Normandy

The legendary art-deco boardwalk from Deauville has hosted the biggest stars of cinema in a very long time, thanks to its traditional film festival. The town is surely adorable too. But Normandy goes way beyond that. The iconic Mont Saint-Michel is its most important and impressive attraction, doesn't matter the season or the tide - the unmistakable abbey perched atop the rocky island is always a truly magical sight. Bucolic villages (such as Honfleur, Trouville, Eu) that inspired so many impressionist painters (Monet, Pissarro, Boudin and many other) are everywhere - as well as romanesque art pieces, hugely wide sandy beaches and majestic cliffs by the sea (Étretat is absolutely unmissable!). Second World War Memorials are also remarkable - the most important being Omaha Beach, near Colleville-sur-Mer, and the Peace Memorial, in Caen. The brutality of Le Havre architecture, entirely reconstructed after the Second World War, and its amazing museums are definitely a must see too.