Saint-Valery-en-Caux travel guide

Visit Saint-Valery-en-Caux (Normandy, France)

Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a harbour town on the coast of Normandy between Fecamp and Dieppe (hence facing the English Channel), in a valley between the high limestone cliffs that are representative of the area.

Explore Saint-Valery-en-Caux

The beach is the principal destination in Saint-Valery-en-Caux - it is a beach of pebbles but with sand at low tide and backed by the white limestone cliffs.

In fact there are two separate beaches, one either side of the port: the beach to the east of the port, called the Plage de Saint-Valery, is the main beach but both are close enough to the town to become busy in summer. The beaches are very clean and well-maintained.

You will also discover a traditional harbour and a large pleasure boat marina. Surrounded by traditional houses, this is the heart of the town around which your visit will focus, popular for a promenade and with a selection of restaurants.

The marina is on the river side of a lock-style bridge which crosses the estuary and separates the older houses of the harbour from the newer buildings around the beach, which was rebuilt after extensive damage in the war.

Saint-Valery-en-Caux is now quite a bustling resort, with plenty of cafes and restaurants and a lively atmosphere. It is also rated as a 4* ville fleurie (the highest rating awarded), the flowers bringing an extra splash of colour to the town during a large part of the year.

One building that is sure to catch your eye is the so-called 'Henry IV house', a traditional Normandy half-timbered building that now houses the Saint-Valery-en-Caux tourist office.

There are some other interesting buildings and artefacts to discover as you explore the town centre, such as the 15th century Church of Saint-Valery, the green and white lighthouse at the entrance to the harbour, the 'cloister of the penitents' and the Saint-Leger belltower.

The town also has a casino, swimming pool, cinema etc in case the weather is less than ideal for the beach!

History lesson: Saint-Valery-en-Caux wasn't always the quiet resort town we see today. It was here that the British 51st Infantry Division surrendered along with French soldiers to Rommel on June 12 1940 after a battle that caused a great deal of damage to the town.

You can see a memorial to the 51st division on the cliffs above the town. This is a short walk uphill and offers some great views over the town and coast.

Attractions nearby

Be sure to drive to the stunning Veules-les-Roses to the east of the town. This small town sits on the edge of the river Veules, apparently the shortest river in France and you can walk along the river and see watermills and fish in the river in a picturesque environment.

We also recommend you visit the village at Auberville-la-Manuel to see examples of the impressive local architecture that combines white limestone and red-bricks.

There is another small seaside resort at Veulettes-sur-Mer a few kilometres west of Saint-Valery-en-Caux

See more seaside resorts in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Seine-Maritime guide and the Normandy guide.