Seine-Maritime guide

Seine Maritime

The River Seine meanders in great loops from its mouth at Le Havre till Vernon with a length of around 200km, roughly double the direct distance. It is almost as if the river needs that meandering shape to make room for all the sights along its banks; the castles, abbeys, cathedrals and stately homes.

Steep banks are interchanged with ‘auen’, decorated with pretty villages ‘Fachwerkdörfern’. Few, but as compensation very impressive bridges allow passage across the river – as if each side of the river weren’t worth exploring. The high point (literally) is reached at the coast where steep white cliffs up to 130m high raise up and stand against the lashing sea. Ultimately with futility as every year the cliffs are eroded a few cm which creates new rock formations. A good example are the Falaise d’Aval bei Etretat which are the symbol of the area.

Geographers will know that these white cliffs are part of the same formation that appears at the south eastern coast of England, ‘the white cliffs of Dover’, the Isle of White and in Dorset.

Fishing towns such as Dieppe, Le Treport or Fecamp lie where rivers emerge from the countryside to meet the sea and personify summer freshness. Less than two hours from Paris, this coast is rather like Paris’ own beach.

Highlights

Dieppe – Traditional sea faring town.

Chateau de Beaumesnil – a recommended architectural masterpiece in the style of Louis XIII.

Le Havre – Unesco world heritage modern concrete city.

Les Andelys – Ruins of the impressive citadel.

Etretat – Fascinating chalk cliff formations similar to the Isle of Wight’s needles.

Rouen – French Gothic in the city of 100 church towers.

Jumieges – one of the most beautiful ruins in Normandy.