unimaginable landscapes

TOP 5 of our valleys

The valleys are an integral part of the landscapes of the Côte d’Albâtre and of the identity of our territory. Fragile, as are the cliffs, we invite you to discover them on foot, respecting the places and the tranquility of their inhabitants.

We remind you that it is dangerous to walk at the foot of cliffs. So caution is advised…

n°1

The Little Slabs

An old-fashioned charm emanates from this village with its countless late 19th century villas. They were home to great artists, who came here to seek rest: Gustave Eiffel, Hector Mallot & Jules Verne, Sarah Bernhardt & Isadora Duncan, to name but a few.

In the summer, the white huts make the beach most authentic and give it a lovely resort feel.

And what about the extraordinary view from the customs officers’ path! Below, the turquoise blue of the sea contrasts with the green of the meadows and the chalk color of the cliffs.

Did you know?

The Petites Dalles also have their “crossroads”. Find it, it will lead you to the heights, to the sumptuous villa of Lampottes, which was built by Henri Stephan Opper de Blowitz, famous correspondent to the Times.

Accessible by a hiking trail through the woods or by the D5 from Sassetot-le-Mauconduit

Gr21 Rando Petites Dalles August 2021 12

Petites Dalles 2006 09 C Oti Canton De Valmont.017.jpg

Syndicat Initiative Petites Dalles August 2021

n°2

Grainval

It is here, in the quiet of this hamlet, that stands a small brick and flint chapel from the early 20th century, which regularly opens its doors for exhibitions and concerts.

At the bottom of the few stairs that lead to the sea, turn your gaze to the left: fresh water gushes out of the cliff to form the spring of “la Roche qui Pleure”before gently flowing to the sea.

In fact, it is this water that is the subject of the story that follows…

Two centuries ago, Arsène Louis Bigot had the crazy project of digging into the cliff to capture the springs of Grainval and supply the town of Fécamp with drinking water. The work done is titanic: for six years, this craftsman mason from Yport will dig alone a tunnel of 1,500 meters…

The Heritage Archives Department of the City of Fécamp offers an unusual visit of this tunnel: These visits are rare and subject to reservation.

Accessible by the GR®21 from Yport or Fécamp or by a very narrow road from Saint-Léonard.

n°3

Senneville-sur-Fécamp

We love this valley for its secret character. No sign will tell you.

It is through the charming Val de la Mer, which ends in a staircase, that you will reach a beach at the foot of impressive cliffs. In the past, pebble collectors used to walk along it every day.

Did you know?

In the 19th century, after the Empire, this incised valley was ideal for smuggling sailors, who would disembark and hide from the “cliff parrots”, as the customs officers were then nicknamed, equipped with a green colored uniform.

Accessible by the GR®21 from Fécamp or by a narrow road: the sea valley.

n°4

The Great Slabs

Here, they have been practicing fishing on foot since forever. In the respect of good fishing practices, the Grand-dallais fish the étrilles “au pousseux” equipped with a haveneau (large flat semi-circular net), stretch nets between the rocks, deposit in the sea lobster traps…

We discover some sleeping nuggets such as the Mulhouse Pavilion: presented at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris in 1925, it was then dismantled to be reassembled at the Grandes Dalles, at No. 11 rue des péqueux, and to be transformed into a rest house for colonial officials.

Did you know?

It was on its heights that in 1874, Berthe Morisot, impressionist painter, made her painting “On the cliff” (Louvre Museum – Paris). The cliff of Saint-Martin and the valley of Petites-Dalles can be seen in the background of the painting. The artist was then staying in Fécamp.
The Grandes Dalles hosted a Marine Sanatorium from 1924 to 1958. In particular, bone tuberculosis was treated there, by hot seawater baths with kelp, in a bathtub.

Accessible by the GR®21 from the Petites Dalles or by the D79 from Sassetot-le-Mauconduit

n°5

Vaucottes

The charming path that descends to the sea walks you between two sides of the valley, where delicate mansions and amazing and sumptuous villas stand.

In one of them, the Villa Marie-Louise, stayed Maurice Leblanc, author of the famous adventures of Arsène Lupin.

Accessible by the GR®21 or by the D211 from Yport. The view is breathtaking, but be careful to stay focused.e on the road and not to drive too fast as many cyclists use it.

Practical Information

Don’t put your life in danger by walking under or too close to the edge of the cliffs, landslides are frequent, never leave the marked path,
Don’t pick up the pebbles, they are essential to the protection of our coastline,
For foot fishing, consult the tide schedules.

Thursday 05 December

Rain

13^°C

min : 7^°C / max : 13^°C

Wind : 36km/hHumidity : 96%

Morning

9^°C

Afternoon

13^°C

Evening

13^°C

Friday 06 December