Normandy, France from Above

Take an aerial tour of the famed French region of Normandy in this fantastic drone video by My Way.  The video features footage from across Normandy, including (1) Swiss Normande, a sub-region which takes its name from the rocky landscape reminiscent of the French Alps; (2) the famed chalk cliffs of Étretat on the  Côte d'Albâtre; (3) the tidal island of Mont-St.-Michel, atop which sits the famous 8th century monastery; and (4) some of the region's famed beaches with their marvelous cliff backdrops.

This fantastic drone video by Lewieque begins with a flyover of the great Mont-St. Michel monastery-fortress on a tidal island in Normandy, but the star of this particular show is a bit further south - the walled city of St. Malo, the former "pirates' den" which sits at the mouth of the La Rance River in northern Brittany.  The video also features some great views of the late 17th century National Fortress which sits on a tidal island just offshore from St. Malo, as well as the nearby town of Cancale.

Mont Saint-Michel is an island off the coast of northwestern France. It is situated near the mouth of the Couesnon River, which forms the border between Normandy and Brittany. The monastery which dominates the island, built in the 8th century, is one of the most widely recognized historical sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Contributor Freeway Prod, one of France's the top drone piloting firms, treats us to an aerial tour of this magnificent place, which was featured in the famous Bayeaux Tapestry.

Top contributor NGreyTravels created this marvelous 50-second video intermixing footage of two of the most iconic spots in Northwestern France.  The first is the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel, a tiny island off the coast of Normandy.  Originally a fortress, and (famously) unconquered during the Hundred Years' War, it's one of the top attractions in France.  The second location is the nearby Cliffs of Étretat.  These marvelous looking chalk formations have captured the imagination of artists for centuries.  

Here's an excellent aerial view of the great French city of Rouen, compliments of AirVuz contributor and pilot drone malin.  Situated on the banks of the Seine River in the Seine-Maritime Department, Rouen is the capital of the region of Normandy.  An important city as long ago as Roman times, Rouen became one of the largest and richest cities in Medieval Europe.  It played a key role in the Hundred Years' War (Joan of Arc was famously burned at the stake here) and later the French Wars of Religion.  

Contributor and former DVOW Finalist Laurent Paris created this stunning drone video of the fabled French seaside town Étretat.  It's located on the coast of the Seine-Maritime Department in Normandy.  The video includes great shots of Étretat's famous rock arches and the L'Aiguille "needle" rock.  At the 1:10 mark, you'll see the monument to the White Bird, a plane which took off here in 1927 attempting the first Atlantic non-stop flight and disappeared at sea, just weeks before Lindberg's successful crossing.

You may have seen drone video of France's Mont Saint-Michel, the tidal island which lies off the coast of Normandy.  However, you've probably never seen anything like this first-person view (FPV) video of the great 8th-century monastery-fortress which sits atop the island, compliments of contributor and FPV pilot Fincky.  He used an FPV racing quad to create a highly cinematic view of one of France's most iconic sites, it's no wonder why this video earned a nomination in the Cinematic FPV category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

Check out this drone video of a well known feudal castle in northwestern France, compliments of contributor and pilot Wings and Images.  It's the Castle of Robert the Devil, and it's near the town of Moulineaux in the Seine-Maritime Department of Normandy.  It takes its name from King Robert of Normandy, the father of William the Conqueror, although it's not certain what his connection is to the castle.  It is known that the English King Richard the Lionhearted stayed here during the 12th century.  

Here's a bird's eye view of one of the most famous castles in northern France, compliments of drone malin.  Gaillard Castle (Château Gaillard) is located about 95 km (around 60 mi.) northwest of Paris in the Normandy region.  Overlooking the Seine River, it was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries under the direction of Richard the Lionheart, who was both King of England and the Duke of Normandy.  A key battleground during the Hundred Years' War, it fell into a semi-ruined state around 1600.  

While France's Normandy region is perhaps best known for the Allied D-Day landing beaches of World War II and the stunning Mont St. Michel monastery-fortress, contributor Amaury Descours gives us a beautiful aerial view of a lesser known Normandy landmark.  Using a DJI Phantom drone, he shot this amazing video of Le Moulin de Moidrey,  windmill which was built in the early 1800's and is still operational.  Located a short distance from Mont. St. Michel, the windmill is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

Check out this fantastic drone video of a giant containership moored at the port of Le Havre, France, compliments of AirVuz contributor JAZ.   The ship is the CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery, operated by the French shipping line CMA CGM.  Launched in 2018, the ship is one of the world's largest containerships, with a carrying capacity of nearly 21k 20 ft. equivalent units (TEU's).  Located on the country's Normandy coast, Le Havre is France's second-busiest seaport by tonnage (after Marseille) and its largest container port.  

Take an aerial tour of France's Normandy coast in this epic drone video by contributor My Way.   The video will take you around some of the most beautiful spots of this area of Atlantic Ocean coastline in the northwestern part of the country.  You'll see the iconic white cliffs and giant rocks offshore, the stunning Etratat cliffs and rock formations, and majestic lighthouses.  The highlight is probably the handstand sequence precariously close to the cliffs which you'll see at around the :35 mark.

France's Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is located at the mouth of the Couesnon at the eastern end of the Breton Peninsula, right the border between the country's Brittany and Normandy regions.  Known primarily for its tidal island topped by a great Medieval monastery-fortreess, the bay itself is considered one of the world's most beautiful.  In this video by contributor Dave NIZET, which was shot using a mix of ground camera and drone footage, you'll get a great tour of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, whose size varies dramatically based on the tides. 

Villers-sur-mer is one of the towns that lies along the famed coast of Normandy, a region of northwestern France.  It lies towards the eastern end of the main stretch of the Normandy coastline, well to the east of the World War II landing zones, more or less due southwest from Le Havre.  It lies in Calvado, one of the five Departments which make up the region.  Located about 200 km (around 120 mi.) from Paris, you can check out this picturesque beach town in this excellent drone video by Des Ailes et des Images.

Fécamp is a commune in France's Seine-Maritime Department, one of five which makes up the country's Normandy region.  It's situated in the Pays de Caux, a chalk plateau which covers much of the department.  Occupied since neolithic times, Fécamp was the home of the Dukes of Normandy for a time in the Middle Ages.  Its history is deeply rooted in the fishing industry, and it continues to host  substantial fishing fleet.  You can check out this historic site in northwestern France in this excellent drone video by drone malin.  

Explore the coast of the beautiful Normandy region of France in this excellent video by Drones-ON, which was primarily filmed with a first person view (FPV) drone.  The video was filmed over the Cotentin Peninsula, which extends northwards into the English Channel represents the westernmost portion of Normandy.  You'll soar over the area's sandy beaches, white surf, and epic sea cliffs.  You'll even do an FPV dive on one of the area's landmarks: the Gatteville Lighthouse, which lies near the tip of the eastern "fork" of the Cotentin.  

Contributor Marc Olde Kalter created this amazing bird's eye view of one of the most important points in the initial battle for Normandy, France which commenced on D-Day, June 6, 1944.  Pointe Du Hoc has commanding views of what became Omaha and Utah Beaches, the two landing zones assigned to the USA's forces. On Day 1 of the invasion, US Army Rangers captured Point Du Hoc and fought off German counter-attacks, securing the beaches from flanking fire which could have derailed the entire operation.  

Content creator and pilot Kris-Tof created this drone video of Houlgate, a seaside town on the coast of Normandy, a region of northwestern France.  It's part of the Calvados department, one of the five into which the Normandy region is divided.  The town "grew up" as a seaside retreat in the latter part of the 19th century. Houlgate is situated just a bit to the east of the beaches where the D-Day landings occurred in 1944. It remained under German occupation for over two months longer than the areas to its west.

Without doubt, the fortress-cum-monastery on the island of Mont St.-Michel is one of the most iconic sights of France.  In this drone video by top contributor BeemFlights, you'll get a great bird's eye view not only of the great structure (which dates to the 8th century AD) but also of the island itself.  Located just a few hundred meters/yards off the Normandy coast, the island (which is sometimes connected to the mainland, depending on the tides) features some very impressive-looking rock formations.

AirVuz contributor My Travels brings us this excellent drone video from the coast of the Normandy Region of France.  The video opens with a shot of the famous chalk cliffs of Étretat in Seine-Maritime, the department which covers the eastern part of Normandy's coast.  Here you'll see the rock formation known as L'Aiguille (the Needle), one of Normany's most iconic sites.  The other primary spot featured in the video is the harbor town of Fécamp, which lies to the northeast of Étretat along the English Channel coastline.    

Get an entirely new perspective on France's D-Day beaches in this fantastic piece by AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot cyp fpv.  He flew a racing drone out over the stretch of the Normandy coastline which was the landing point for the giant Allied invasion of occupied France that commenced on June 6, 1944.  Flying some distance from the shore, he was able to film the remnants of the giant artificial harbor which was created here in the wake of the invasion to reinforce and resupply the massive invasion force.  

AirVuz contributor and pilot Raphael Rablat used a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone to create this beautiful aerial tour of the town of Étretat in northwestern France.  It's located on the English Channel coast in Seine-Maritime, one of the Departments of the region of Normandy.  The video opens with some outstanding footage of the chalk cliffs which lie on the town's coastline.  The cliffs have appeared in numerous paintings and were used as a filming location for the 2014 French science fiction blockbuster Lucy.  

One of the more distinguishing geographic features of France's Normandy region on a map is the Cotentin Peninsula. The large landform forms the western side of the quasi-bay on which the famed Normandy beaches of World War II (D-Day) fame sit.  The peninsula is part of the Manche Department, one of the five into which Normandy is divided.  In this drone video by contributor HAMZA CHARKAOUI, you'll get a bird's eye view of a beautiful village called Portbail, which lies on the western side of Cotentin.  

Check out this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) video from the French coast, compliments of AirVuz contributor Raphael Rablat.  The video was shot around the sand dunes near Biville in the Manche, the westernmost of the five departments of the region of Normandy.  The town lies on the western tip of the Cotentin Peninsula (also sometimes called the Cherbourg Peninsula), the landmass which forms the eastern side of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel.  This video earned our contributor a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June, 2020.

Mortemer Abbey is a well-known monastery in Northern France.  Built in the 12th century, it's located in the Forest of Lyons near the town of Rouen in the Department of Eure.  The older buildings in the complex were later complemented by newer construction in the early 18th century.  Seen here in this drone video by drone malin, the monastery is the subject of numerous local legends, some of which are tied to the English throne claimant Matilda of England.  The monastery was dissolved in the course of the French Revolution.  

Get a unique perspective of one of the most iconic spots in France in this fantastic first person view (FPV) drone video by brand-new AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot Axel FPV.  He used an FPV mini-quad to cinematically film the famous rock formations and chalk cliffs of Étretat, a town in the Seine-Maritime Department (part of the official region of Normandy).   Situated on the English Channel coastline a few mi/km north of Le Havre, Étretat is best known for the formation known as the "Needle", which features prominently in the video.  

Check out this drone video of a famous World War II site in northwestern France, compliments of AirVuz contributor morpheuseric.  The subject of the video is Pegasus Bridge, which crosses the Caen Canal in Normandy.  Originally known as the Bénouville Bridge, the span was one of the first objectives in the Allied D-Day invasion of France in early June of 1944.  The capture of the bridge was part of Operation Deadstick, a glider operation undertaken by a crack British Army unit in the opening hours of the invasion.  

Le Havre is one of France's most important seaport cities. It is situated in the Normandy region on the north bank of the estuary created by the River Seine, one of the most important waterways in France.  It's the country's second busiest port in terms of overall freight volume (after the southern port of Marseille), and its busiest in terms of containers.  The D-Day landing beaches from World War II line up to its west.  In this video, you'll get a bird's eye view of Le Havre, compliments of contributor JAZ.

AVEA - Alta Epic Aerials created this stunning drone video of a site which played a key part in one of France's greatest mysteries.  Étretat is a small community on Normandy's Atlantic Coast.  In May, 1927, a plane called the White Bird took off from Étretat bound for New York.   The plane, piloted by two famous French World War I aces, disappeared without a trace and has never been found.  They had been seeking the Orteig prize, which was awarded to the USA's Charles Lindbergh weeks later.  

Contributor Kris-Tof used a drone to create this aerial video of an important beach in France's Normandy region.  On June 6, 1944, it became known to the world as Utah Beach, the westernmost of the five landing zones for the D-Day invasion of France in World War II.  At 6:30 AM, units of the US Army's 4th Infantry Division and 70th Tank Batallion landed here to begin the bloody process of liberating France.  It was the most successful of the five landing operations that took place that fateful day.  

Explore the coast of Normandy, France in this excellent video by AirVuz contributor and drone pilot PanoAram.  Starting at the :12 mark, you'll fly over the Needle (L'Aiguille) rock formation and the chalk cliffs of Étretat, a seaside town in the Seine-Maritime Department.  Starting at about the :54 mark, you'll be treated to some excellent aerial and ground views of the monastery-fortress of Mont Saint-Michel, which sits on a small tidal island near the town of Avrances in Manche, the westernmost department of Normandy.  

During the Covid-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020, some of the world's most iconic tourist sites became virtual ghost towns.  In this drone video by AirVuz contributor Wanaii Films, you'll see one of France's top attractions in a deserted state: the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel on the country's Normandy coast.  One of the most well-known destinations in Europe, its monastery-fortress appeared on the Bayeux Tapestry and was famously unconquered during the Hundred Years' War.  

Get a unique perspective of one of the most iconic spots in France in this fantastic first person view (FPV) drone video by AirVuz contributor and pilot VisualSwen.  He used an FPV mini-quad to film the town of Étretat in the Normandy region.  The town is famous for its chalk cliffs and rock formations, the most well-known of which is called the Needle (L'Aiguille).  This video was picked as a Finalist for the Drone Video of the Week and also was selected for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in October of 2021.