail in Normandy? Run in Mont Saint-Michel by Harmonie Mutuelle is a must-attend event in Normandy, around a monument known worldwide. Among all the challenges organized by the organizers, a long trail named "Trail de l'Archange"... Doesn't it sound appealing? We can't resist pointing you towards the department of Eure for you to run the aptly named Trail des Rois Maudits. A race in the forest qualifying for the UTMB® World Series, expect motivated participants! Still in this department, the Trail des 2 Amants takes you around Pitres for some fun. You might feel less playful after running in one of the 6 events organized... In the south of the region, in the Orne, precisely at Alençon, the Trail d'Ecouves et du Pays d'Alençon is a great opportunity to explore the large forest domain d'Écouves, which has the highest point in the region. A race in the forest with some terrain then! Let's change the scenery. Heading to Calvados for a nighttime race that rocks, aptly named the Trail de l'Angoisse! Le Hom is waiting for you with open arms, but with a little grin 😙! Surprises 👻 await you throughout the course, without any traps...

So, big mouth, are you ready to take on the Normans?