In case you’ve ever dreamed of a street journey that mixes rugged cliffs, charming fishing villages, and sufficient cheese and cider to gas a small military, Northern France’s coast must be excessive in your listing.
This stretch – from the chalky drama of Étretat to the tidal theatrics of Saint-Malo – is usually skipped in favour of the south. Which is a mistake. As a result of this nook of France serves up a extra laid-back, much less polished type of magic.
This isn’t a visit the place you’re racing to tick off sights. It’s the type of street journey the place you decelerate, let the Atlantic wind mess up your hair, and perhaps keep longer than deliberate as a result of the moules marinières are simply that good.
Route Overview:
Étretat → Honfleur → Deauville → Cabourg (elective) → Barfleur → Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue (elective) → Saint-Malo
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Begin: Étretat –cliffs, creamy cheese & calvados sunsets
Begin right here.
Étretat looks like one thing out of a dream – in case your goals contain Monet-style sea arches and white limestone cliffs dropping straight into the ocean.
The city itself is tiny, but it surely’s the type of place that doesn’t must do a lot to impress.
Park the automotive, throw in your strolling footwear, and hike up either side of the cliffs (Falaise d’Amont and Falaise d’Aval) for the complete dramatic impact.
In case you’re fortunate, you’ll catch paragliders swooping above the Atlantic when you nibble on a hunk of camembert purchased from a little bit fromagerie down the road.
Eat: Seize a picnic from the Saturday morning market – Normandy butter, contemporary baguette, native apple tart – and take it as much as the cliffs.
Keep: One night time is sufficient right here except you’re portray landscapes or writing poetry. Chances are you’ll keep at La Taverne des Deux Augustins for an ideal keep.
Cease 2: Honfleur – outdated port, new obsession
A brief and scenic drive south-east brings you to Honfleur, the poster youngster of Normandy cuteness.
If Étretat is about uncooked nature, Honfleur is all about attraction: half-timbered buildings, a marina lined with fishing boats, and eating places that odor like garlic and butter in any respect hours.
Sure, it’s touristy. However in contrast to lots of overly polished cities, Honfleur hasn’t misplaced its soul.
The sunshine right here is known – actually. It drew in impressionist painters by the dozen, and also you’ll perceive why as soon as the solar hits the outdated harbour.
Tip: Skip the eating places going through the Vieux Bassin. As an alternative, head to a backstreet bistro like L’Absinthe or Sa.Qua.Na (when you’re forking out).
Keep: In case you’re into boutique stays, attempt La Petite Folie – equal elements class and eccentricity.
Cease 3: Deauville – the place Parisians come to play
From Honfleur, it’s a breezy 30-minute drive to Deauville, which looks like somebody dropped a Twenties film set onto a Normandy seashore.
Assume: striped seashore tents, grand belle époque resorts, and a on line casino straight out of a Bond movie. It’s glitzy – however in that light, nostalgic type of approach.
Or it’s possible you’ll expertise the attraction of the enduring city of Deauville in model with a trip in a classic sidecar.
You don’t need to gamble or go horse racing to take pleasure in it.
Stroll alongside the boardwalk (Les Planches), people-watch, and perhaps splurge on a seaside lunch with oysters and white wine.
Or head to the Marché de Deauville for native goodies to eat on the seashore.
Non-compulsory detour: If you need one thing extra low-key, make a brief cease at Cabourg – like Deauville’s quieter, artsier cousin. Marcel Proust followers, take word: this was his seaside muse.
Cease 4: Barfleur – quiet, quaint, and criminally underrated
Now you’re heading west. After passing by the plush Norman countryside and skirting Cherbourg (skip it except you’re into ferries or naval historical past), make your method to Barfleur.
This tiny granite fishing village is about as unbothered because it will get – and that’s its whole attraction.
It’s formally listed as one among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, but it surely doesn’t shout about it.
Barfleur is all slate roofs, cobbled lanes, and salty sea canines unloading their morning catch.
You’ll be able to eat a number of the freshest mussels within the area right here; attempt Moules de Barfleur, that are smaller, sweeter, and greatest eaten overlooking the harbour with a chilly cider in hand.
Keep: Only one night time at Maison centre de Barfleur, except you’re engaged on a novel.
Native gem: The Gatteville Lighthouse close by is among the tallest in Europe and the view from the highest is well worth the climb.
Non-compulsory Cease: Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue
10 minutes from Barfleur is Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, one other maritime gem identified for its oysters and Vauban-era fortifications.
In case you’re an oyster individual, this place is pilgrimage-worthy. The oysters listed here are grown within the bay and served simply hours after they depart the water.
Bonus: It’s additionally house to Maison Gosselin, a type of gourmand grocer/Aladdin’s cave of French meals the place you’ll need to purchase every little thing and remorse it whenever you run out of baggage area!
Remaining Cease: Saint-Malo – tides, pirates & epic sunsets
Lastly, you attain Saint-Malo, a walled metropolis that appears prefer it must be in a fantasy novel.
As soon as a base for privateers (principally state-sanctioned pirates), it’s now one among Brittany’s most atmospheric cities.
Stroll the ramparts at sundown for cinematic views, discover the cobbled streets contained in the partitions, and take a dip at Plage du Sillon when you’re courageous sufficient for chilly Atlantic waters.
Time your go to with the tides; the distinction between excessive and low is wild right here, and you’ll actually stroll to islands that disappear later within the day.
Eat: Attempt native galettes (savory buckwheat crêpes) and wash them down with Breton cider. Or go all-in with a seafood tower and a view.
Keep: Keep contained in the partitions when you can. Attempt Lodge des Abers or La Maison des Armateurs – central, charming, and walkable to every little thing.
Remaining Ideas
This stretch of Northern France is all about balancing drama with subtlety.
The cliffs, the tides, the low-key cities with high-quality meals – all of it provides as much as a visit that feels intimate, even when you’re sharing it with a couple of different travellers.
Take your time. Cease the place it feels proper. Order the dish you may’t pronounce. And let the gradual rhythm of coastal France reset your tempo.
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