The Alabaster Coast

The Alabaster Coast, the most impressive cliffs in Normandy

From Le Havre to Le Tréport, on the borders of Normandy, via Dieppe and Fécamp, the Alabaster Coast extends its landscapes in blue, green, grey and white tones along the English Channel. The cliffs can reach 120 metres at Le Tréport and nearly 90 metres at Etretat.

A chalk coastline stretching for 130km

Its name recalls the whiteness of alabaster, that noble white material, quite similar to marble, used for sculpture and carving. This whiteness which takes on the changing reflections created by clouds and the Normandy sun and which extends down to the sea, where fragile chalk slabs collapse into the water. Its 130 kilometres of chalk, clay and flint are interspersed with valleys, small inlets created by coastal rivers which offer so many breathtaking sites, such as the Antifer valley, suspended on the sea between Etretat and Le Havre.

The current Opération Grand Site des Falaises d’Étretat – Côte d’Albâtre (Operation Grand Site of the Étretat Cliffs – Alabaster Coast) brings together 13 municipalities wishing to preserve and enhance this fragile natural environment.

Official website !

A land of fishermen, artists and seaside recreation

The main activity of the Alabaster Coast has long been fishing. The small stranding port of Etretat brought together all these seafarers, fishermen who practised essentially coastal fishing, young people busy hauling nets, women handling the capstans that brought the boats up onto the shore…
But in 1824, the Alabaster Coast welcomed the first seaside resort in Normandy, at Dieppe. Shorelines and townships were transformed by these new leisure activities: villas, hotels, casinos, bathing establishments, beach huts all made their appearance. The Heritage Museum of Etretat explains these developments.

These exceptional landscapes, these laborious activities and scenes of seaside life also attracted painters, especially painters like Monet, his master, Boudin, or Sisley. Their paintings are largely exhibited at the MUMA in Le Havre.

Some experiences to discover the Alabaster Coast

On land, in the air or at sea, come and discover the coastline, between sea and countryside:

During a first flight in free fall, at 200km/h with Abeille Parachutisme
During a 3hr sea trip between Etretat and Le Havre with Navigation Normande or on board a fast semi-rigid boat between Fécamp and Etretat with La Mer pour Tous
Hiking between Cap d’Antifer and Etretat
By observing the fauna and flora with the nature guide Cyriaque Lethuillier or on the educational trail of Aquacaux in Octeville, which leads you to an astonishing marine farm at the foot of the cliffs
By playing on one of the world’s beautiful greens, on the cliffs, at Etretat golf course
By discovering the Antifer Valley on horseback at the Domaine Equestre d’Etretat in Le Tilleul (one-hour ride available for beginners)
By visiting the Jardins d’Etretat (gardens), on the Amont Cliffs.