Normandy: War-Torn Yet Full of Life
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide © 2004 | In peaceful Normandy, we explore the half-timbered charm of Rouen, reflect on Monet's lily ponds in Giverny, peek in on local artisans, and set up an easel at Honfleur's harbor. We venture into composer Eric Satie's eccentric world and feast on the finest of Normandy cuisine. After pondering sacrifice and celebrating freedom on the D-Day beaches, we hike with pilgrims to the enchanted island abbey of Mont St-Michel. #ricksteves #ricksteveseurope #normandy
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Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.
00:00 Intro
02:08 Rouen
06:02 Giverny
09:18 Honfleur
12:56 Bayeux
15:25 D-Day beaches
17:12 American Cemetery
19:00 Caen
21:09 Mont St-Michel
Paradoxically, this old Rick Steves episode is better and more informative than any new travel vlogs from KZheadrs, which are only skin-deep with little substance.
I have been a fan of Rick Steves' travel programs since they were on PBS.
My husband's step-father died during the invasion of Normandy and his remains are buried there. I proudly carry the name Moyer in his honor
I'm from NYC, a very modern city. Seeing French streets and buildings without everything being squares, rectangles, and 90 degree angles is very pleasing to my eye.
I see where you're going with this
What are you talking about, NYC looks better than anything else in the world. New Yorkers don't ever need to see anything else.
@@sourabhhirau6958 I hope its a joke lol
Once fought over by us and other Allied forces during WW2
@@sourabhhirau6958I am terribly sorry, but USA is a 3rd world mess. Look at Philadelphia, LA or NY infested with rats. Nevermind the lack of history as it's only 300+ years old. Europe is surrounded by Castles and beautiful artifacts. NY doesn't come close to anything we have over here in Europe.
My father was one of the brave soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy on either June 6 or 7 in 1944. He was with the 4th Infantry Division as an artillery man. He died last December at the age of 95.
Arlo Rimel , thanks to you and your Dad for his service. May he rest in peace.
What was his name?
Wow he was lucky
Thank you from a guy from Normandie who hasn't forgotten what your father , and your people did for us. Merci !
Thank you
This episode changed my life. I was 40 years old and sawChateau St. Michelle and knew if I didn’t change my personal path I would miss these beautiful sites as I got older. I met my future husband who had the same dream and as we grew as a couple we found out we had the same dreams. We married and 8 years after we married are dream came true.
Beautiful story 🇫🇷 ❤️💕💜
You are a lucky lady. To visit Normandy & see the remains of the second wold war on the Western Front , & then Chateau St. Michele is fascinating.
Our
CHATEAU Saint - Michel does not exist. . The name of the place is MONT Saint-Michel and the monument is an ABBAYE, never been a CHATEAU.
@@leseize26 Do not try to educate Muricuns .
The Bayeux Tapestry also depicts Comet Halley, which appeared that year.
Rest In Peace all of the brave soldiers who died for our freedom.
The last soldiers to have actually done so too
Love you ❤️ Steve's from India
I do love Rick Steves' travel videos - interesting, informative, without getting heavy, just the right balance for someone wanting to check out the basics of a destination before visiting it.
Really, Rick, you are fantastic, I did not know there is a Museum dedicated to Eric Satie in Normandy. You make me love my country so much more, thank you.
Mr. Steves, thru this video you have shown us a thoughtful tribute to what is done in the name of freedom & civil rights. Beautiful scenery.... I am so grateful for your consideration of both allies & foe.
Gracias por compartir este vídeo, la información es interesante pues nos muestra una parte de la historia de Francia y Europa, las imágenes son preciosas y muy ilustrativas.Un saludo desde España.👏👏👏
After watching all these episodes I seriously envy those poeple who lurked in Europe around 1990-2005 that's the golden period !
My Father was a Naval officer but fought in the Pacific. Thanks to him I am a WWII history addict and WWI. I am going to visit Normandy sometime this year. With my three daughters, his three grand daughters! He was dead before they were born but I know if he were alive he would be traveling with us. Thank you Rick Steves! Excellent video and makes me excited about visiting the wonderful country of France. 👍
This place seems spectacular, I miss Europe and I hope to go back once all this is over!
This is a. very good work about Normandy. This is a good tribute to the liberators of the whole Europe. God bless Peace and the French-American friendship. In Normandy it is sunny several times a day !!!!!!
I love everything about Normandy, especially the U.S.connection.
Normandy has way more history than ww2,
Watching this in 2020. Rick Steves, the ideal tour guide
You're the only person we watch in my French because you give us alot of information but you make it fun... Stay Cool Rick
Sierra Nevada good
Normandy has a special place in my heart. Giverny and Mont St. Michel were the first places I saw with my dad. Then, in 2011, I studied abroad in Rouen and took many excursions around Normandy, including the Bayeux tapestry, Caen, the D-Day beaches, the American Cemetery, and Mont St. Michel. We even had the opportunity to spend the night at a hotel at Mont St. Michel! I also participated in TAPIF after graduating from university, working at a high school teaching English to French students at a school in Évreux. While I was a teaching assistant, I also had the chance to visit Honfleur and more of Caen.
Informative....and lovely countryside...the jewels of France.
We spent the night in one of the hotels on the island of Mount St. Michel! It was beautiful and one of the best parts of our trip to France!!
Thanks for the tour Rick! Normandy is such a beautiful spot and yet one can't help feeling an open wound when gazing at its open beaches. So much pain, grief and loss - never to be forgotten...
went to mont Michele last month and it was glorious!
“Here’s the Church, here’s the Steeple, open up the doors, and SEE ALL THE PEOPLE”.! I loved that play on hands and meaning! Nice!
Why Europe is such dazzling continent?Couldnt believe my eyes and those beauties..
I agree. Europe is so beautiful. I'm jealous.
Behman Ehmadov hhhhh
Because Caucasians built it haha
Because midelage hystory.
Different values produces a particular environment.
Born in Manche Region of Normandie the greatest place in Europe!
congratulation for this beautiful edit vive la normandie vive la france!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your videos. You get to the heart of it all. Thank you so very much for producing these incredible videos.
Went to Brittany on a school trip and visited Mont St. Michel Absolutely loved it never to be forgotten Wonderful to see it on here looking majestic beautiful
love rick steves input even if its years old. gives a good personal response to a place and makes it real.
Rick Steve's is my hero
From a German perspective, Normandy and Bretagne are outlandish in a way but also absolutely gorgeous areas. The people were always nice, the food is amazing and on top there is the sea and a lot of history to discover! Cheers to the french people, I envy them a bit.
Why are they outlandish lol
@@jdlc903 just my two cents friendo
Why do you find these regions bizarre or weird ? That is how we use the word "outlandish". In my opinion, Normands and Bretons are pretty stable and normal people; certainly not to be confused one for the other, however. That would be outlandish LOL.
Outlandlish in a way since there no such landscapes in our country. Are you satisfied now or is another digression needed?
@@Deliz1 ah. Ok. I thank you for explaining. It's not to annoy you, just didn't make sense to me because usually we speak of outlandish speech or behavior or dress. Thanks again. Sorry to have obviously bothered you. You don't learn of you don't ask. I won't do it again of i see your name. Apologies
What a great History class Steves! Hats off!
It's beautiful to see how France does not change. It's buildings, food, etc.. are all from the past.
AWESOME....WONDERFUL....TERRIFIC....A BLESSING....ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO NORMANDY.😥 ...too old now....Caen is a special city for me....a Religious Sister lived there......Thank You.👏❤️🙏 Wish you would visit Lisieux, Alencon, Nevers, Lourdes, ......
I went to Normandy last summer and it's eerie how the order of visited places almost entirely mirrors my trips. But then again these are the highlights of Normandy. I'm a little flabbergasted that Caen was barely mentioned as it has a rich cultural heritage being the birthplace of William the Conqueror.
William the Conqueror is born in Falaise castle and he is buried on the choir of the men's abbey (Saint Etienne). It is close to the city hall
Mr. Steves, you are a brilliant and wonderful man. Thank you for presenting places like this in such an appealing way.
Great piece on Mont St.Michel. from 21:08. One of the most spectacular, unreal places on earth.
Excellent Rick. Thank You, so much. Emilio, from Argentina
As Rick spreads out his arms on the field to initiate his introduction to the location and says :” friendly locals “ the camera zooms on a flock of sheep grazing and bleating behind him. Speaking of bad timing :-) Love you rick , you are the best !!!
I love this video you can travel seating on a comfortable sofa without any $$$😂😂 thank you Steve!😘
I totally agree!
Ein sehr schönes Video. Danke
Mont Saint Michel is an sight incredible to see
Rick Steves is a boss
BONJOUR Monsieur Rick Steves you’re video it’s great oh know ALLELUIA I can’t wait to go Europe, you moved my ❤️ ,everything I need and I want is all in Europe ,my heart ❤️ can’t stop beating ,all perfect Merci Mille Fois,god bless and peace ,I loved all your channels Tre Bien
Respect and eternal gratitude to all these young men, these foreign soldiers who sacrificed their lives for my country's and the European continent's freedom. The price of peace is horrendous!😭
We enjoy watching your virtual tours Rick which are well with the government funding for the enjoyment of international citizens interested in digital tourism and your excellent historical narrative for educational enjoyment. 😊 Thank you 🎉
Excellent, as always, Rick. Thank you from Paris!
I love Normandy❤ so beautiful
Well Rick Steves. Respect to you for featuring the WW2 German military cemetery La Cambe. You had the courage to show it.
I really enjoying after watching your all programs dear Steve's my best wishes with you always I am your big fan 🙏
Truly a novelty.
even though this video was made 9 yrs ago but still so informative and super enjoy today!! thanks !!
The amount of soldiers that died for the Liberation of Paris astonishes me. They will never be forgotten.
Not only soldiers on both sides, around 20,000 civilians died during the landing in Normandy. The price of freedom from the Nazi madness has been very heavy all around.
It was a good punishment for France because they foolishly pushed the treaty of Versailles on a crippled germany when Britain and America was trying make germany a peaceful democracy.
One of my European travel goals is Mont St-Michel
There is also the very similar St. Michael's Mount, in Cornwall just across the channel. It's not quite as beautiful, but almost! :-)
My favorite episode yet. June 6, 1944....thanks for the history lesson
+Lynette Lindstrom Det är rätta takterna Mrs Lindström!
The first man who was shot at Normandy invasion was Percy cobold from Stratford upon Avon, so I was told by one elderly gentleman long ago ( 1980) name Bill Gardner a butcher in Leamington spa. Apparently Percy got shot by a stray bullet from a few miles away, RIP, I don't know how true this story is but it stuck in my mind.
An outstanding video. Thanks so much. As someone who has visited Normandy many times I appreciated your authentic historical presentation and its variety of destinations. Loved your tour of Rouen, it brought back happy memories. There's much more to the region of course, especially its destinations and cuisine, but it was great that you spent the time in the Caen museum (a place I've visited several times with my kids). Honfleur is lovely, but then so is Trouville and Deauville. I appreciate your American perspective on the D-Day landings. And Arromanche is indeed a poignant place. And so too are all of the beaches: an amazing piece of our shared history: Utah, Omaha, Gold, June and Sword.
God bless u, rick steves.
whenever i hear normandy i think of william the conqueror. very nice.
Yes, Normandy was never the same after him. In response to the Baronial Rebellion of 1088, the royal knight commmander Alan Rufus (1040-1093) allied with the English, did a number on the Duchy in 1088-1091 and it never recovered its power.
Wilmerf1987 hhhh
It is possible to see William's the conqueror castle in Caen and his in Saint Etienne in Caen. His wife Mathilde is buried to the laddies abbey in Caen.
I love this area, esp MSM, I've visited at least 8 times and still want to return
Great documentary when you said friendly locals.....Bang ON ! The rest we know is beuatiful.
Beautiful video Rick! Keep on traveling.
Thanks for this very nice presentation of Normandy. In Caen it is possible to visit the 2 abbeys and the castle. Many people forget the sacrifice of some many young Russian soldiers on the. East front during the war. Without it how many more allied soldiers would gave their lives during overlord operations on the Normandy Landing beaches.
Putting the Russian soldiers on the same level isn't even doing them justice, most of the war in Europe was Germany vs the USSR, and those two countries lost an unbelievable number of people, far more than anyone else.
@@xenotypos That is right so many Russian (USSR) soldiers gave their lives during their lives to beat the German Regime (National Socialist) of this time. I don't all the German soldiers who lost their lives during the war. I think we have to work each day to avoid whatever war.
the american mostly came to counter the russian communist soldiers in western Europe.
And the people love Americans. We visited in 2016 and could not believe how great the reception was. They teach their kids history which we need to do here in the states
too bad you treat us as cowards and cheese eating surrender while people maintain the monuments of your deads..
@@lecryptomanciendu3578 Try making some sense. Who's treating you as a coward
@@youbestbequiet Americans duh, or at least that's what I was led to believe over the past years on the internet
Thanks a lot Mr Steve. You are awsome as always.
Beautiful region!
excellent job!!! very nice work !!!
Thanks Rick for telling the history of Normandy. Wish I can visit this place next year.😊
watching your every show sir amazing
My fav!!!
Magnifique Mont Saint-Michel !!!!
Thank you very much! I like your Europe episodes and watched them many times
THANKS!!!!!!!!! Love what you do!
wonderful!
Thanks for the beautiful video as always.
Extremely beautiful places. Thanks.
Great material --- love it.
You are wonderful, Steves.
Wow ...what a place.......😍😍😍!
I like the way his videos emphasize on the art exhibits and heritage of the area. It gave me a good recommendation on where to find them
I love watching your videos💜
Love Normandy
Fantastic
going to Normandy for a school trip this week now I'm exited for it
Magnifique!
What a lovely introduction to Normandie! You are all welcome to visit the Romilly Orchards tasting room in Isigny sur Mer next to the German Memorial Cemetery. We have sent our cidres to the USA for our many visitors to continue to have a taste of Normandie in the USA.
I love all of your videos rick, it's all about history and nature
Man's name is Rick Steve? That's amazing.
I am from Normandy
Informative. Love this program. Thank you .
Thank you for the experience.
stunning view , beautiful tradition s , nice streets squares
Amazing!
😀❤👍 Absolutely incredible and amazing.
Normandy viewing again 10th June great DDay remembered views of war beaches
Thank u sir for sharing this video.
you are absolutely awsme
Just love it!!