Le Havre

Built around the estuary of the Seine River, Le Havre (French for “the harbor”) is France's largest port after Marseille. From 1840 to 1926, Claude Monet lived in Le Havre and painted many masterpieces here.

Le Havre was heavily bombed during the Battle of Normandy and was almost completely rebuilt with many buildings designed by the architect Auguste Perret. The project has led to the city being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The modern city center offers interesting examples of 20th-century architecture, such as the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville with its functional tower blocks.

Etretat

The seaside resort of Étretat is nestled at the foot of white limestone cliffs on Normandy's Côte d'Albâtre coastline. The cliffs reach 295-ft. in height, and from the top are stunning panoramic views. The scenery of Étretat appealed to Claude Monet who spent a winter here in 1868 while capturing the beautiful landscapes and shimmering waterfront in his paintings.

The beaches of Étretat attract sunbathers all summer long, and the ocean is a source of livelihood for fishermen who catch fresh seafood that is widely used in the local cuisine.

Étretat also has many attractive Belle Epoque villas, the most well-known is the Villa Orphée. The Villa La Guillette was built for the author Guy de Maupassant.

Fecamp

A favorite beach vacation destination on the Côte d'Albâtre, Fécamp is one of the best places to visit in Normandy for a relaxing holiday break. Established in 1832, Fécamp was one of France's first seaside resorts, and it attracted a cultured and high-society crowd. Today, sunbathers and socialites alike enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery.

Apart from the fishing harbor, one of the main highlights here is the old abbey church of Sainte-Trinité, originally built in the 12th and 13th centuries. The interior is exceptionally spacious with a beautiful choir and Renaissance altar. The medieval pilgrimage chapel, Notre-Dame-du-Salut, stands on a steep chalk cliff to the north of town.

The writer Guy de Maupassant lived in Fécamp for some time, and some of his stories are set in the town.

About 7 miles away is the village of Valmont with an ancient castle and the ruins of a 12th-century abbey.

Dieppe

Historically a seafaring port, Dieppe is the nearest beach to Paris, which makes it an active seaside resort all year round. It is well-known for a failed landing operation by predominantly Canadian Allied forces during WWII. Over 900 Canadian soldiers were killed here. Memorials in Dieppe honor the Canadian troops who perished during the Raid on Dieppe in 1942. You won’t find a French flag flying in Dieppe without a Canadian flag alongside it.

Dieppe became France’s most stylish seaside resort in 1924 when the Duchesse de Berry came here to enjoy the ocean’s fresh air and health benefits. The Duchess transformed the town and made it a glamorous beach destination. Today, visitors still come here to enjoy the expansive seafront offering a beach, promenade, children’s playground, miniature golf, as well as fishing and sailing facilities.

Just above the beach, in a craggy cliff town, is the Château de Dieppe, a 14th century castle where you’ll find the Musée de Dieppe. The museum offers a wonderful assortment of European paintings from the 15th-century to the present day with highlights from French Impressionist paintings, such as works by Camille Pissarro and Eugene Boudin.

Northwest of the castle, the Boulevard de la Mer boasts impressive sea views. In the center of the town is the charming Place du Puits-Salé with several nearby cafés and pastry shops. Also around town, explore the churches and the recreational ambience of the area.

Le Treport

The coastal port town of Le Treport, situated on the English Channel in northern Seine-Maritime, was established as a seaside resort in the 19th century. It was with the arrival of ‘paid holidays for all workers’ in France in 1936 that the town really started to grow in popularity, being that it is one of the most accessible seaside resorts from Paris.

The cliffs that embrace the town from both of its sides are the highest limestone and chalk features in Europe. They reach elevations of around 400 feet above the sea and their terrain dominates the shoreline.

The gap between the chalk edifices is dominated by the view of the Cathedral like structure of St. Jacques. This church rests on a gently sloping rock outcrop. Visitors can wander through St. Jacques and take in the majesty of the art works and architecture.

The town is dotted by narrow streets with charming buildings and has a bustling market culture. The harbor of Le Treport is lively with both fishermen and boaters - be sure to visit the fish market in the hall at the end of the harbor for a chance to buy some of the freshest locally caught fish. This is also where you’ll find several standing stalls, shops, cafes and restaurants. All sightseeing adventures in Le Treport require a bit of effort. Visitors will find themselves constantly climbing up and down steps and slopes that link the sea resort below to the high town on the top of the cliffs.

A highlight of Le Treport is the impressive funicular railway built in 1908. It passes through an imposing tunnel cut into the vast face of the adjacent cliffs. It is used to transport people between the beach area below to the high town at the top of the cliffs and runs continuously during the day.

Mers-Les-Bains

This small town of Mers-les-Bains is located just in front of Tréport and Eu. These 3 cities are also nicknamed the 3 sister cities . The particularity of Mers-les-Bains is that it is located in a different region and department! Mers-les-Bains is the last town of the Somme in Hauts-de-France before passing into Seine-Maritime, in Normandy.

The seaside town is famous for the beautiful Belle Epoque villas that face the ocean. These were built at the end of the 19th century when the craze for ‘sea-bathing’ began. The villas not only have an attractive display of architectural features such as patterned wooden balconies, large bay windows and interesting shaped roofs - they are also painted in a wide-range of different colors. No less than 600 villas today make up the seaside district of Mers-les-Bains. This district has been classified as a Protected Sector since 1986.

As you explore the town, you’ll notice it’s well preserved architecture and period dwellings. Take note of the historical progression of the different constructions, from the cliffs to Le treport. Some highlights are the town hall, a building decorated with several ceramics and stained glass windows which retrace the history of the city, as well as the Saint-Martin church, built in neo-Byzantine style. Not far from this church, you can see the oldest house in Seas, which is a fine example of a typical dwelling of the local fishermen of yesteryear.

Saint-Valery-en-Caux

The delightful harbor town of Saint-Valery-en-Caux is situated between Fecamp and Dieppe, in a valley between the high limestone cliffs that are representative of the area. The town boasts two lovely beaches, one on either side of the port.

Today, the town is a bustling resort, with several cafes and restaurants offering a lively ambience. There is a large fishing and pleasure port, and a fantastic promenade to stroll. It is also the site of a Franco-British WWII cemetery. In January 1945, a runaway troop train crashed here, killing 89 American soldiers.

One building that is sure to catch your eye is the so-called 'Henry IV house', a traditional Normandy half-timbered building that now houses the Saint-Valery-en-Caux tourist office. There are some other interesting buildings and artefacts to discover as you explore, such as the 15th century Church of Saint Valery and the green and white lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor, the 'cloister of the penitents' and the Saint-Leger belltower.