Hoteliers, proud of their regions
- Muriel Petit and Audrey Bordas
Upper Normandy: a majestic coastline
The coastline of Upper Normandy, with its famous cliffs, has picture-postcard landscapes. But you'd be wrong to stop at that . The region overflows with hidden treasures.
Born in the region, Muriel Petit has been working at the INTER-HOTEL La Cour Carrée in Eu-Le-Tréport for 17 years. «It's a beautiful region, with its high cliffs. The landscape is more abrupt than in Lower Normandy, where there are more valleys.».
The cliffs of Etretat are what many people think of, when this region is mentioned. The sunsets immortalised by the impressionist painters are still spectacular.
«Inland, small villages like Veules-les-Roses are as typical as the sunsets. They are perfect stopovers for exploring nature, like the forest of Eu, covering more than 9,000 hectares».
Preserved beauty of the Bay of the Somme
- The lighthouse of St.Valéry-en-Caux
«The bay of the Somme is one of the most beautiful bays in the world (as is the bay of Mont Saint Michel for example). Known for its ecological richness, it runs from the point of Hourdel in the south to the point of Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont in the north. It's a unique place for birdlife, with sheep grazing in the bay, and, surprisingly, its seals.», adds Muriel Petit.
«As soon as the sun shines, the tourists are on the beach. For the parisiens, its a breath of fresh air, without travelling too far. In just two and a half hours, you've left behind the daily stress of parisien life.»
With the sea sometimes slightly rough, its a pleasure for children to play in the waves. Activities such as sailing, windsurfing and kite-surfing are practised in a number of places along the coast. Especially near Fecamp and Dieppe.
In Fecamp, you should stop at the museum of the Palais Bénédictine dating from 1888. For a magnificent panoramic view of Dieppe, you need to climb the stairway to the top of its fortified castle.
You can also play golf, with a number of courses which may remind you of Britain. The INTER-HOTEL le Drakkar in Pont Audemer is close to no less than 4 different golf courses.
Architecture and gastronomy
- Brand-name of a cider bar on a half-timbering house
During walks or bike rides, stop to enjoy a seafood platter. The scallops à la dieppoise or the prawns of Fecamp are just a sample of what the menus have to offer.
Normandy is also known for its cows milk that makes camembert one of the pride and joys of France. The apples make the best ciders and Calvados in the country.
"Rouen is a marvel of gothic architecture", adds Muriel Petit. The Notre-Dame cathedral was made famous by Claude Monet in a series of paintings now in the Orsay museum in Paris. You can also see other examples in the abbey of Saint-Ouen and the Palais de Justice.
Le Havre, second port of France after Marseille, is also interesting for its post war architecture. UNESCO certified the town centre as a national heritage site in 2005. Don't miss the André Malraux museum, especially if you like impressionist painting.
"Our history and heritage are extremely attractive to tourists looking for authenticity. The Vikings, William the Conquerer and the Americans during the D-day landings have all contributed to make this the land of character it is today."
INTER-HOTEL is a brand of the