Etretat, Alabaster Coast, France
Traditional Seaside Town with Famous Cliffs on the Normandy Coast
The attractive town of Etretat on the Normandy coast is well known for its spectacular white cliffs, and for the fictional gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin.
Etretat is a charming, typical French seaside town, complete with casino, cafes in which to take morning coffee or the evening aperitif, fine restaurants specialising in seafood and wonderful views of the sea, beach and cliffs.
Close to charming towns such as Honfleur and Deauville, Etretat is an essential stop on any trip to the Normandy Coast. While you're in Normandy, don't miss the World Heritage site of Mont St-Michel.
Clifftop walks from Etretat
The highlight of any trip to Etretat is a walk along the clifftops to view the fabulous white cliffs with natural giant archways that reach out into the sea. Paths rise to the cliffs from the pebble beach. In high season, particularly July and August, these clifftop paths can be very busy. If you would prefer a little more peace and quiet, try walking at lunchtime; as everywhere in France, the country comes to a near standstill for the all important midday meal!
Be very cautious when walking near to the edge of the cliffs, they can be fragile and dangerous due to erosion. If you walk along the beaches then do check tide times as walkers can become trapped by the rising tide.
Etretat Golf Course
If you enjoy golf, then you are sure to be interested in the clifftop golf course with its spectacular views.
Arsène Lupin and Etretat
Arsène Lupin, created by author Maurice Leblanc, is a fictional gentleman thief as well known in French speaking countries as Sherlock Holmes in the English speaking world. Indeed Maurice Leblanc was a contemporary of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle.
Thanks to translations of the books and to major feature films, the fantastic adventures of the endearing gentleman thief are also enjoyed in many non French speaking countries. Etretat features in the Arsène Lupin novels, no doubt thanks to the fact that author Maurice Leblanc lived in Etretat for twenty years. You can visit the former home of Maurice Leblanc, Le Clos d’ Arsène Lupin: Maison de Maurice Leblanc where he wrote many of his Arsène Lupin works. The house has been lovingly restored by the author’s granddaughter to remember the life and work of Maurice Leblanc.
Places to eat in Etretat
There is a wide range of restaurants and cafes for all budgets in Etretat’s small town center. The Casino restaurant (+33 2 35 27 00 54) on the seafront has wonderful panoramic views of the beach, sea and cliffs. You will need your passport or identity card to enter the Casino; French law requires this to enable the exclusion of known compulsive gamblers, some of whom volunteer to be excluded from Casinos to help tackle their addiction.
Travel to Etretat
Travel to Etretat from central Paris takes around two and a half hours by car.
To travel from Paris to Etretat by public transport, take the train from Gare Paris St Lazare (approximately two hours) and then the bus service from Le Havre to Etretat (approximately one hour).
Bus details and timetables are available from the Etretat Tourist Office. Information on train services from Paris to Le Havre are available from the state railway service SNCF.
Further information
The Etretat Tourist office offers information on things to do, accommodation and places to eat in Etretat.
