mlugi

We cycle to the small airport – from there we continue along smooth, icy paths into a secluded, expansive dune landscape and on to the wide sandy beach at the eastern end of the island with a view of Norderney. It's fascinating that such unspoiled, vast landscapes still exist!

Today we're cycling along the dike westward to the end of the island: here we'll stroll through picturesque, secluded sand dunes, accompanied by birdsong, a gentle breeze, and plenty of sunshine – it couldn't be better!



Circumnavigating Hammersee is also a delight, with its bizarre old trees.



And to top

Today we're enjoying pure sunshine on the island of Juist and feel like we've stepped back in time decades. No traffic noise, just the clip-clop of horses, birdsong, wind, and waves. We were particularly impressed by the sound of the wind harp (picture 7): the strings vibrate in a crack in the wood

Finally, some pure sunshine again despite the icy cold; the short, varied hike through the forest and the village of Bevergern via the "wet triangle" is perfect for stiff, rusty bones. Very nice!

Richard the Lionheart (English King and then Duke of Normandy) had this mighty castle built on the white chalk cliffs in 1196 within a year – it seemed impregnable – but just eight years later, it was captured by the French king, and Normandy thus passed to France.



The mighty castle is impressive from

"La Seine a Velo": a 510 km long cycle path from Le Havre to Paris along the Seine.

We cycle along the mostly well-maintained and beautifully marked cycle path to Giverny through secluded countryside, enjoying the cycle path to ourselves.

That changes abruptly in Giverny: Numerous queues of tourists of

With 150,000 inhabitants, Rouen is the largest city in Normandy. The medieval Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of the old town is visible from afar and is considered one of the most beautiful churches in France. We, too, were completely impressed by its size (the nave is 137 meters long), its height

The ruins of the 11th-century Abbay de Jumieges are truly impressive, with their many high archways, windows, and columns. The abbey is set in expansive grounds, making it easily visible from all sides. Comfortable lounge chairs allow you to enjoy the atmosphere in peace.



We then travel along a newly

Picturesquely situated between two cliffs, the small town offers charming, steep streets, cozy cafés, excellent bakeries and waterfront restaurants, and a few souvenir shops. The traditional fishing port is the third largest in Normandy.

From the top of the cliff, you have wonderful views of the town

A lovely bike ride through the small villages in the hinterland takes us to Bayeux today. Its historic old town, unlike most Norman towns, has suffered little damage. The almost 1,000-year-old cathedral, with its 80-meter-high tower, is visible from afar and impressive simply by its extraordinary size