Your holiday cottage in Etretat

Looking for a holiday cottage in Etretat or a B&B in the surrounding area?

The Gîtes de France Seine-Maritime offer a range of holiday cottages and B&Bs in Etretat for your holidays and weekend breaks by the sea in Normandy, in the heart of the seaside resort.

The Needle of Etretat, which Maurice Leblanc imagined was hollow to create Arsène Lupin's den, still stands bravely up to the action of the sea. With the Aval Cliff and the Manneporte Arch, other distinctive cliffs in the Pays de Caux, it contributes to the reputation of this small seaside resort of the Alabaster Coast with its shingle beach, its casino and its quaint villas. The Clos Lupin, located in Maurice Leblanc's house, tells the exploits of the gentleman-thief.

The Cliffs in Etretat

The high cliffs of the Pays de Caux are always moving. Constantly battered by the sea and damaged by frost and infiltration, they recede and huge sections of chalk cliff regularly collapse on the shingle beaches.
Today, it is estimated that the cliff moves back from 20 to 200 metres (22 to 219 yards) per century depending on places. In Etretat, the chalk is particularly hard and resists erosion. Over time, it has shaped some distinctive features including the famous Amont and Aval cliffs, the 70 metre-high hollow needle, which inspired Maurice Leblanc's adventures of Arsène Lupin, and further away the Belval needle, facing the dry hanging valley of Bénouville. It is possible to reach the top of the cliffs thanks to steps and enjoy beautiful views over the town and the coastline.