Holidays in Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France
The department of Seine-Maritime is on the northern coast of France, where the River Seine flows into the English Channel.
The coastline is dominated by high, chalk cliffs known as the "Alabaster Coast", while inland the valley of the Seine is home to traditional French villages and the impressive Normandy suspension bridge.
The town of Dieppe is not only one of the French ferry ports, but is also one of the region's many seaside resorts that are still popular with visitors from the UK and within France.
Alabaster Coast Stretching 130 km along the English Channel, the Alabaster Coast consists of a series of high, chalk cliffs, some as high as 120 metres.
There are paths along the top of these cliffs, which provide fabulous sea views as well as a great day out in the good weather.
If you want to walk the length of the coast, there are several small villages and fishing ports where you can stay overnight or stop for something to eat.
Villages like Etretat with its wooden-roofed market hall and ancient chapel or Fecamp, still with a working harbour, and also home to the monastery where the liqueur Benedictine is made.
River Seine Not only are there some great hiking and cycling routes along the winding banks of the River Seine, but the valley is also home to a great number of abbeys such as the famous one at Jumieges or Gothic churches like the one at Caudebec-en-Caux.
Jumieges abbey is a ruin, though much of the 7th century walls are still standing, along with the two impressive Romanesque towers of the Notre Dame church.
At the mouth of the River Seine is the Normandy Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning the 2 kilometres between Le Havre on one side of the estuary to Honfleur on the other.
Pedestrians can walk across to take advantage of the fine views down the River Seine.
Dieppe The town of Dieppe is one of France's oldest seaside resorts and is also still a busy, working harbour today.
The old town is located on the cliffs overlooking the port and the beaches, while the newer part of Dieppe can be found at sea level.
There are many guesthouses and hotels still open in Dieppe, though the resort is not as popular with French visitors as it used to be at its peak.
The Museum of Dieppe not only features an exhibition on the town's maritime history, but also features a large collection of ivory, one of the many exotic products, which were landed here from abroad over the last few centuries.
The coastline is dominated by high, chalk cliffs known as the "Alabaster Coast", while inland the valley of the Seine is home to traditional French villages and the impressive Normandy suspension bridge.
The town of Dieppe is not only one of the French ferry ports, but is also one of the region's many seaside resorts that are still popular with visitors from the UK and within France.
Alabaster Coast Stretching 130 km along the English Channel, the Alabaster Coast consists of a series of high, chalk cliffs, some as high as 120 metres.
There are paths along the top of these cliffs, which provide fabulous sea views as well as a great day out in the good weather.
If you want to walk the length of the coast, there are several small villages and fishing ports where you can stay overnight or stop for something to eat.
Villages like Etretat with its wooden-roofed market hall and ancient chapel or Fecamp, still with a working harbour, and also home to the monastery where the liqueur Benedictine is made.
River Seine Not only are there some great hiking and cycling routes along the winding banks of the River Seine, but the valley is also home to a great number of abbeys such as the famous one at Jumieges or Gothic churches like the one at Caudebec-en-Caux.
Jumieges abbey is a ruin, though much of the 7th century walls are still standing, along with the two impressive Romanesque towers of the Notre Dame church.
At the mouth of the River Seine is the Normandy Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning the 2 kilometres between Le Havre on one side of the estuary to Honfleur on the other.
Pedestrians can walk across to take advantage of the fine views down the River Seine.
Dieppe The town of Dieppe is one of France's oldest seaside resorts and is also still a busy, working harbour today.
The old town is located on the cliffs overlooking the port and the beaches, while the newer part of Dieppe can be found at sea level.
There are many guesthouses and hotels still open in Dieppe, though the resort is not as popular with French visitors as it used to be at its peak.
The Museum of Dieppe not only features an exhibition on the town's maritime history, but also features a large collection of ivory, one of the many exotic products, which were landed here from abroad over the last few centuries.