Charming destinations

From the Côte d'Albâtre to the secret valleys

In Seine-Maritime, there are destinations where time seems to stand still, where stone tells stories and nature plays the leading role. From the Côte d’Albâtre to the secret valleys, every village has its own magic, charm and authenticity.

In these places on a human scale, you can stroll, observe and breathe. And if each village has its own soul, sculpted by the centuries and passing artists, they all share the art of seducing visitors in search of simple, sincere pleasures. An overview of Seine-Maritime’s hidden treasures.

Coastal jewels: Veules-les-Roses, Varengeville-sur-Mer and Yport

Between land and sea, Veules-les-Roses unfurls its poetic charms. Here, France’s smallest river meanders through flower-filled thatched cottages and old-fashioned mills. Savor iodized oysters and crunchy watercress, before being drawn into the history of the artists who set up their easels on these shores.

Not far away, Varengeville-sur-Mer also cultivates the art of wonder. Its sumptuous gardens, wild valleys and perched church offer landscapes that have inspired the greatest painters, from Monet to Miró.

Yport, between Étretat and Fécamp, exudes maritime authenticity. This small port reveals a fishermen’s village decked out with nets and ex-votos, where the soul of the sea meets that of the artists. Strolls along the cliffs, seafood tastings and open-air painting make Yport a timeless place, celebrated every August 15 with a colorful festival.

Villages along the Seine: La Bouille and Jumièges

The meandering Seine reveals unsuspected treasures, such as La Bouille, a picture-postcard village of colorful houses and artists’ studios. Hector Malot and Gauguin drew their inspiration here, and visitors today find a timeless serenity, particularly when following the bike or river cruise itineraries.

Further upstream, Jumièges unveils its majestic abbey, dubbed “the most beautiful ruin in France” by Victor Hugo. To explore this grandiose site, with its Carolingian vestiges and verdant panoramas, is to plunge into the soul of Normandy.

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Terroir and heritage: Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Ry, Allouville-Bellefosse and Buchy

Inland, Neufchâtel-en-Bray has a rich history and a heart-shaped cheese, the symbol of a gourmet savoir-faire handed down with love.

Further south, Ry invites you to follow in the footsteps ofEmma Bovary, in a setting that seems to have stepped straight out of Flaubert’s pages.

Just a few kilometers away, Buchy offers a haven of Normandy traditions, with its emblematic market featuring local produce, half-timbered houses and the warm soul of the countryside between Bray and Caux.

Finally, Allouville-Bellefosse is home to a thousand-year-old oak transformed into a chapel, a symbol of resilience and wonder.

"To look at this tree is to contemplate 1,200 years of history. At every turn, these villages reveal a living heritage, to be savored with simplicity."

Stroll for hours...

Let the sea breeze ruffle your thoughts, sip a hot cup of coffee as you watch the trawlers pull into port. Here, every town and village in Seine-Maritime tells a story – the cobblestones beneath your feet, the smells of salt and watercress, the smiles of the fishermen at the fish market.

Normandy can’t be visited: it must be experienced. In its rough edges, its silences and its sparkles. Real. Multiple. Authentic.