Holiday in Étretat

What makes Étretat special as a destination?

Étretat on the Norman Alabaster Coast boasts the most dramatic chalk cliffs in France: The Falaise d’Aval with its massive natural rock arch and the offshore rock needle Aiguille were painted by Monet, Courbet, and Boudin and made into the hideout of the master thief Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc. The pebble beach is framed between two monumental cliffs: In the southwest, the Falaise d’Aval with its 70-meter-high arch, reminiscent of an elephant's trunk, and the free-standing 55-meter-high Aiguille. In the northeast rises the Falaise d’Amont with a small chapel and a monument for the aviators Nungesser and Coli, who disappeared during their transatlantic flight in 1927. Cliff walks along the GR21 long-distance hiking trail offer breathtaking views of the rock formations and the open sea. At low tide, one can walk through the rock arch of the Falaise d’Aval to reach the Manneporte—a larger, lesser-known arch. The Jardins d’Étretat, a modern sculpture garden on the cliffs, combine land art with sea views. The town center offers fish restaurants, creperies, and the Clos Arsene Lupin, an interactive museum in Maurice Leblanc's house. The best time to visit is from May to October, but even stormy winter days have their rough charm. Étretat is only 2.5 hours from Paris and is a perfect day trip from the capital.