Seine Maritime

 

Forges les Eaux

This delightful spa town has pretty lakes and woodland walks, a smart Casino (very popular with Parisians as it is only 70 miles from Paris, and open every night until 5am), a Club Med with health spa (daily membership is available for the gym, pool, sauna and various thalassotherapy seaweed treatments), fishing, tennis, and an indoor/outdoor pool, as well as a selection of restaurants, bars and a weekly market.

 

La Ferme de Bray

A 17th century farmstead, which has been lovingly restored and is now open to the public. You can visit the ancient wheat mill, bread oven, dovecote, chicken houses and cider presses. In each of the farm buildings you will find examples of all the traditional tools. There is also trout fishing in the lake.

 

Gerberoy

Although not technically in Seine Maritime, (it is just to the south, in the Eure), the old medieval village of Gerberoy is one one of the "100 most beautiful villages in France" and protected as a classified site. All the old houses have been restored and maintained and in the summer are covered in roses. The road to this village from the north is extremely picturesque - you will pass along a lovely calm river valley with a number of pretty villages on the way. Don't miss the Hostellerie du Vieux Logis, a highly recommended restaurant, with a lovely garden in the summer. Their speciality is little individual table-top "barbecues" , where you cook your own meat or fish over a calvados flame. (They also do a "Menu Sucre" - a five-course meal consisting only of desserts!) www.gerberoy.fr

 

The Foret de Lyons

10,000 hectares in size, the fifth largest national forest in France. At its centre, the medieval village of Lyons-la-Foret is another of the "100 most beautiful villages in France" and it, too, has a couple of highly recommended restaurants.

 

Dieppe and the "Alabaster Coast"

Although a ferry port, it is nothing like Calais - very French, and no "booze cruisers"! This lovely seaside town is just 40 minutes drive to the North - take a stroll along the harbour and stop off to try the famous "Marmite Dieppoise" at one of the many harbourside restaurants.

Continue along the glorious Normandy "Cote d’Albatre" - rugged, uncrowded, and full of French charm with beautifully clean sand and pebble beaches below white chalk cliffs. Set amongst the many villages (e.g. Veules-les-Roses, St Valery en Caux) are numerous restaurants with sea views, serving freshly caught fish and seafood, and of course the neo-renaissance palace in the centre of Fecamp does guided tours to sample the infamous Bénédictine liqueur.

 

Of all the towns along the Alabaster Coast, Etretat shines, with its famous chalk cliffs and needle loved as a subject by the Impressionists.

 

Rouen

About 30 minutes drive to the west is the ancient town of Rouen - cobbled streets, medieval architecture, numerous churches and a magnificently restored Cathedral, as well as being a shopper’s paradise of little antique shops and excellent boutiques. Jeanne d'Arc was burned at the stake in the old market place, and there is a museum there, dedicated to her life.

 

Golf

There is a number of golf courses within easy reach, making Seine Maritime an excellent base for golfing breaks. In fact Normandy is rated among the top ten most desirable golfing locations in the world!

St-Saens

A newish course, very popular, with a magnificent chateau clubhouse where you can enjoy an excellent, reasonably priced lunch or dinner. This course is incredibly varied - you will experience parkland, moorland and water holes here. As with most French courses, you will find it difficult to believe how such a great course can be so empty! Well worth the visit. Visit the website

Champ de Bataille

Arguably Normandy’s finest, and quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most beautiful golf courses in France. Gentle opening and finishing holes, but 16 of the most challenging and scenic golf holes in between! A tight, tree-lined forest layout, well maintained, with some great water holes. Visit the website

Dieppe

An old established course. Links in style, with some very difficult greens (both to putt on and to hit!). Nice wide fairways but you’ll need to be accurate with your approaches. An enjoyable course, although tough to play to your handicap. Visit the website

Rouen La Foret Verte

On the edge of the 'green forest’, only 7 miles northwest of Rouen, this is a pleasant and well-maintained course. You will enjoy some very well-designed, picturesque holes. Strategically placed water hazards will make you think, but otherwise a fairly straightforward layout. Visit the website

Etretat

At the top of the cliffs – the golf course is in a setting of unique and of rare beauty. When the wind blows, you may find it tough, but whatever your score may be, it will be a memorable, magic experience. Visit the website

 

For the children

There are plenty of places of interest for the children – the beaches near Dieppe, the swimming pools at Forges and Gournay are both within 20 minutes drive, the open air theme parks of St Paul and Bocasse are both within easy reach, the chateau at Cleres with its exotic animals and birds roaming the grounds, the Avenue Verte cycle track, the list is endless!

If they are very good, you can even reward them (or should that be "bribe" them?!) with a day trip to Disneyland or Parc Asterix,which are both an easy 1.5 hour drive along the motorway.

Art Lovers

Guy de Maupassant, Flaubert, Marcel Proust and Oscar Wilde all resided in the area at some time during their lives, or go just a little further afield to Monet's house and garden at Giverny.

 

 

Cyclists

The Avenue Verte, access to which is free, consists of a car-free path, minimum 3 metres wide, and currently 40km long from Forges-les-Eaux to Dieppe. The route is reserved for walkers, wheelchairs, cyclists, rollerbladers and horseriders. Plentiful picnic spots have been created along the side of the route, as well as a number of old railway signal boxes which have been refurbished to serve as shelters. Part of the European Cycleways project, the “Avenue Verte” is planned, with "Green Tourism" in mind, to eventually link London and Paris. When the next stage of the British section is completed (within a couple of years) this section will link Heathfield (East Sussex), via the existing Cuckoo Trail, to the Newhaven-Dieppe Ferries/Seacat and on to Forges-les-Eaux.

 

Paris and Disneyland

Easily accessible, a stay in Seine Maritime offers you a great opportunity to visit the French capital during your break.

 

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