Heritage & culture

Sotteville-sur-mer is a charming Normandy village on the Côte d’Albâtre. Stretching 130km from the town of Le Tréport to Le Havre, it is the longest coastline in Europe. Between limestone cliffs and lush green countryside, you’ll discover a unique landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site! A visit to the Côte d’Albâtre means discovering a multi-faceted region, with a choice of nature-related activities. Here’s a small selection of our favorite places to visit, to help you plan your stay:

The stairs of Sotteville-sur-Mer

The white chalk cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre, set against the blue of the sea, are a picture-postcard backdrop. Take the huge Sotteville-sur-mer staircase leading straight down to the sea. Get your calves ready! You’ll have to climb 231 steps carved into the rock face. But we guarantee that the scenery waiting for you at the bottom of the staircase is well worth the detour.

A walk in Veules-les-Roses

2 km from Sotteville, let yourself be seduced by one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, and follow the smallest river in France, the Veules. Take a stroll along the river to discover the village’s mills, thatched cottages and watercress beds. On the seafront, you won’t be able to resist tasting a dozen Veulaises, an oyster raised in the open sea.

In the footsteps of artists at Varengeville-sur-Mer

On the road to Dieppe, discover Varengeville-sur-Mer, its church and marine cemetery. The artist Georges Braque, who created the church’s stained glass window, is buried here. A source of inspiration for many artists, Claude Monet in particular set up his easel here. Suspended above the sea, these magical places are among those that leave a lasting impression.

The superb spectacle of the flax fields

Flax growing is unique to the Haute-Normandie region (50% of world production). For a week in mid-June, the flax plants are in bloom. The fields turn blue every morning, and the flowers fade in the afternoons. It’s a magical, ephemeral time of year, not to be missed!
And why not visit a flax production plant? We recommend the Terre de Lin cooperative or La Ferme au Fil des Saisons.

Flax festival 1st weekend in July

The Festival du Lin et de l’Aiguille is a 3-day event (1st weekend in July) focusing on the culture of linen, its history and its environment. On the program: contemporary and traditional textile art exhibitions, fashion shows, factory tours, a linen fair, workshops and hikes… A dense program, ideal for discovering the Normandy countryside!

The incredible Shamrock Garden collection

Shamrock Garden is home to the world’s largest collection of hydrangeas. The passionate owners of this magnificent garden have assembled over 1,500 varieties. A veritable tableau, the Shamrock Garden enchants with its colors and the play of light and shadow in its paths. Mid-July to late August is the ideal time to enjoy this fabulous collection of hydrangeas.

Exploring the “TERRE D’ACCORD” workshop garden

Man and nature in balance. In his studio garden at La Chapelle-sur-Dun, Robert Arnoux calls on the forces of nature to create. It’s the central element that guides the artist into a world of his own, where he stages amusing characters in a vast 2-hectare landscaped park. An enchanted place not to be missed just outside Sotteville!

The unusual Sainte Marguerite bunker

A very unusual, Instagramable spot… you can go and see a bunker, a vestige of the Second World War, literally, fallen vertically onto the beach at Ste Marguerite-sur-mer. Anchored in the landscape, it now stands some 30 metres from the cliffs.

The world of old-fashioned classes

Located in Gonzeville, rediscover the world of rural schools.
Furniture, books, blackboards…it’s all there. Even the smell of waxed parquet. Possibility of organizing a dictation and a problem for groups.

Au fil des saisons” farm

This traditional “clos-masure” in the Pays de Caux region welcomes you for a family outing. At Antoine and Brigitte’s, you can discover the animals in their living environment. Younger visitors can feed the goats and pigs, stroke the rabbits and ride in donkey-drawn carts… A 2 km hike through the orchard and countryside invites you to play games on the theme of the environment.

Château de Galleville in Doudeville

Formerly owned by the Maréchal Duc de Villars, this late 17th-century château is remarkably unified. Here we find the main courtyard, elegant outbuildings, salon, chapel, library and former kitchen. Outside: beautiful vistas of oak and beech, yew, box, lime, flower gardens, flowering kitchen garden, structured orchard, English garden, formal parterre, shrubs, bushes and rare flowers. Make the most of the fine weather and lose yourself in the grounds of this listed historic monument.