Here is finally the last stage of my bike trip in Normandy during which we crossed 3 departments of the region: the Manche (which I already told you about here), the Calvados (the article is over there) and the Seine-Maritime. Today I am therefore presenting our visit to Seine-Maritime (where the city of Le Havre is also located, which I discovered and loved last summer if you remember) with a selection of great addresses and things to do in the department, as is my custom.
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Table of Contents
Our journey in Normandy with La Petite Reine
This team of enthusiasts, and particularly our guide Hugo, took us once again on the country roads of the region to discover the most beautiful routes, must-see sites, and historical interests with a tailor-made route for our small group of bloggers. On this stage, we discovered the beautiful Fruit Route, we rode along the Seine Valley and we also took a ferry across this famous river that we know well in Paris.
Always with our electric bikes, it was very practical at certain moments when we were a little behind schedule and had to speed up seriously (even without being super athletic, you can do it with these bikes, that’s what’s great!).
La Petite Reine Normandie Rates: approximately 115 € per person per day
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Visiting Etretat
I had wanted to discover Etretat for a super long time, because I had obviously heard a lot about it! And I was really not disappointed by this discovery, it is a place to see at least once in your life, I think. Of course, I highly recommend that you go for a walk along the cliffs of Etretat; it costs nothing and it is simply the best way to enjoy the landscape, take beautiful photos, and get a breath of fresh air. Plus, non-athletes can be reassured, it climbs a little, but if you go at your own pace, it’s easily doable (yes, yes, I assure you!).
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Where to stay in Etretat? Hôtel Le Donjon, Domaine Saint Clair
The 4-star Hotel-Restaurant Le Donjon is one of the city’s iconic addresses, as this establishment majestically overlooks the city, offering passersby a breathtaking view of Etretat and its cliffs. It is also the ideal spot to admire a sunset over the sea… The hotel offers 25 rooms spread over three spaces with different atmospheres.
I’m not totally a fan of the room decor (well, my room, the Marcel Proust) a bit too cluttered for my taste; however, the rest of the place is enchanting. Well, on the other hand, I had a jacuzzi bathtub in my room (which I didn’t have the courage to use because we went to bed a little too late…) and that’s a nice little extra… I especially recommend you go there to have a drink on the beautiful terrace of the establishment or to discover the gourmet restaurant of the hotel which is excellent (and which has had a Michelin star since 2021) or its more classic but nevertheless highly-regarded bistro.
The little extra: the hotel’s superb pool that really makes you dream (even if we didn’t have time to enjoy it either, unfortunately…).
Hôtel Domaine Saint Clair Chemin de Saint-Clair, 76790 Etretat Restaurant price: lunch menu at 29 € / evening menus between 35 € and 75 € Room price: from 240 €
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Where to eat in Etretat? Le Bistretatais
This was the opportunity for me to eat a traditional mussels/fries dish and to taste a little local craft beer (3.90 €).
Le Bistretatais 17 rue Adolphe Boissaye, Etretat Price: bistro set menu appetizer + main or main + dessert at 17.50 € / lunch set menu main + dessert at 14.90 €
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Visiting the Etretat Gardens
An incredible place between land art and lush vegetation that I really advise you to visit if you are passing through Etretat!
Les Jardins d'Etretat Avenue Damilaville, 76790 Etretat Open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rates: 8.80 € adult / 5.30 € children aged 2 to 12
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Visiting Jumièges Abbey
This large Benedictine abbey founded in 654 by Saint Philibert is one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Normandy and it is well worth the detour for a quick visit! The ruins (dating from the 11th to the 18th century) still visible of this abbey are truly breathtaking and they still dominate the Seine Valley today. It is also very pleasant to walk in the English-style park of 14 hectares that surrounds the monuments still standing on the site.
The little extra: discover Jumièges in 3D using a tablet (rental 5 €) or via your smartphone with a free application that allows you to visit the abbey by seeing 360° reconstructions of the place and numerous audio and video commentaries.
Abbaye de Jumièges rue Guillaume le Conquérant 76480 Jumièges Open every day from April 15 to September 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from September 16 to April 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rates: 6.50 € full price / 4 € reduced / free for under 18s, unemployed persons, and social minimum beneficiaries
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Thanks to Seine-Maritime Tourisme and to Pascal from the Agency aiRPur for this welcome and to all my fellow bloggers with whom I had a lot of fun, Hello It’s Valentine, Tour Du Monde, Culturez-vous and Prépare Ta Valise (thanks to Nicolas and Valentine for their beautiful photos of me).
I hope that with all this, I will have made you want to discover the Seine-Maritime and Normandy, and if you also have your good addresses and tips for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Find all my articles on the Normandy region below:
⇒ All my articles on Normandy
MY ARTICLES ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF NORMANDY
⇒ The Orne
⇒ The Seine-Maritime
⇒ The Eure
⇒ The Calvados
⇒ The Manche
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan, Nicolas Daumas and Valentine Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
