What to see in France

Camping in Seine-Maritime, choose the countryside by the sea

La Seine-Maritime, Veules-les-Roses
La Seine-Maritime, Veules-les-Roses

 

Seine-Maritime is a department in the Normandy region. Immense cliffs such as those of Etretat and the Côte d'Albâtre, a charming and preserved nature but also an important artistic and architectural heritage with Rouen or Le Havre as well as the most beautiful abbeys of Normandy, which make you travel to the heart of the medieval Seine Maritime and to the time of the Norman conquerors, without forgetting its pretty seaside resorts... Whether it is in the countryside or on the seashore, Seine Maritime seduces campers who love the great outdoors

Campsites in Seine-Maritime

With almost 70 campsites in Seine-Maritime, this is the ideal accommodation for a pleasant family holiday in the department. Les Pommiers ** campsite, located in the town of Saint-Léonard, famous for its impressionist painters, has 15 rentals and 79 pitches, 2 km from the sea, and offers a children's club and evening dances. Camping Vitamin **** in Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie has an outdoor swimming pool with slides and a sauna. The campsite is situated 2 km from the sea. Close to the cliffs of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the campsite Les Garennes de la Mer *** offers a country holiday by the sea, to discover the pretty town of Veules-les-Roses.

Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Along with Rouen, Le Havre is the most important city in Seine-Maritime in terms of historical heritage. It is the second largest port in France after Marseille and the most populous city in Normandy. Rebuilt by the famous architect Auguste Perret after the Second World War, and inaugurated by André Malraux in June 1961, the city of Le Havre is today labelled a City of Art and History. Famous for its port built in the 16th century by François I, almost 30 km long, its huge liners and cargo ships are impressive! The Saint-Joseph church, classified as a Historic Monument, is an architectural marvel of the 20th century, and its stained-glass windows can be admired from the inside. One cannot leave Le Havre without discovering the two volcano-shaped buildings that make up the Oscar-Niemeyer space as well as the superb Jardins Suspendus (Hanging Gardens) labelled Jardins Remarquables (Remarkable Gardens) which offer a magnificent view of the city and the sea. Finally, let's not forget that in Le Havre there is the sea and a pebble beach in the middle of the city, which is rare enough to be highlighted.

Jumièges and Saint-Georges de Boscherville, in the heart of medieval Normandy

Located in the superb Boucles de Seine Natural Park, Jumièges Abbey is considered today as one of the most beautiful in France. Built in the 7th century by Saint-Philibert, it is Romanesque in style and you have to look up to admire the two immense towers of the abbey church with the open-air nave in between... magic! A 3D application called "Jumièges 3D" allows you to reconstruct the abbey as it was when the monks lived there, in augmented reality. A new and fun way to discover the history of the abbey. Unlike Jumièges, the church of the abbey of Saint-Georges-de-Boscherville is still intact. Founded in 1113, it is the pride of the inhabitants of Seine-Maritime and the joy of many tourists. Its Romanesque style gives it an inescapable charm, and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful ruins in France. The Italian gardens were restored 20 years ago in the style of the 17th century. They are quite extraordinary, with a vegetable garden, fruit trees and even medicinal and aromatic plants as well as a magnificent parterre, on four superb terraces. From the highest terrace there is an exceptional panorama of the Seine valley and the site. Finally, it should be noted that the two abbeys are only 17 km apart, a good opportunity to visit the other when you have visited one!

Jumièges Abbey
Jumièges Abbey© IStock

Magnificent wild coastline of the seaside resorts

Did you know that Dieppe is the first French seaside resort? Etretat is known as one of the prettiest with its cliffs and Fécamp is particularly attractive with its location at the end of a valley. But between Dieppe and Fécamp lies Saint-Valery-en-Caux. Its marina in the middle of the town where you can find fish and other seafood directly sold by the fishermen themselves, is an attraction worth visiting! The beaches here are very pleasant and quiet, far from the hustle and bustle of the crowded beaches of southern France. The view of the sunset from the sea over the cliffs is fabulous. Veules-les-Roses is both charming and typical and is a must-see on the Côte d'Albâtre. Famous for its gardens full of roses and hydrangeas, its pretty thatched cottages and its 19th century "sea bath" style villas, its old mills. It was in turn a fishermen's village and then a holiday resort for artists and is now labelled the Most Beautiful Village in France. Here you can combine the pleasures of the sea with those of the countryside, as is often the case in Seine-Maritime.

Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux© IStock

 

Campsites connected with this article

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