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Best vantage point(s) to see the Etretat cliffs?

Best vantage point(s) to see the Etretat cliffs?

Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 06:57 AM
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Best vantage point(s) to see the Etretat cliffs?

Good morning

Thinking of an upcoming trip, TBD...

Has anyone done any hiking (or for that matter driving) near Etretat in order to see the cliffs from a higher vantage point? Any tips - entrance points for hikes, or a particularly good spot to drive up and take photos looking down/across at the cliffs?

I could probably figure this out on the fly but thought I'd ask especially since this is likely to be just one day from an upcoming trip I am considering. I'm also debating if I should make this village an overnight instead of Rouen in order to have a shot at some sunrise photos.

I would be on another Monet quest - and Rouen and Etretat figure into that. I've been to Giverny twice and won't decide until later if I will make a third stop there or not.

Thanks!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 08:00 AM
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The following if from my Normandy & Brittany itinerary. If you would like the complete itinerary, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach a copy to the reply e-mail.

The GG refers to the Michelin Green Guide for Normandy


Leave Rouen going northwest on the A150 autoroute. This autoroute will end, and the D6015 will continue northwest to the A29 heading west. Get off the A29 at exit # 8, and take the D926 northwest to the D149 heading northeast. In Hericourt, take the D131 north which follows the lovely Durdent River. This is a very scenic road. When you soon approach the Chateau Auffay on your right (see your 304 map) take the road off to the left into the village of le Hanourd. This is a very interesting village. You’ll take lots of pictures. You won’t find le Hanourd in any tour books. I read about this (and the drive getting there) in my France magazine. After le Hanourd, get on the D925 heading northeast then west to the pretty village of Veules les Roses*+. Look up VEULES LES ROSES in the GG. This is a very charming village on the coast. Pick up a walking itinerary at the tourist office & spend a couple of hours wandering around – you’ll love this village.

After Veules les Roses, head southwest along the coast. We stopped at several towns/sites along the way – but there wasn’t anything that I would recommend until you hit Etretat***- (see the GG). Don’t visit the town. First head up to the Falaise d’Amont** and admire the views. Then head into town, park the car wherever you can (difficult), and spend an hour so walking up to and around the Falaise d’Aval***. This is a fantastic spot with great views of the cliffs. There is a picture in the current GG.

Stu Dudley
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 09:12 AM
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We were staying near Honfleur in early October and we drove to Etretat. It is a fairly simple drive (about 1 1/2 hours). We wanted to see the cliffs as Monet (and other artists) saw and painted them. In October, Etretat is pretty quiet. We don't enjoy crowds so this was great for us. You can park on a street about a block or two away from the beach. My advice would be to take the main street into town and as you get to the beach, bear to the right. You can park a block or two from the beach (in the off season) and then just head for the beach. When you get to the walkway that runs along the beach the beach head to your right. There is a stairwell that leads to a stairway that winds up to the top of the cliff. There may be an easier way to get there (by car), but this climb seemed to add to the experience for us. We are mid - 60's and have balance issues, but we could handle this climb. There is a small church at the top )which provided some shelter from the vicious wind). The view is breathtaking and you will easily recognize the subject of many artist's paintings (the arch going down into the water, and the tower coming straight up out of the water to your left).
I had read on one of these forums about the unique quality of the beach in Etretat. It is made up of stones of various sizes (not sand) and when the waves come in and out it makes a "clicking" sound like marbles might make. We had just been to the D-Day beaches, which are also in Normandy, and they are sand beaches like most other beaches, but the beach at Etretat is different.
From pictures I have seen it looks like there are walkways to get up the cliff at the south end of the beach also. We were pretty tired from our climb and we wanted to get back to Honfleur to see the Eugene Baudin Museum in the afternoon so we did not take the time to climb them. If we had stayed a night in Etretat (which I would have loved to have done) we would probably have climbed that cliff also. It is amazing when you notice, as you look out at the cliffs to the south, that there is a golf course built on top of those cliffs. The scenery must be spectacular. I hope this helps!
I hope this helps!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2014, 10:17 AM
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When you walk through town and arrive at the beach in Etretat there are stairs up the cliffs both to the right and the left and walks on the cliffs on both sides are worthwhile. Give yourself about 3 hours to explore the town and cliffs on both sides of town.
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Old Feb 4th, 2014, 08:11 AM
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Thank you for the feedback! This is helpful.
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Old Feb 5th, 2014, 06:31 PM
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We've been to Etretat twice, loved it both times, and would go back again in a heartbeat. The first time we drove to the top of the cliff by the little church, the second time we climbed the cliffs on both sides. We walked a relatively short distance on each side but you can actually walk a long ways along the top of the cliffs - and the views are just beyond spectacular on a sunny morning. We found Etretat to be a delightful and uncrowded little town - we really enjoyed our time there on both trips.

You can find a few pictures we took at Etretat if you scroll through the pictures in the links below. I know they are not nearly as good as the pics you take but I hope you can get an idea of the beauty and serenity you will find there. Have fun!!

PS - I'm trying to wait patiently for you to post your Path of the Gods day. LOL!!!

https://john183france2011.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

https://plus.google.com/photos/10051...CPaFgPn1opL_Kw
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Old Feb 5th, 2014, 10:01 PM
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FMT is correct -- the cliff paths leave from the waterfront on both sides of the town.
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Old Feb 6th, 2014, 02:01 AM
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We visited Etretat as part of our week long stay in Normandy.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-uk-stops.cfm

If you click on the blog link within the TR and scroll down to Friday you can see the photos.

I think we got the idea from john183!
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Old Feb 6th, 2014, 10:33 AM
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Here is my photo report about Etretat: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...9972=undefined
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Old Feb 7th, 2014, 04:02 AM
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Thank you thank you thank you!

John, I know, I'm sorry! I started to sort my photos from that day last night due to the guilt of it all. I'll have something soon.

kerouac, great photo-story! So helpful, I love it.

Indy-dad, thank you, that helps too!

So the loose plan is to leave Paris on a train to Rouen, get the car. Visit Rouen for at least long enough to see the Cathedral (Monet) and have lunch. Perhaps one other don't-miss sight.

Then, the drive to Etretat. My main goals are a nice walk and some good photos. Given that the sunset is fairly late I should have plenty of time for some good photos especially of sunset.

The next decision: do I stay in Etretat for some sunrise photos (which would be pretty bloody early) or move along to another town for the night's stay. Ultimate goal the next day is Bayeux which is only two hours away - and a nice long day to get there.

Thank you again everyone!
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Old Feb 7th, 2014, 12:48 PM
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We won't be in Positano until the middle of June so there is really no rush - other than I'm anxious to see your pictures. So please, no guilt OK?

I don't know if you've read my 2011 trip report but if you scroll down to day 8 in the attached link, you can see what we did in getting to Etretat from Paris which is very close to what you want to do.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nddaughter.cfm

If it were me, I would go to the top of the cliff by the little church on the first afternoon, stay in Etretat to see the "elephant" lit up at night then in the morning I would climb the cliff by the golf course and hope it was a sunny day. It is absolutely gorgeous up there on a bright sunny day and with your nice camera you could get some great pictures. Since you said you were planning a nice long day to get to Bayeux, I would stop in Honfleur for lunch and a walk around before heading to the Caen museum for a couple of hours. Then on to Bayeux in time for dinner. Sounds fun!
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