Located in Normandy are the gorgeous cliffs also known as Les Falaise d’Étretat. Come and see all there is do to see in this little slice of Normandy.

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Étretat was one of those places I’d never heard of before visiting but it was such an incredible experience, I wanted to go back again and again.

Located in Normandy are the gorgeous cliffs also known as Les Falaise d’Étretat. Featuring stunning white cliff faces, beautiful views over the coast, and an extremely charming town, this little slice of Normandy makes you feel like you’re in a scene in a movie or a good book.

At least that’s how I felt.

From the moment we drove into town and saw the view, I was in awe.

I’d literally only seen views like this in movies or pictured it in my head in the novels I loved to read, so can you really blame me?

Allow me to paint the picture for you.

You park your car and begin walking through the cute narrow streets towards the main area which is the promenade and the beach. The first thing you see as you climb the short steps is the sidewalk with a wooden barrier and the beach on the other side. The green water and the waves are rolling in and washing up on the pebble beach. On either side of the beach are the magnificent and massive cliffs. Looking to your left, your eyes feast upon the tall arch with the pointed pinnacle sticking up just behind it also known as L’Aiguille Creuse. On your right, more cliffs with a smaller arch on the end. If you look up, you can see people walking up the green hill to get to the top of the cliffs for the view you know will be amazing once up there.

It had been raining earlier and so it was a pretty moody morning but I didn’t mind that there was no sun in sight because the view was giving me mystical vibes.

After a walk along the beach gazing out at the waves rolling in, it was time to head up and get another perspective. 

Getting to the top of the cliffs

Walking to the right along the promenade, we came to our first set of stairs sandwiched between very characteristic brick walls. After a few seconds, the scenery changed and the brick stairs turned into wide shallow dirt steps with green grass on either side. As you climb higher and higher, the view gets better and better.

Looking behind, you can see the beach below and the town spread out before you.

It’s a bit of a climb to the top, but fear not, the steps aren’t too difficult to climb and you know the view will be well worth it.

The first thing you see when you get to the top is the small church with its stone walls, arched windows, and small pointy tower.

Then there’s the very reason you climbed to the top in the first place, the view! If you thought the view was gorgeous down below, it’s even better up here.

You can see the long stretch of beach, the entire town below with their blue roofs and very charismatic buildings, and the big bushy treetops just beyond. Then there are the Falaise aka cliffs looking just beautiful.

There are clearly marked paths that you can and should take that lead all up and down the Falaise on both sides. Best to stay on them to avoid getting yourself into any trouble, aka falling down the cliff face.

If you’re anything like me and afraid of heights and get super illogical thoughts when faced with them, you’ll most likely be staying on the main path and not venturing down one of the narrow paths that lead down to the cliff’s edge and endangering yourself with the unlikely possibility that you will stumble down to your certain death..

Now this is the part where you proceed to take tons of pictures of your surroundings. You want to get every angle possible to remember this gorgeous place. Don’t forget to get some pictures with you in it as well. It’s great to have souvenirs of the places you visit but it’s even better having some photos with your face showing in the surroundings as well. It makes the memories even sweeter.

Once you’ve had your fill, it’s time to walk back down the stairs and if you want, walk over to the other side, climb those stairs and get the view from the other side.

Yann and I unfortunately did not do that as time was not on our side (as usual). We took one last look at the beach, the sea, and the mystical cliffs and then made our way to the car to drive to our next destination a couple of hours away.

 

Staying in Étretat longer? I got you

In this case, if you’re not like us and have more time to explore then don’t worry, I got you. There’s plenty more to do and see in Étretat.

So what else is there to do, you ask?

Besides marvelling at the cliffs, you can also visit the Étretat Gardens.

Yup there’s a small garden here that is very aesthetically pleasing where you can roam along the pristine paths and snap photos of statue heads along the bushes. It almost looks like a garden out of charlie and the chocolate factory. You also have a lovely view of the cliffs from the gardens, I Wish I knew about it myself when I’d visited but such is life.

See the Notre Dame de la Garde

There’s the little church up on the cliffs that I mentioned before. It was built in the 1950s and was actually constructed to replace the original church that was destroyed in 1942 during WWII. There’s nothing super special about it, and it is unfortunately not open to the public, but the views that you get from it over the town below and the coastline are amazing!

 Learn about the Oiseau Blanc Nungesser et Coli Monument

Just beyond the church, you’ll see a tall pointy structure that looks like it’s coming out of the ground on an angle. It’s actually a monument that was erected in memory of two aviators who disappeared attempting to fly from France to New York in 1927. They were last seen in Étretat.

Visit the Clos Arsène Lupin

A very characteristic looking house where the writer Maurice Leblanc lived and wrote his novels about Arsene Lupin. Don’t know who Arsene Lupin is? Head over to Netflix and watch the show Lupin. I was skeptical at first, not knowing the stories, but the show was actually really interesting. This house serves as a small museum where you can learn all about the writer and his work.

Walk along the Promenade

There wasn’t much going on when I visited in October, but if you’re visiting during the warmer months, this place is bustling with people. There are also some benches that you can sit on if you prefer and simply watch the view, gaze at the cliffs, and watch the passersby.

Lounge or stroll the beach

During the warmer months, the beach can get pretty crowded. While it may not be the most comfortable to lounge on because it is a pebble beach, you’ll still see tons of people laying down soaking up the sun.

Stroll around the Old Town

The town is seriously so charming, so definitely walk around and check out the beautiful architecture.

Shop for souvenirs

Particularly at the Marché Couvert. It’s this big old wooden building that was built in 1926 and used to be a barn.

Try your luck at the Casino JOA Étretat

You know if Casinos are your thing. I’m not much of a gambler myself but it’s cool that you can find one even in this small town.

Eat at one of the many restaurants in town!

 

Scenery not to miss photographing in Étretat

Porte d’Aval

L’Aiguille Creuse

Check out the caves during low tide

Photo Cred – Pixels – Photographer Nicolas

Photo Cred- Flika

Things to remember when visiting

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your stamina because while not overly difficult or long walking to the top of the cliffs, you are walking at an incline and there are some stairs involved. 

No matter what time of year you go, take a jacket with you because it can get extremely windy up on the cliffs, especially in the off season.

If you’re planning on spending a night or two, be sure to book in advance especially in the summer months as Etretat is a very popular destination.

Take the tide into consideration to make the most of your visit

 

Where to stay on your trip to Étretat

Stay at the beautiful Domaine Saint Clair – Le Donjon that is located in the city center and is minutes away from the beach.

Spend a night or two at Dormy House which is just a 4 minute walk from the beach and offers gorgeous views of the cliffs

Fall asleep to sea views at The Best View Apartment

Let your imagination run wild with a fun night at the Detective hotel. 

See all hotels and stays in Étretat

See listings on Airbnb 

Booking.com

How to get there

Driving

Etretat is located in Normandy in Seine-Maritime. The easiest way to get there is by car.

From Paris, it’s a 2 and a half hour drive

From Le Havre, it’s a 30 min drive

From Mont Saint Michel, it’s a 3 h drive

We drove to Étretat from Lille where Yann lives north of Paris

Keep in mind parking can be a bit of a headache during the high season. There’s paid parking close to the beach and a parking lot at the top of the Falaise Amont cliffs to the north. You can also find free parking just outside the town. 

Public Transport

There are no trains that run directly to Etretat. You do have different options, however, to reach Étretat from various places in France using different transportation services. One of which is making your way by train to Bréauté–Beuzeville (a stop just before Le Havre) and then taking bus line 24 which runs hourly to Étretat.

Looking for more to do in Normandy? Check out these other places to visit that are nearby.

Honfleur ~ Rouen ~ Le Havre ~ Dieppe

Photo Cred in order left to right : Dieppe- detoursenfrance.fr , Rouen – Pexels, Le Havre- Aladyinlondon.com , Honfleur – lavaliseafleurs.com

For more information you can visit the Normandy tourism website. 

Until next time, stay blessed ♡

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French air cleans up the brain and does good – a world of good.

~Vincent Van Gogh

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