Basse-Normandie

Basse-Normandie Weather Overview

Normandy is a French region on the west coast of France, that lies south of the English channel. Due to its northerly location and 360 miles of coastline, Normandy experiences a warm temperate climate. The region as a whole is divided into two smaller regions, those being Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) and Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy.) and is home to a four season climate, making it easy to decide when and where to visit.

Normandy plays host to rolling green countryside’s on which you will find grazing dairy cattle and picturesque apple orchards. The luscious countryside is aided by the year round steady rainfall and lack of temperature extremes. The climate in the region can be more specifically classified as maritime, maritime climates experience generally cool summers and mild winters, and generally see a small annual temperature range.

Basse-Normandie

The city of Bayeux is most well known for the Bayeux Tapestry which is one of the oldest surviving complete tapestries in the world and is housed in the town. The weather conditions in Bayeux are not any different from the remainder of the coast, however like any city it will vary slightly from the next due to its different latitude and longitude and its geographical characteristics.

The River Aure flows through the town which results in scenic views from numerous city locations, the river itself is home to cloudy brown water, a result of the high turbidity in the region. Bayeux lies a few kilometers back from the coast so as a result is not moderated by coastal breezes as much as Dieppe or Le Havre are.

At the north of the Cotentin Peninsula nearing the edge of the region of Normandy you will reach Cherbourg-Octeville which is a picturesque port town that formed recently when in 2000 the city of Cherbourg absorbed Octeville.

The Cotentin Peninsula is a bird watchers paradise, particularly in Autumn, and has many beautiful scenic drives and view points making it a great year round destination if you want to escape the tourist masses of other areas in France.

As you head right around the peninsula down the coast you will find the Western facing town of Granville which is said to be home to its own microclimate, as result of it being heavily influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream which become dulled by the waters of the English channel once flowing around the peninsula. As a result Granville will generally be a few degrees warming than the rest of the region's coastal towns and will have warmer sea temperatures.

As a whole the coastal regions on Basse Normandie are moderated by the breezes off the English Channel and while in the summer you won’t find scorching hot summer days, you will also not see the mercury fall below freezing.

Once you start to head inland the weather conditions with change slightly, purely due to the proximity to the English Channel waters. Caen is located 15 km inland from the English Channel and enjoys a mild climate all throughout the year. Like a lot of France, spring is a great time to visit this area as you are saved slightly from the hoards of summer tourists. If visiting in the peak season months of June to August you can expect a pleasant daily average of about 23 degrees. The winter months see an average tempeture of 7.5 degrees which is bearable, however down winter days will see temperatures much cooler than this so its best top pack a warm jacket in the advent of a sharp, cold winters day.

In the heart of the Normandy region you will find the the small village of Camembert, home of the famous Camembert Cheese. Camembert lies on top of a hill in the picturesque fertile Pays d'Auge area. Pays d'Auge is home to the typical Normandy agricultural landscape of grazing cows, green fields and apple orchards.

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