🏆Normandy Named ‘Most Desirable Region in Europe’ – Why You Need to Visit in 2025

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First published: November 2025

Big news for France — and for anyone dreaming of a Normandy escape. On 5th November 2025, the results of the Wanderlust Readers’ Travel Awards crowned Normandy as Europe’s “Most Desirable Region” for 2025. More than 4.8 million votes were cast by over 208,000 passionate, globetrotting readers — and their verdict couldn’t be clearer: Normandy stands above the rest.

This marks the second time in just three years that Normandy has taken the Gold Award in this category — it also won in 2022 — confirming what visitors already know: this is a region that truly has it all. From windswept beaches to medieval towns, apple orchards to abbeys, Normandy continues to inspire travellers seeking authenticity, history, and a touch of the unexpected.

🏆 Wanderlust Awards 2025 – Why Normandy Shines

The Wanderlust Readers’ Travel Awards are among the most respected in the travel world, recognising destinations that capture the imagination of experienced travellers. In 2025, Normandy claimed the top spot as Most Desirable Region in Europe, followed by the Austrian Alps (Silver) and the Azores (Bronze). Readers described walking its windswept beaches, visiting family-run cider farms, and standing in places where history still feels unmistakably present.

France as a whole performed exceptionally well, ranking highly in other categories:

• Silver Award – Most Desirable Destination for Culture & Heritage
• Silver Award – Most Desirable Destination for Gastronomy
• 4th Place – Most Desirable Destination for Sustainability

In other words, Normandy’s win isn’t just about one region — it reflects France’s enduring power to blend culture, cuisine, and conscience. But Normandy’s combination of coastal beauty, rural calm, and historical depth gives it an edge that few others can match.

🌊 A Region of Timeless Appeal

Normandy’s magic lies in its contrasts. It’s dramatic yet peaceful, grand yet understated. Within a few kilometres you can move from D-Day beaches to flower-lined harbours, from ancient abbeys to modern art museums, from bustling markets to quiet country lanes. That diversity is what Wanderlust readers love — and it’s what makes the region so endlessly rewarding for travellers of all kinds.

As Wanderlust highlighted, 2025 is also a year of spotlight moments: the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the world’s most extraordinary medieval treasures, will be exhibited in London’s British Museum for the first time ever. That connection between Normandy’s past and Europe’s present couldn’t be more symbolic. The story of William the Conqueror, of art, resilience, and craftsmanship — all rooted in Normandy — continues to inspire visitors across the world.

🏡 Experience Award-Winning Normandy from Ursula Gîte

If you’re looking for the perfect base to explore this celebrated region, Ursula Gîte in Nicorps, near Coutances, sits right at its heart. You’ll be just minutes from golden beaches, charming towns, and some of the same landscapes described by Wanderlust’s readers. Whether you’re travelling as a family, group of friends, or with your dog, our gîte makes it easy to explore Normandy at your own pace — without the crowds or rush.

Set in the peaceful countryside, the gîte offers space, comfort, and easy access to all that made Normandy a multiple award winner. Here are a few local highlights you can reach easily from your base:

• Coutances Cathedral – a Gothic masterpiece towering above the town; guided tours climb 197 steps for panoramic views. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs 🚫
• Mont-Saint-Michel – one of France’s most iconic sights, less than 90 minutes away. Go early or stay late to see it rise from the sea. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs 🚫 (beach walks nearby ✔️)
• Hambye Abbey & La Lucerne Abbey – tranquil, atmospheric ruins and monastic sites surrounded by green valleys. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs on lead ✔️
• Granville – Normandy’s “Monaco of the North”, known for its old town, Dior Museum, and seafood restaurants. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs on lead ✔️
• Montmartin-sur-Mer Beach – dog-friendly all year round, with dunes, seafront walks and wide horizons. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs ✔️
• Gratot Castle – a romantic ruin wrapped in legend, just 10 minutes from the gîte. Family ✔️ | Group ✔️ | Dogs on lead ✔️

🍏 Normandy’s Gastronomy – The Silver Lining

France’s Silver Award for Gastronomy in the 2025 Wanderlust results reflects something that every visitor to Normandy already knows — eating here is an experience in itself. The region’s food is both rustic and refined, local yet world-class. Expect to find:

• Artisanal cider and Calvados from family orchards around La Manche and Domfront.
• Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque and Livarot cheeses — made by hand using traditional methods.
• Fresh oysters and mussels from the ports of Agon-Coutainville, Blainville-sur-Mer and Granville.
• Butter and cream so rich they’ve become national treasures — don’t leave without trying a tarte normande.

And at Ursula Gîte, you’re right in the middle of it all. From Thursday and Friday markets in Coutances to harbour cafés in Blainville-sur-Mer, every day offers something fresh. Group travellers love the long lunches; families adore the picnics; dog owners appreciate how welcome their pets are on café terraces and coastal trails alike.

🎨 Culture, Heritage & the French Silver Medal

Normandy’s cultural significance goes far beyond D-Day — though those sites remain deeply moving. From William the Conqueror’s castles to the Impressionist coastlines that inspired Monet and Boudin, the region overflows with history and art. It’s little wonder that France won Silver for Culture & Heritage in the same awards — and Normandy is one of the country’s brightest cultural gems.

Wander through the medieval streets of Bayeux, the fishing villages of Barfleur, or the abbey at Lessay. Visit Granville’s Dior Museum to explore a different kind of artistry. Or simply drive the backroads around Nicorps and Coutances, where every church spire and farm wall seems to whisper centuries of stories.

🌿 Sustainability and the Spirit of Slow Travel

Another of France’s strong showings at the Wanderlust Awards came in the Sustainability category — ranking fourth worldwide. Normandy embodies that ethos beautifully: local produce, slow travel, family-run accommodation, and respect for natural rhythms. Here, you’re encouraged to slow down, stay longer, and connect — not just consume.

Guests at Ursula Gîte love exploring on foot or by bike, following greenways that trace old railway lines, or discovering coastal paths where sea, sky and silence meet. It’s travel that feels good — for you and for the planet.

🐾 Family, Group & Dog-Friendly Travel

Part of Normandy’s appeal — and one reason it wins again and again — is how accessible it is for every kind of traveller. Whether you’re a family seeking space to explore, a group of friends chasing fresh air and good food, or a couple with a dog who goes everywhere with you, Normandy makes it easy.

• Family-friendly: Safe beaches, interactive museums, and welcoming restaurants make it perfect for children.
• Group-friendly: Great roads, generous houses, and shared experiences like cider tasting or abbey visits suit groups perfectly.
• Dog-friendly: Beaches like Montmartin-sur-Mer and Blainville-sur-Mer are open to dogs all year; greenways and rural lanes are ideal for long walks.

And of course, Ursula Gîte welcomes dogs — because no adventure in the “Most Desirable Region in Europe” should leave anyone behind.

🗺️ Why Now Is the Time to Visit

With Normandy once again recognised by Wanderlust readers — following its earlier Gold win in 2022 — there’s never been a better moment to visit. The world is finally catching up to what locals have always known: Normandy is not just beautiful, it’s deeply alive.

Whether you come for its heritage and history, food and flavours, or simply its peace and authenticity, this is a place that stays with you. You don’t just see Normandy — you feel it.

So come walk those beaches, taste that cider, explore those abbeys, and live that award-winning feeling — right from your home base at Ursula Gîte, Nicorps.

Explore more about what makes Normandy an award-winning destination in our Celebrating Normandy blog series

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