The Cliffs of Etretat, a major tourist site
Located about thirty kilometres north of Le Havre, Étretat is the jewel of the Alabaster Coast – Côte d’Albâtre.
It is indeed renowned for its breathtaking coastline and limestone landscapes typical of the Pays de Caux region.
Renowned painters such as Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet, and Gustave Courbet drew profound inspiration from its wild beauty.
Their brushstrokes immortalised the three arches and the iconic needle of Étretat, making this magnificent cliff, constantly sculpted by relentless marine erosion, a major tourist destination.
Indeed, over time, water seeps into the rocky crevices, carving out caverns that grow larger and eventually give rise to these spectacular arches.
Unfortunately, these arches eventually collapse under the effects of erosion, leaving solitary rock pillars, known as “needles,” emerging from the sea.
The two most famous arches are the Porte d’Aval and the Porte d’Amont, which are visible from viewpoints throughout the city, and the most spectacular is the Manneporte.
Oiseau Blanc – Nungesser and Coli
Tragically, the cliffs of Étretat became part of one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
On May 8, 1927, Charles Nungesser and François Coli indeed embarked from here on a daring mission: to complete the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York aboard the Oiseau Blanc (White Bird)!
Unfortunately, their aeroplane disappeared into the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, leaving no trace of debris or any clue as to their fate.
To this day, the disappearance of Nungesser and Coli remains a mystery in the annals of aviation. The memorial dedicated to them was destroyed during World War II, but a new one was erected in its place in 1963, and a small museum was established nearby.
Department of Seine-Maritime
Coordinates: Lat 49.707050 – Long 0.194020
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Jörg Braukmann CC BY-SA 4.0 – Photo1 by FrDr CC BY-SA 4.0 – Cliff and needle by Unukorno CC BY 4.0 – Seen from the beach by Gordito1869 CC BY 3.0
