Walk between the cliffs of Etretat

A short but sportive visit to discover the cliffs of Etretat up close.

Etretat is a pretty little town located on the Alabaster coast in Normandy. It is a picturesque place wedged between two huge cliffs. There is no port and the local fishermen had to hoist their boats on the beach. The purpose of this short walk is to get as close as possible to the cliffs. It is best to check the tide times tides as at low tide the cliffs are more accessible. It is also better to have shoes because it is difficult to walk on the rocks and seaweed. This walk is short, we don't go far from Etretat but it is quite sportive because the descents and the ascents are rough. It should be noted that several paths that used to allow access to the bottom of the cliffs are forbidden because they are too dangerous and too difficult to maintain.

This little walk is really worth it, the cliffs are magnificent. Do not hesitate to discover Etretat.

Interest: ratingvery good (1 user)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 2 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

The beach of Etretat

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The beach of Etretat
Étretat beach is a real treasure on the Normandy coast. Nestling between the famous cliffs of Étretat, this pebble beach offers a unique and enchanting natural setting.

Monet and Etretat

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Monet and Etretat
There are several markers along the beach that show Monet's work in Etretat. More than fifty of Monet's paintings are of Etretat.

Downstream cliff

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Downstream cliff
If you walk along the beach you can get close to this cliff. A sign indicates that you have to beware of the tide. Inside the cliff is the manhole where you can stay while waiting for the return of the low tide!

At the foot of the cliffs

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At the foot of the cliffs
You can enter the cove that you can see on the picture. Then we find a tunnel that allows us to pass to the other side unfortunately the rest of the way is closed by a barrier.

Cliffs at low tide

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Cliffs at low tide
Low tide allows you to get much closer to the cliffs and to walk around them.

View on Etretat from the cliff of Amont

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View on Etretat from the cliff of Amont
The climb up to this cliff is quite steep. For those who want to avoid it, there is a car park at the top. Continue a few meters up the cliff of Amont to find the path that goes down to the bottom of the cliff.

The descent

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The descent
After a few meters at the top of the cliff, we find a path that allows us to go down to the foot of the cliffs. The descent is done by rather steep stairs. Not to be missed.

View of the cliffs

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View of the cliffs
On the way down there is a magnificent view of the whole coast and all the cliffs.

The way down

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The way down
You can access the beach and walk along the cliffs at low tide.

The Tide

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The Tide
You can see the eddies due to the rising tide.

The chapel and the White Bird

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The chapel and the White Bird
At the top of the cliff is a chapel and the White Bird, a monument dedicated to Nungesser and Coli who tried to cross the Atlantic without succeeding (before Lindbergh). We don't know what happened to them. We saw them pass here for the last time

The White Bird

The White Bird monument which represents an airplane is almost more beautiful on the map. You can see very well the arrow that rises from Etretat.

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