This short 1938 travelogue, part of Andre de la Varre’s 1930s Screen Traveler film series, takes viewers on a tour of the old towns of Normandy. The film opens with a shot of Normandy’s coast (00:31) and the coastal town of Fecamp. People walk down the streets of Fecamp and enjoy such highlights as the old Benedictine monastery (01:03) and the scenic sea-side promenade (01:34). Nearby is the small village of Yport (02:18). People crowd the beach for the Blessing of the Sea ceremony; ships sit decorated while a priest gives a blessing. The film then shows some of the small farms of Normandy. A dog herds sheep. A man walks along two horses pulling a plow. The film takes viewers to Rouen (04:00), located on the Seine. Freight ships move along the river and through the city. A crane hauls a covered bridge-looking car to move passengers across the river (04:51). Viewers see some of Rouen’s old buildings and neighborhoods, including the old giant clock and the gothic cathedral Notre-Dame de Rouen (05:36). The cathedral and its towers are shown from a distance. Other highlights include a statue of Napoleon (06:28), City Hall, the Palace of Justice, and the famed Chateau de Roven. At the old market place (07:15), a statue of Joan of Arc marks the site where she was burned at the stake. Footage shows the countryside along the Seine. A popular historical site is the Chateau Gaillard built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196 (08:11). Houseboats idle on the Seine. The film’s next stop is the town of Lisieux (08:40), with its 12th-century cathedral and old pharmacy. Inside the pharmacy, a pharmacist helps a customer. A horse-drawn cart moves along a cobbled street. There are good shots of the streets of Lisieux, as well as the market. The film concludes by showing some of the crafts (statues and carvings) made in the town and the impressive Basilica of Saint Therese (10:36).

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