“Étretat is becoming more and more amazing. Now is the real moment: the beach with all its fine boats; it is superb, and I am enraged not to be more skillful in rendering all this. I would need two hands and hundreds of canvases.”

Claude Monet

Firstly, we stopped in Étretat France at the start of our road trip through Coastal Normandy. It was our first road trip since moving to Europe from the US! So, as you can imagine, our spirits were lifted, and Étretat set the bar very high. Étretat is a fascinating coastal town. You should know it from its incredible rock formations carved out along the cliffs. What’s equally important is the views here are breathtaking. I can’t say enough how much you should see this for yourself. Pictures don’t do this place justice. I sincerely had to pause at every sight and soak it all in.

The details of our incredible Coastal Normandy Road Trip can be found here…

Visit Normandy France: The Best 3-Day Road Trip

Why is Étretat Famous?

Étretat is a small town on the northern coast of France. Furthermore, Monet spent a substantial amount of time here in 1883. He consequently created about 20 known paintings from the area. Once you see this place for yourself, you can understand why he found so much inspiration.

On another hand, I was fortunate to see several paintings of Étretat at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery in London. Seeing those paintings struck so much joy in my heart because of the unbelievable memories from this trip.

Tips for Your Trip to Étretat, France

• Wear layers
  • Depending on when you go, the weather can be variable. We went in the late fall and had cool early mornings and late evenings, but the daytime was temperate and warm. 
• Bring reliable shoes 
  • You will want shoes with good traction to walk on some of the trails along the cliffs. 
• Please do not take the rocks from the beach
  • We are big believers in “Leave No Trace”. Given that point, please don’t take any of the beach rocks with you. In the long run, it’s selfish, and you’re ruining the land for the future. There are subsequently official rules disallowing anyone to take away any natural items from the beach.

5 Breathtaking Sights You Don’t Want to Miss in Étretat, France

1) Chapelle Notre Dame de la Garde on Amont Cliff

• Firstly, you want to see the Chapelle. Notre Dame de la Garde on Amont Cliff. You have a few options for how you want to get up there…
  • Option 1: If you choose to walk by the boardwalk, you will find about 85 carved-out steps up towards the Chappelle. These steps will lead you to the beautiful overlook. They are pretty wide to allow for people to walk on both sides.
  • Option 2: Secondly, you could take Le Petit Train- If you don’t want to climb up the steps, you can pay a small fee to take the seasonal “Le Petit Train.” You can check the website for the general operating times. We did not take this option, but from what I can tell, there is an audio guide tour as you ride it.
    • Le Petit Train d’Étretat
  • Option 3: Lastly, you can walk around the neighborhood towards the Chapelle. The neighborhood route will lead you by Les Jardins d’Étretat.
    • Les Jardins is markedly the cliff-top garden museum known for its “living sculptures” and stunning views of the cliffs. Had we had more time to spend here, I would have liked to see the garden.
    • This is the option we took to get to the Chapelle. We were interested in walking by Les Jardins to see what the outside looked like. The walk was steep in some sections, but in the early morning, the streets were silent. 
• Important Notes:
  • The church is not open to the public. However, you are welcome to walk the grounds outside. 
  • It can be very windy up here. Be cautious as you walk around, especially if you’re closer to the cliffs. We experienced sudden bursts of wind while we were exploring. 
  • The chapel has numerous beautiful commemorative plaques around it, which were fun to read.

2) The Falaises d’Étretat – The Étretat Cliffs

You don’t want to miss these world-famous cliffs that make Étretat breathtaking. These cliffs are labeled as “Sites of Major National Importance.” The most popular time is sunset, so be patient when sharing the views. We consequently found sunrise was not busy and very lovely. 

Porte d’Amont/Amont Gate

• From the Chappelle Notre Dame, walk north following the cliffs. You will see the first Falaise of interest, the Porte d’Amont/Amont Gate.
• Next, follow the cliff going northeast. Just east of your viewing point and at the top of Porte d’Amont is a trail and some stairs leading down. Follow this trail down to the beach. It’s important to point out, you need to be very careful as you make your way down. The walkway can be muddy and slippery. This will lead you to the north end of Porte d’Amont.
• During low tide, you will find a ladder. The ladder consequently leads you down to the rocks. You can climb the ladder down and see this beautiful gate up close. Be careful! The boulders are slick!
• From here, go back and climb the ladder up and look for a nearby tunnel. The tunnel connects you to the other side of the Porte d’Amont.

Porte d’Aval- Gate of Aval

• In this case, you will walk along the rocky beach towards Porte d’Aval- Gate of Aval.
• In due time you’ll see the Gate of Aval as you walk along this gorgeous scenery. 
• You can walk along the Perrey to take a break from the rocky beach. 

Manneporte

• It’s finally time to see the Manneport. From the boardwalk, follow it to the end. You’ll see The Manneport from the beach. The Manneporte is one of the more famous of Monet’s collections from this area.

3) Chemin des Douaniers

Straightaway, take an extra 10-minute walk along the trail from the Falaises d’Étretat. There is a footpath along the coast to see more stunning views. This little trail will lead you to the thrilling viewpoint of The Manneporte and all of the Falaises d’Étretat. Take your time and enjoy the views. Some areas are steep and can be slick. As a result, you’ll want good shoes with traction for the trail. The path along the cliffs is a quick and easy walk, except for the slippery section.

4) The Perrey in Étretat

Take a coastal walk along the Perrey, the boardwalk between La Falaise d’Amont and Porte d’Aval. The small garden includes a small but pretty plant nursery. 

5) Low Tide

• During low tide, you can walk onto the beach and find the 17th Century Oyster Beds and the “trou à l’homme” or man-hole. Keep your eyes peeled for the different plants and animals native to the area. We saw plenty of diving peregrine falcons and herring gulls. 

• Notes:
  • There are regulations for walking under the cliffs. You will see lots of signs posted along the boardwalk. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 
  • In similar fashion, the red grass and sea cabbage are protected plant species. Please be careful around them. 
  • You can check online for high and low tide times. 
    • Tide Times

Other Activities in Étretat, France: 

• Shopping
  • If you’re interested in finding souvenirs, then this is a popular area for tourists, and you will find many shops along the neighboring streets.
• Les Jardins d’Étretat
  • This contemporary art museum and garden is located on the top of the cliffs. They are acclaimed for their greenery and stunning views. I wish we had more time to visit here. 
  • Les Jardins d’Étretat
• Clos Arsène-Lupin- Museum 
  • Maurice LeBlanc, the renowned mystery author, resided and wrote his novels here. The house and garden are well-maintained. Also, it seems to be a beloved museum! You’ll have to keep an eye out for parking lot signs while you drive here. 

Hungry? Places to Eat around Étretat

Here are some recommendations for food in Étretat. These are places we went to and loved!

• Le Petit Accent
  • We stopped by this small and local bakery early in the morning. It was fun to see the locals coming in to buy their daily bread. We grabbed a couple of pastries to enjoy as we walked around town looking for coffee and window shopping.
• Le Belvédère
  • The coastal restaurant is a 15-minute drive southwest of Étretat. 
  • They have incredible panoramic views and exquisite food. The parking lot was spacious, and the food was deliciously beautiful. The viewpoint also included what seems to be an oil terminal, which some, including my husband, may find interesting.
  • It is strongly recommended to make reservations. They are typically busy and cannot usually accommodate walk-ins.
  • Be prepared for a long service, whether you’re coming for lunch or dinner. This is not a quick-stop meal. This is attractive and elegant French food and deserves your time and attention.

Be Swept Off Your Feet in Étretat, France

Étretat in Coastal Normandy is a magnificent place. All in all, it would be a shame to miss it. We felt so lucky to be able to relish a road trip here as new locals. To this day, Étretat remains one of the places we can’t stop talking about to our loved ones. Pictures sincerely don’t do this coastline justice. To truly understand it, you must experience it firsthand. Be prepared to be swept off your feet, like we were.