🌷 Normandy in April: Blossoms, Coastlines & Easter Charm

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First published: November 2025

Wondering what to do in Normandy in April? Or looking for things to do in La Manche this month? April in Normandy is when the region wakes up again — gardens burst into colour, coastal walks regain their sparkle, and villages prepare for spring fairs and Easter celebrations. Whether you come for the tulips, tides or timeless traditions, April in Normandy is all about fresh air, local life, and a hint of sunshine after winter’s calm.

🌸 Spring Returns to La Manche

By April, Normandy is in bloom. The apple trees begin to flower, the fields turn bright with rapeseed, and the countryside hums with life again. In La Manche, hedgerows are filled with wildflowers, and the first lambs appear in the meadows around Coutances and Gavray. Walking paths dry up, seaside cafés reopen, and the whole region feels alive once more.

It’s a perfect time for quiet exploration — before summer crowds arrive. The air is crisp, mornings are bright, and you can actually hear the birds. This is Normandy at its most authentic — a blend of renewal and tradition, where locals start preparing their gardens and markets fill with spring produce.

🐣 Easter in Normandy – History, Faith & Chocolate

Easter — or Pâques — is one of France’s oldest and most cherished holidays. The word “Pâques” comes from the Latin Pascha, meaning “Passover,” and was adopted by early Christians to mark the resurrection of Christ. But in Normandy, it’s not just a religious celebration; it’s a community one. Church bells ring out across the villages, families gather for long lunches, and pâtisseries overflow with chocolate rabbits, eggs, and fish (yes, poissons de Pâques — a nod to the French April Fool’s Day tradition).

If Easter falls in April, expect closures on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday — most supermarkets, shops and tourist sites take a break. But you’ll also find Easter egg hunts in village parks, floral processions, and beautiful services in churches like Coutances Cathedral and Abbaye de la Lucerne. For visitors, it’s a wonderful moment to slow down and experience the region’s rhythm. And don’t miss the Marché de Pâques (Easter markets) in towns like Granville, Saint-Lô and Villedieu-les-Poêles, where stalls mix chocolate, flowers and local cheese with cheerful chaos.

🎭 Carnaval de Cherbourg – Normandy’s April Party

If you’re wondering what’s on in La Manche in April that’s truly unique, it’s the Carnaval de Cherbourg. This riot of colour and costume transforms the northern port city into a giant street festival, with parades, confetti, brass bands, and floats that wind through the city centre. Dating back to the 19th century, the carnival celebrates both spring and sea culture — expect fishermen’s costumes, dance troupes, and thousands of locals in joyful chaos. It’s the perfect mix of Normandy humour and heart, and a great excuse to visit Cherbourg’s harbour and Cité de la Mer while you’re there.

🌊 Coastlines Reopen – D-Day Beaches & Spring Walks

April marks the return of open access to many historic sites along the D-Day landing beaches. Museums, memorials, and guided tours begin their full schedules again after winter closure. Places like Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and the British Normandy Memorial reopen with new exhibitions and fresh displays for the season. It’s an ideal time to visit — quieter, cooler, and deeply moving before summer’s tourism wave begins.

Further west in La Manche, the coastline from Granville to Barneville-Carteret offers breathtaking spring walks. The cliffs are green again, seabirds return, and the views stretch endlessly. For photographers, April is gold: dramatic skies, calm seas, and soft morning light over the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Bring waterproof shoes and curiosity — the sea air in April feels like medicine.

🌷 Gardens in Bloom – Tulips, Dior & Hidden Abbeys

April is prime time for gardeners and flower lovers. The Jardin des Plantes in Coutances becomes a masterpiece of tulips, daffodils, and magnolia. Every April, locals flock there for the Tulip Festival — a riot of colour with guided tours and plant sales. Meanwhile, the Christian Dior Gardens in Granville reopen for the season, combining fashion history with ocean views and thousands of spring blossoms.

For something more serene, head to Hambye Abbey or Abbaye de La Lucerne. Both are surrounded by woodland trails carpeted with bluebells and wild garlic in April. You can wander through centuries-old cloisters while hearing nothing but birdsong and the occasional bleating lamb. It’s almost monastic in its peace — a kind of living time capsule.

🍽️ Spring Flavours: Lamb, Asparagus & Fresh Cheese

Markets in April are a feast for the senses. The winter heaviness of tartiflette gives way to lighter dishes: spring lamb, asperges vertes (green asparagus), and fromage frais made from the first milkings of the season. Don’t miss the local butter and cream — they’re at their best now, rich from the new grass. Try Agneau de Pré-Salé — salt-meadow lamb grazed near Mont-Saint-Michel — or a fresh omelette aux fines herbes from market produce.

Seafood lovers are still in luck too: the oyster season lingers into early April, and mussels return by the end of the month. Stop by La Cale in Blainville-sur-Mer for seaside simplicity — or head to Granville’s market on Saturday morning for stalls piled high with shellfish, cheese, and strawberries just starting to appear.

🚗 Road Trips & Coastal Routes

April is perfect for scenic drives — before holiday traffic returns. The Route des Caps from Barfleur to Goury traces wild cliffs and lighthouses. Inland, drives around the Sienne Valley and the Villedieu-les-Poêles countryside show off half-timbered houses, roadside chapels, and apple orchards beginning to bloom.

With fewer visitors, parking is free in most towns, and the light traffic makes it easy to explore La Manche at your own pace. Pack a picnic, find a coastal bench, and just breathe in the spring air — it’s Normandy’s version of therapy.

🎨 Markets, Fairs & Local Life

There’s plenty happening this month. Village fairs begin again, weekend vide greniers (brocantes) pop up everywhere, and artisans reopen their studios after the winter break. In Villedieu-les-Poêles, the copper workshops resume demonstrations. Granville hosts spring art fairs. In Saint-Lô, look out for equestrian events and plant markets at Haras National. The energy across La Manche in April is one of renewal — a mix of mud, music, and markets that define rural Normandy at its best.

🕊️ Churches, Bells & Norman Traditions

During Holy Week, something magical happens: church bells across Normandy fall silent from Good Friday until Easter Sunday, said to have “flown to Rome.” On Sunday morning, their joyful return fills the air with sound again — a deeply symbolic moment in many villages. You’ll see locals heading to Mass, children collecting chocolate eggs, and bakeries offering brioches de Pâques — soft, buttery loaves that make breakfast a celebration.

📍 Day Trip Ideas for April

• 🌷 Visit Coutances’ Jardin des Plantes for tulips and magnolias in bloom
• 🎭 Experience the Carnaval de Cherbourg — the most colourful event in La Manche
• 🕊️ Discover Abbaye de Hambye and Abbaye de La Lucerne surrounded by bluebells
• 🏖️ Walk the beaches of Hauteville-sur-Mer and Regnéville-sur-Mer at low tide
• 🕯️ Visit Coutances Cathedral for a candlelit concert or Easter service
• 🍽️ Try a local bistro for lamb, cider and asparagus — the taste of April

🌟 Final Thoughts: Why Visit Normandy in April?

Normandy in April is all about beginnings — the first café terraces reopening, the first wildflowers, the first festivals. It’s when the coast feels wild but kind, and the countryside shows its colours again. From Easter bells to carnival drums, tulip fields to tidal flats, April brings out the soul of Normandy.

So if you’re wondering what to do in Normandy in April, or what’s on in La Manche this month — here’s your answer: everything is waking up. Bring a coat, an appetite, and your sense of wonder. Normandy in April is where spring quietly roars back to life.

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