Vicinity and Activities
Whether you prefer to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, want to be active on the water, or wish to take in the culture that abounds in the very old towns here, your stay in the Seine Maritime will always be a success.
Tranquillity and space are the ideal combination for the perfect way to unwind; a respite in these hectic days. Lovers of water sports, sun-worshippers, walkers and cyclists will be in their element over here, and the friendly residents really make you feel at home.
Watch this you tube film and discover all beautys of the Albatre Coast at the Seine Maritime
With several UNESCO World Heritage sites and UNESCO-listed traditions, together with villages listed as "Plus beaux villages de France" and spa towns, you'll be spoilt for choice in Normandy...
You will find much more information about the surrounding area and all the activities you can do at: https://www.seine-maritime-tourisme.com/en
You can also visit the Tourist Information Office, wich is situated within 200 metres from your holidayhome.
At the Tourist Office you can rent bicycles.
If you want a sea breeze:
The magnificent white cliiffs of Seine-Maritime overlook the open area along 130 km from the mouth of the river Seine at Le Havre to Le Tréport. Over 80 miles, the sea has carved in to the chalk cliffs an array of headlands, arches and needles, including the most spectacular Falaise d’Aval at Etretat: a spectacular scenery. Its dizzyingly high chalk cliffs reach 120 metres in places. lined with pebble beaches. The long-distance Grande Randonnée footpath running along the top of these sheer cliffs offers exceptional views and will delight hikers.
The Alabaster Coast,( the Pays de Caux area in French) as it is known, takes its name from the milky white colour of the sea, as it dissolves the limestone.
As the sea is nearby, there is plenty to do on the water: Windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand up paddle,surfing , kayakking etc.Or get on board on a traditional sailing ship.
You can also take a bucket, rubber boots and go gather mussels, shrimps, winkles or velvet crabs. Or relax on the beach.
Nice coastal villages are to be visited such as: Dieppe with it's port and it;s castel; Fécamp with le palais du Bénédictines and the museum of the fisherman who sailed in early days to Newfoundland; Saint Valery en Caux, the oldest seaside resort le Tréport with its fishing port.
If you want to see unusual sites:
Some good ideas to visit are: the cliffs of Etretat with the "hollow needle";Jumièges Abbey: the most beautiful ruin in France; The Abbey of Saint Wandrille which houses the only monastic community in Normandie; The Normandy Bridge spanning over the Seine; The Palais Bénédictine in Fécamp which has been the home for more than a century of the Bénédictine liqueur; The shipowners House which is one of the last witnesses of life in Le Havre; The flax fields in full bloom in june; the marine churchyard in Varengeville perched on a 80-metre cliff overlooking the sea, George Braque and others are resting here; The Chateau of Miromesnil where Moupassant has been born and where you can visit a beautiful kitchen garden; The cirque Théatre d'Elbeuf an Italian-style theatre; the village of Veulles-Les-Roses with the smales river of France.
If you like a stroll in a big city:
Le Havre has a 2 km. beach, wunderful restaurants, the avant-garde architecture of Perret's which is listed on a UNESCO Heritage Site, the wonderful Saint Joseph church, The Malraux Muma Museum with a large collection of Impressionist paintings, the villas of Saint-Adresse on the hills above the beach.
Rouen: has several beautiful churches, the cathedral , the 14th century aître Saint-Maclou which is one of the rare ossuaries in Europe, the old market square where Jeanne d'Arc om 30 May 1431 was burnt at stake and where you find also the oldest inn in France and the birthplace of Corneille, ; The rue du Gros Horloge.
If you want to be active on the land:
There are some great trails such as the must-do GR21 reliant Le Havre au Tréport, or the 180 km coastal cycle route across beautiful landscapes. In the pays de Caux or the Pays de Bray, along the coastline or in the Seine Valley tehre are many biking trails and routes to explore. Either sea or forest: you can choose!
It is a real pleasure to participate in a horse riding activity here. Numerous clubs welcome you to their paddocks whatever your level, for a ride in nature or arena.
The Golf courses of Dieppe and Etretat are the most beautiful golf courses of the departement. Two 18 hole cliff top courses overlooking the sea.
If you like to skate or boarding: Le Havre has te largest skate park of Europe!
If you enjoy tasty food:
You need to try Normandy specialities: The salted or unsalted butter and cream; appels and all what is made from it such as cider,apple juice; the Neufchatel chees; the watercress of Veulles-les-Roses; the herring salted smoked kippered or dried; Scallops from Dieppe or other seafood which comes every morning fresh on the markets or the Rouen ducks. You can buy all these specialities at the market, but you can also order a dish at a restaurant. Did you know that in Normandy 7 chefs have at least one Michelin star?
Gardens: The Seine Maritime offers you many superb gardens like: Agapanthe, Angélique, bois des Moustiers, Vasterivol etc. But also the flax fields in full bloom or the fruit trees around Jumièges are worth a visit.
Spa dreams: Let yourself be pampered at a Spa, swimming poo, yacuzzi or Turkish bath etc.
If you want to visit some spectacular events:
During the year many events, festivals, expositions, markets, flee-markets, brocante-markets and agricultural festivities take place.
Normandy Impressionst Festival (every 3 year in the Seine Maritime); l'Armada (every 5 years at Rouen the most beautiful and largest ships sail into Rouen); The Transat Jacques Vabre (every 2 years in November); The Dieppe International Kite Festival (about 40 countries gather every 2 years in Dieppe); The 106 and Tetris at night (modern music in Rouen); The Zestivales in le Havre (every weekend in summer street performers are to be seen in the le Havre streets); The Terrasses di Jeudi Festival (a series of free outdoor concerts on thursday evening in july in Rouen); The Automme en Normandie festival (theatre and dance are planned during one month across the Seine Maritime ); Linen and Needle Festival (every year on the first weekend of July in the Dun Valley); The Terres de Paroles festival in June; the Solitaire du Figaro every 2 years in June; Viva Cité Festival at the end of June in Sotteville-les-Rouen; the Archéo-Jazz Festival in Blainville-Crevon at the end of June; the Fête du Ventre et de la Gastronomie/ Foodfestival on the 3th weekend of October in Rouen.