Author Hendrik Willem Van Loon once said, "History is man in quest of his daily bread." If true, mankind must view Normandy as one very large bakery. So many world-altering moments have taken place in Normandy that creating history could almost be viewed as an industry here. All of which makes it such a fascinating region for our bike tours.

In Rouen, along the River Seine, the Place du Vieux-Marche designates where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Just north of Caen, lie the beaches of Normandy where the allied invasion poured forth during World War II. William the Conqueror also used these shores to set off for the Battle of Hastings. Artistic history is deep too. Mont-St-Michel towers upon an island of rock and enjoys superstar status as one of the greatest architectural achievements in all of Europe. The port village of Honfleur gave birth to Impressionism, and just outside of Giverny is where Monet derived inspiration for painting water lilies. Fortunately some of Normandy'sresidents realized that its combination of farmlands and coastline is not only good for making history but for making food too. Which, from our standpoint, is a great thing. Lobster, oysters, Camembert cheese, and Calvados brandy are just a few of its regional specialties that can turn a meal-dare we say-into being historic.