Etretat

Visit Etretat, Normandy

Etretat is found in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy, 20 kilometres north of Le Havre. Situated on the Normandy coast, Etretat is renowned for coastal scenery, in particular its white cliffs, familiar from many photos of the region. Both the cliffs and village are scenic highlight of the region and not to be missed if you visiting this part of Normandy.

Exploring Etretat

Most visits to Etretat will start with a look at the cliffs and rock formations. There is a clifftop path from where the views are stunning (which forms part of the GR21 long distance footpath).

You can walk to the small Church of Notre-Dame for more impressive views, notably of the 'arche de la falaise d'aval'. As well as the 70 metre high cliffs along the coast there are three main 'rock formations':

• the falaise d'aval and the aiguille ('downstream cliff and needle);
• the manneporte, a natural rock arch
• the falaise d'amont ('upstream cliff'), a thin rock that juts into the sea

There is also a small pebble beach below the cliffs that is popular with visitors

Etretat town

After exploring the cliffs be sure to visit the town itself. Historically a fishing village, Etretat became a popular seaside resort during the 19th century.

This popularity was enhanced by the large number of famous artists and authors who were inspired by Etretat (Monet, Maupassant, Victor Hugo and Flaubert were all enthusiasts of the region around the town, and Monet painted several well known pictures of the coast and cliffs around Etretat.

It is an attractive small town and from the pebble beach and promenade in the center of the town you can further admire the cliffs to either side.

Next you should take a look in the old market hall on the Place Foch. The market hall has a reproduction medieval wooden structure, although it is more devoted to tourist shops than fruit and vegetables now.

The square around the market also has some very attractive and interesting medieval half-timbered buildings, some of them featuring elaborate wood carvings.

Elsewhere in Etretat you can see medieval houses, fishing cottages and grand houses that were built in the 'belle epoque' when the town became a popular seaside resort. Etretat also offers a large selection of souvenir shops and restaurants specialising in fish, oysters, moules frites, and crepes to enjoy - perhaps after you have walked the popular promenade along the sea front.

Attractions nearby

As well as the pleasures of the beach and coast numerous sporting activities are available at Etretat with walking, cycling, horse riding, windsurfing and diving being among the most popular, along with golf, tennis and swimming.

PS Why the picture of a table and chairs? I couldn't stop thinking of Victor Hugo, who stayed in Etretat and also wrote Les Miserables, and the song from the musical based on the book called 'empty chairs at empty tables'...

Photos of Etretat (click any picture to start the gallery)

Suggested places to visit near Etretat, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Veulettes-sur-Mer 32km; Villerville 34km; Trouville 39km; Deauville 40km; Saint-Valery-en-Caux 40km; Caudebec-en-Caux 42km; Pont-Audemer 45km; Villers-sur-Mer 46km; Houlgate 50km; Dives-sur-Mer 52km; Cabourg 52km; Jumieges Abbey 54km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Etretat

Etretat tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Falaises d'Etretat - site of natural beauty (0km) : Cote d'Alabatre - site of natural beauty (13km) : Jardin d'art et d'essais - remarkable garden (28km) : Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon - ville fleurie 4* (36km) : Autretot - ville fleurie 4* (38km) : Touques - ville fleurie 4* (41km) : Parc de Galleville - remarkable garden (42km) : Abbaye de Jumièges (Jumieges) - religious monument (54km) :

French version: see Etretat (Francais)