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Dives-sur-Mer

Visit Dives-sur-Mer (Normandy, France)

The Normandy town and resort of Dives-sur-Mer is found in the Calvados department, just across the Dives estuary from Houlgate.

The town is best known for being the place where William the Conqueror set off for his conquest of England in 1066, although it is now hard to imagine a great fleet setting off from the quiet little fishing port at Dives-sur-Mer.

Exploring Dives-sur-Mer

There is now a modern pleasure boat harbour at Port Guillame, from where you can take pleasure or fishing boat trips, and a daily market where you can buy fresh fish.

Within Dives-sur-Mer the most interesting part for visitors is the sector called the 'Village of William the Conqueror', now a magnet for artists and artisans and with picturesque and often ornately decorated medieval half-timbered houses - or 19th century recreations of medieval style houses in some cases, when much of the centre was created, around the original 'auberge of the Royal Sword'

The 14th century market hall is the other main notable monument, still used for the Saturday market and with incredible carpentry work in the roof.Also on the market square you can see the 17th century Maison de Bois Hibout, a substantial stone manor house on five levels.

The Church of Notre Dame was originally a small roman church built in the 11th century but was largely replaced in the 14th century by a grander gothic style church*.

* The origins of the church relate a legend that in the year 1001 local fishermen found a statue of Christ in their fishing nets, that started to bleed when the wood was chopped. The statue was without a cross, but then a cross was discovered in the sea three years later that perfectly fitted the statue. The miraculous statue and cross were placed in a chapel at the church which became a popular pilgrimage destination. Unfortunately the statue went missing during the Wars of Religion and the church no longer attracted pilgrims.

Also recommended in Dives-sur-Mer is the Maison Bleue, an unusual garden featuring a remarkable number of mosaics and decorated objects and structures by an artist called Da Costa.

There are also several grand 19th century villas to admire in the older part of Dives-sur-Mer.

There are several good beaches close to Dives-sur-Mer, including those at Cabourg and Houlgate, just a little way to the north, and elsewhere along the Normandy Cote Fleurie.

Photos taken within 10 km

Address: Dives-sur-Mer, Dozulé, Lisieux, Calvados, Normandy, 14160 || GPS: latitude 49.286389, longitude -0.1

Map of Dives-sur-Mer & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Deauville 15km; Trouville 16km; Cambremer 18km; Villerville 21km; Caen 23km; Le Havre 27km; Honfleur 28km; Lisieux 28km; Creully 32km; Arromanches 38km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Dives-sur-Mer.
See Normandy and Calvados (the region and department for Dives-sur-Mer) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Dives-sur-Mer, France

• Cabourg - ville fleurie 4*
• Beuvron - most beautiful village (12km)
• Touques - ville fleurie 4* (16km)
• Abbaye de Caen (Caen) - religious monument (22km)
• Boutemont - remarkable garden (26km)
• Le Havre - town of art and history (27km)
• Honfleur - recommended detour (28km)
• Parc zoologique de Lisieux - zoo or wildlife park (32km)
• Jardins du château de Vendeuvre - remarkable garden (33km)
• Jardins du château de Brécy - remarkable garden (34km)

Market days in Dives-sur-Mer: A seasonal market is held in Dives-sur-Mer on Tuesday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Dives-sur-Mer (Francais)