It is one of the most beautiful coasts in France: the Côte d'Albâtre in Normandy. Between Ault in the north-east and the Seine estuary near Le Havre, the limestone plateau of the Pays de Caux on the Alabaster Coast with its cliffs up to 110 metres high breaks off into the English Channel like chalk. Wind and waves have created fascinating rock formations: Cliffs and limestone needles, arches and bridges and other bizarre shapes. They shine in bright white between the blue sea and the green land.
The natural backdrop of Étretat was a particular source of inspiration for painters and writers. Like Claude Monet, Gustave Courbet repeatedly captured the cliffs and the village's rock gate in oil. To the south-west, you can see the 70 metre high rocky outcrop of L'Aiguille in front of the Porte d'Aval. Norman poet Guy de Mauypassant saw the rock formation as an elephant with its trunk in the water.
It is said that the King of France once hid his gold in this limestone needle. To this day, no one has found this treasure. What a temptation for treasure hunters!
To the north-east, the Falaise d'Amont with the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde borders the bay of Étretat. At low tide, you can reach it on foot over the mudflats, otherwise on a scenic ridgeway that starts at the end of the beach promenade. This photo was taken here.
Hello and welcome! Here are the best photos I've ever taken: Hilke - a true Hamburg girl with a lot of France in her heart. I trained as an editor and, after two decades with various publishing houses, I've been working as a freelance journalist for print, .. Read more…