As I go back to my memory lane, one of the most memorable trip I had was to Étretat in France. When I had a chance to visit Paris for 3 months, I had few weekends to spare and explore France all by myself. Though it was my first international trip, I was all excited and prepared to venture out alone France!!
I had heard about Étretat as one day venture from Paris known for its white cliffs and arcs in the Normandy region of France. So just googled for how to reach there and put on my backpack to Étretat.
How did I reach there:
I took a train from Paris gare saint Lazare to a city called Le Havre. This is a coastal city in France and famous for its harbour. This is about 2 hours costing about €15 one way. I left little early in the morning so that I could explore the place well. From Le Havre, there are buses available from the train station to Étretat at certain times of the day. The bus journey costed about €8. The bus journey was very pleasant as it passed through beautiful French countryside. Small houses with beautiful gardens were very attractive. After about 55 minutes, the bus arrived in Étretat. The small and beautiful town welcomed with flowering plants every where. The beach was a bit away from the town and I had to walk to reach the beach.
What I did
Étretat ! A very beautiful beach with pebbles and white cliffs attracts you instantly. The option I had was to either enjoy the beach side or walk up the cliffs to see the vastness of the place. I chose latter as it was a bit adventurous task. As I climbed up, I realized how much big the cliffs were and the view from top is just unforgettable. I could see white birds of seagulls type that were screaming and that cry still rings in my ears!!The beach is without sand, but full of pebbles. This was an unique beach I have ever seen with cliffs in the background!!
Small yatches were available for rent for experiencing the sea ride. I did not explore that but it looked like a good option.
There is a chapel on the other side of the cliff. The Chapelle Notre dame de la Garde is famous for its location itself on the cliff. As I climbed up, the cliffs looked more beautiful and memorable.
Overall it was a time well spent amidst nature and it's a must visit for all France visitors.
Food options
Small shops along the beach side sell various snacks and local delicacies. English speaking vendors are rare to find. Being a vegetarian, I had packed my food and water so did not find it very difficult.
Things to note:
1. Etretat is a one day trip from Paris, if you have a weekend to spare, this is a good option.
2. Leave early from Paris so that you can spend more time in Etretat. Buses from Etretat are at fixed timings to Le Havre, so plan your time accordingly.
3. Carry water bottle and warm clothes with you as weather can be a bit chilly at times.
4. Carry the food if you can.
5. Take a good camera with you to capture the beauty, I had carried a 5mp basic camera 7years ago :)
6. Best time to visit- Summer ( June to September)
