Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie

The Seine Maritime includes the chalky plateau of the Pays de Caux and the cliffs of the English Channel coast. There are two types of landscape - the dry chalky plateaux which are under intense arable cultivation, and generally flat. This is a "champaign" landscape characterised by huge fields with very few hedgerows.
In contrast, there are deep valleys forming a reticulum which is carved into the plateaux. These are often a surprise to the visitor, as they are not visible from most parts of the plateaux. They form a much more intimate landscape, with woodlands (many of them ancient woodlands) of beech and oak, and small fields and meadows along the streams. This is known as "bocage" landscape. The major example of this is the Pays de Bray, part of which is included in the eastern end of the département.
Today Rouen is a city teeming with culture and dominated by Claude Monet's favourite cathedral.

From Rouen, the Seine moves towards the Cote d'Albatre a windswept coastline of chalky cliffs where there are plenty of good pebble beaches. Parisians often escape city life to relax in the popular seaside resort of Fecamp.

There is beautiful countryside betweenLe Havre & Rouen which has been designated the Parc Naturel Regional de Bretonne. Here you'll find Camargue horses and Scottish Highland cattle in the Vernier marshes.
The TGV runs through Rouen to the port of Le Havre with a further Channel crossing at Dieppe. Other Channel ports such as Calais and Boulougne sur Mer are within 2 hours, Belguim being only a short distance further.
• Rouen - despite WWII bombing, there are plenty of historic sights to see, including where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the place du Vieux-Marche.
• Art in Le Havre - find time to visit Les Beaux-Arts in Le Havre, one of France's most prestigious art galleries with works by Gaugin, Sisley and Pissarro. Raoul Dufy, a native of Le Havre, has a whole room to himself.
• Along the river Seine to Caudebec-en-Caux - find out what life was like along the banks of the Seine at the musee de la Marine de Seine.
• Dieppe - seaside amusements, beach lawns and lively streets make for a fun day out. The fish market is an experience with flamboyant fishermen selling fish directly off the boats.