Étretat

Etretat

Etretat from Above. Just video

Etretat from Above

Etretat is a tiny resort town-commune in Normandy, France, familiar to everyone from the beautiful photographs of chalk cliffs, also called Falaise. This place is also notable for the fact that Guy de Maupassant organized holiday parties here, and the impressionist Claude Monet immortalized the rocks in his paintings forever.

Etretat is located north of Le Havre, on the northwestern coast of the English Channel, on the famous alabaster coast - Pas-de-Caux, in France, in the La Normandy region, Seine-Maritime department. Relative to the capital of Normandy - Rouen, Etretat is located 87 km towards the coast, which is about an hour by car. Honfleur is only 45 km from Etretat, about 45 minutes drive.

Today, this once former fishing village has about 1,700 people. Since the 19th century, Etretat has developed into a famous resort. The name “Etretat” has Scandinavian roots.

The visiting card of Normandy is alabaster rocks. They are striking in their shape and color, and their height reaches 120 meters. The most remarkable of all the rocks is La falaise d'Aval, which is located on the left side of the central promenade. Nearby is the equally popular L'Aiguille Creuse rock, according to local legend, royal treasures are kept here. It's amazing how nature has carved this shore and created such unique works of art.

A short walk through the City center of Etretat

Etretat

In the center of Etretat, there are many interesting half-timbered houses and the old market hall in Place Foch, which has recently been restored to its original wooden beauty. It is not currently used as a traditional French market as it houses tourist boutiques.

Opposite the market square, on boulevard Rene Coty, stands the famous Half-timbered house "Manoir de la Salamandre", now the hotel-restaurant Manoir de la Salamandre.

To see many of Étretat's old houses, you need to walk along the main street, Boulevard du Président René Coty, which takes you to the promenade. The longest street in the city is Guy de Maupassant Street. It stretches almost from the center to the outskirts of Etretat.

On a hill, in the eastern part of the city, is the chapel of the Virgin Mary, it is also the second most visited place in the city among tourists.

In this city, you will also find a monument - to Charles Nangessery and François Coly - to the pilots who tried to make the first direct flight from Paris to New York on a single-engine biplane. The pilots did not reach New York, and the last time they were seen was over this reef, where the memorial was erected.

Top 5 attractions in Etretat

• Alabaster rocks
• Chapel of the Holy Virgin Mary
• Memorial "White Bird"
• Homestead of the Salamander
• Maurice Guillard Square

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Around Etretat

Le Havre, which is located 30 km away and is a major port of Normandy, can be distinguished from the cities close to Etretat. At 45 km is Honfleur, the favorite of the Impressionists, a small picturesque portico. And lastly, Fecamp is a stunning Benidictine abbey, only 16 km from Etretat.

Le Havre, which is located 30 km away and is a major port of Normandy, can be distinguished from the cities close to Etretat. At 45 km is Honfleur, the favorite of the Impressionists, a small picturesque portico. And lastly, Fecamp is a stunning Benidictine abbey, only 16 km from Etretat.

Where to eat and cuisine Étretat

In the local restaurants you can find a wide variety of seafood prepared according to traditional recipes. We also recommend trying the local mule fries and crepes - le crepe.

Local bistros and bakeries offer freshly baked pastries to save money on restaurant meals. If you travel during the warm season, you can buy food in the market, in the city center, and arrange on the waterfront, beloved by the French themselves, le pique-nique - le picnic.

Shopping in Etretat

The best shopping in this city is walking through the old market, where you can buy cute souvenirs. On the Foch square, you can also find tourist boutiques.

More information You can find at the official website of Etretat https://www.etretat.fr 

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