The Calvados region is renowned for its apples, which are turned into cider, apple brandy and the famous liqueur itself. But it's also renowned for its cultural connections and shopping. To find the heart of the region, head east from Bayeux on the N13/E46. For rural delights, turn right at Pont l'Evêque. And for shopping treats, explore the Normandy Riviera.

1 DEAUVILLE
Spend a day in Deauville – it really is a very chic experience. Since Edwardian times, it has been the Knightsbridge of France, and has drawn visitors from smart society in Paris, London and beyond. High style and prices to match.

2 TROUVILLE
Trouville, just the other side of the River Touques, is the poorer relation of Deauville, although you might be hard-pressed to spot the difference. Each resort has a palatial casino with conferences suites, cinema and vast gaming halls. There are plenty of swanky restaurants, but you may just prefer a simple picnic on the beach.

3 HONFLEUR
Eight miles north east of Trouville is the 14th-century town of Honfleur, long-established as a magnet for artists. Claude Monet is perhaps the best-known of his generation to have been inspired by probably the most drawn and painted thoroughfare in France, the Quaie Sainte Catherine, alongside the Vieux Bassin, the old harbour.
Wander through the maze of old streets and shops, and find the remarkable 15th-century church of St Catherine, the largest-surviving wooden church in France. St Stephen's church, the town's oldest, has a remarkable maritime museum, the Musée de la Marine, which depicts the seafaring past of Honfleur. It's open daily in high season, and daily except Mondays the rest of the year, and costs o2.29. At the end of the Vieux Bassin is the old harbour master's office, which bears a plaque commemorating the 1608 expedition of a group of pioneers who sailed from Honfleur and founded the city of Quebec.

4 PONT DE NORMANDIE
Don't leave Honfleur without seeing the Pont de Normandie, the vast suspension bridge which carries the D929 from Le Havre to the south bank of the Seine estuary. Completed after seven years, in 1995, it is nearly a mile-and-a-quarter long, with a central span of nearly 914 metres. The height is equally impressive. The towers supporting the cables are more than 213 metres tall, and designed to withstand wind speeds in excess of 185mph.

5 FANCY A DRINK?
There are numerous places where apple-based drinks are produced, varying from large industrial production plants to cottage industries, and many of them welcome visitors. One of these is Les Bruyeres Carre, in Moyaux, a village near Le Brévedent. You can see the whole process of making cider and Calvados, but give them a call beforehand. You can buy the finished products in their shop, which includes numerous varieties of apple juice. But if you try the cider (which can be either still or sparkling) or the Calvados… well, don't take the car. The pleasant little town of Cormeilles, on the D510, has plenty of bars and cafés, and a pleasant restaurant, the Auberge du Mont Mirel, worth remembering for good food and a fine atmosphere.

6 HORSERIDING
Saddle up and work off some of that fine living. One stable, which offers rides and tuition, is run by Marc Lemonier, in the village of St Georges en Auge. Horses can be hired for any period, from two hours up to a whole day, but call first to make a booking.