Northern France, advice

[Wisnu]

It's not about Indonesia but I know some members at least monsieur @Balifrog and @atlantis are French; and I cant ask Mr. Prabowo either
We'll visit Paris for daughter wedding then enjoy the northern part of the country for 8 days with main interest are les plus beaux villages de France, medieval chateau (preferably not big one), museum, and historical WW2 sites. No way in 8 days to capture all, so any advice for hidden gem or tourist trap or any must to visit to my itinerary route - starting from Chantilly then Gerberoy, Lyons-la-Forêt, Veules-les-Roses, Honfleur, Beuvron-en-Auge, Caen, Normandy beaches (still working on the details - so many things there), Mont-Saint-Michel, Bazouges-la-Pérouse, Sainte-Suzanne, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, Villandry, Château de l'Islette, Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Cave of Goupillières, Château de Chenonceau, Caves Monmousseau, Montresor, Chédigny, Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, Yèvre-le-Châtel, Grez-sur-Loing, and Versailles (not sure if we'll visit the palace; don't like crowd) before flying backhome.
All accommodation en route has been booked but I'm okay to divert a bit for something special.

 

[snpark]

Etretat on the North coast, very picturesque, did 2 school trips there in 80's and an Indonesian friend was recently there with French hubby and I instantly recognised the arch in the cliff and the little cute chapel on top of a hill on the side of the cliff

https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/unmissable-sites/etretat/

 

[snpark]

Of course also have all the military beaches from D Day in Normandy area

 

[snpark]

Étretat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[El_Goretto]

There are many places I don't know on your itinerary, but it looks solid and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I've been to Honfleur many times when I was a kid, that's where my father was sent to "pension", a Jesuites-led boarding school that looks like a prison and threatened me many times to put me there if I was naughty.

Mont Saint Michel is simply amazing, been there many times.

Normandy beaches are ok but I wouldn't spend a huge amount of time there. Once you've seen a couple bunkers, the famous beaches and the American cemetry, it all looks the same.

You will drive by Bayeux, which is famous for the tapistery of Bayeux, a remarkably well preserved and huge piece of middle age art. The cathedral there is also nice to visit.

 

[Wisnu]

Etretat on the North coast, very picturesque, did 2 school trips there in 80's and an Indonesian friend was recently there with French hubby and I instantly recognised the arch in the cliff and the little cute chapel on top of a hill on the side of the cliff

https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/unmissable-sites/etretat/

Thanks, Etretat is enroute from Mémoire d'Albatre; it's on my itinerary now.

 

[Wisnu]

There are many places I don't know on your itinerary, but it looks solid and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I've been to Honfleur many times when I was a kid, that's where my father was sent to "pension", a Jesuites-led boarding school that looks like a prison and threatened me many times to put me there if I was naughty.

Mont Saint Michel is simply amazing, been there many times.

Normandy beaches are ok but I wouldn't spend a huge amount of time there. Once you've seen a couple bunkers, the famous beaches and the American cemetry, it all looks the same.

You will drive by Bayeux, which is famous for the tapistery of Bayeux, a remarkably well preserved and huge piece of middle age art. The cathedral there is also nice to visit.

Thanks
We will overnight at Bayeux not far from the tapistery of Bayeux. Unfortunately it's temporarily closed. We certainly will visit if open when we're there.
Yes, there's so many WW2 historical places and museums in Normandy beach; still working to filter them to suit for two days.

 

[jstar]

I can not imagine not visiting Rouen when you’re close by. And the Overlord museum is kind of on the way (and next to the American cemetery at Omaha).