Summer is the perfect time to enjoy all that Normandy has to offer once the sun goes down. From stunning cathedral light shows and fireworks over the sea to open-air markets and nightlife, there are so many reasons to go nocturnal on your stay in Normandy.
If you want to venture out in the evenings there are obviously lots of wonderful restaurants nearby but there are also some other things that bring a little fun to your evenings, here are just a few.
Music is in the air
No matter what you’re looking for – rock ’n’ roll, pop, French or international artists, – there’s something for you this summer just 10 minutes from Le Pressoir!
🎶 CONCERT EVENINGS 🎶
The summer evening concerts at Bayeux Adventure Park every Friday evening in July and August make for a lively evening 🎉
7.30pm – 11.30pm – Free entry
Tribute bands such as Back to the Police, Kind of Queen or The Jack will top the bill. You’ll also be able to dance and sing a long to the sounds of U2, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones!
They have on-site catering with hot food, snacks and drinks at the snack bar.
Plus the Hanging Spider and open inflatables are available for the children.
https://bayeux-aventure.fr/le-parc/concert
Shop as the sun goes down at the Night Markets
BAYEUX
During the summer the quaint, medieval streets of Bayeux host the Du Terroir Market. Local artisans and food producers will tempt you with all sorts of delicacies and products, trying to entice you to part with your money and indulge in all that local Normandy produce has to offer! It will be money well spent as well as an interesting evening wandering the pretty streets listening to friendly chatter.
Thursday evenings from 6 July to 24 August from 5pm – 10.30pm
Place de la liberté
PORT-EN-BESSIN
The charming fishing port of Port-en-Bessin is about 20 minutes from Le Pressoir and the Night Market is spread along the quayside against the backdrop of brightly painted fishing boats. On Friday evenings over the summer this popular evening market is also followed by fireworks over the historic Vauban tower on the quay.
LUC-SUR-MER
On the Rue de la MerIn in Luc-sur-Mer, the night market is accompanied by either a concert or an open-air film screening in the Town Hall Park (parc de l’hôtel de ville).
After you’ve visited all the stalls, you can let yourself be tempted by a tasting of Gui-Gui, a sweet speciality of the region, wrapped around a stick, to be enjoyed facing the sea!
Monday evenings from 8th July to 26th August, 6pm -10pm
An evening at the Races
SUMMER NIGHTS AT CABOURG RACECOURSE
Night Horse Races and concerts take place at the Cabourg Hippodrome (Racecourse) every Tuesday and Friday night throughout the summer and it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening as the racecourse vibrates to the rhythm of cheering spectators and pounding hooves.
We’ve done it ourselves and loved it. We watched the amazing Trotter Races and dined in style and placed our bets from our table, the food and service was fabulous and even though we didn’t win we had a fantastic evening, even dining alongside a Hollywood star!!
If you’ve never attended a horse race at night, prepare to be enthralled! The best trotters and jockeys compete to the cheers of the public where the atmosphere is electric! Bet on your favourite and let yourself be carried away by the excitement of a night race. You never know, you might even win!
You can watch the show from the bleachers, and listen to the pounding of hooves approaching at breakneck speed, (but not breaking in to a gallop), or sit back in style and follow the action from the panoramic restaurant.
They have two restaurants –
• Marcel Proust, a gourmet restaurant with an exceptional panoramic view of the track.
• La Terrasse, located on the edge of the track, with local cuisine in a contemporary setting.
Children can also enjoy activities including stable tours and photos with the horses.
Tuesdays and Friday evenings in July and August.
Check out their website for more details –
https://www.normandie-cabourg-paysdauge-tourisme.fr/en/agenda-evenements/temps-forts/les-estivales
Light Shows
It’s that time of year when the sun sets and people gather to watch what France does so well, a son et lumière – an evening light show.
BAYEUX
The Rendez-vous at the Cathedral has become an evening must-see with lots of our guests (and us too). The wonderful spectacle will entrance visitors on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings from 16th July until 31st August.
The event is free and starts at nightfall.
As you stroll around the Cathedral you’ll become immersed in a magical and poetic spectacle. The sound and light show has been expanded from last year to take over the entire rue Lambert Leforestier. Nine giant flowers will take young and old alike on a (re)discovery of the stunning cathedral and it’s gorgeous stained glass windows.
Ask Shu for more details.
MONT ST MICHEL
Discover Normandy’s most famous landmark through a new light show for this summer. You’ll enter the Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel and watch the historic walls, ceiling and floors brought to life! Doesn’t that sound magical?!
As night falls, the doors of the Abbey open to reveal a completely different face of Mont-Saint-Michel. A spellbinding spectacle awaits you – a captivating discovery of this majestic, almost mystical place. Through the magic of sound, light and video, every corner of the abbey is transformed into a living tableau, revealing a new view of its architectural beauty.
5th July to 31st August from 7:30pm to Midnight. Monday to Saturday – tickets cost from €13. Last admission 11pm – 1 hour tour
Doesn’t this look atmospheric – https://youtu.be/B2mGljhKSyM
Sparks fly at this cool event
LA NUIT DES SOUDEURS
Later in September, sparks will fly at this festival celebrating the art of metalwork.
Are they Welders or are they Sculptors? Actually a bit of both… and they flock to the seaside resort of Granville every year for La Nuit des Soudeurs. Each year the Sculptor Welders are given a theme to base their sculptures around. Then they’re off… rummaging through a pile of abandoned metal scraps to find the pieces they’ll use to make their unique sculptures, searching to find the most interesting fragments and then working into the dark to create their beasts or machines amongst flying sparks and loud hammering.
At the end of the festival, their work is auctioned off to the public. With art, music, food stands and exhibits, festivities go on until 2am on the Saturday night, and the glow of the forges on the port makes for quite an atmosphere!
7th – 8th September.
Watch these two videos to get a feel for the atmosphere of these battling welders
Well that’s all from me for this evening, have fun and see you next time, Shu