Étretat, Coastal commune in Normandy, France
Étretat is a commune in the arrondissement of Le Havre on the Seine-Maritime coast of Normandy, set between tall chalk cliffs. The settlement stretches along a pebble cove, surrounded by three named rock arches called Porte d'Aval, Porte d'Amont, and Manneporte, as well as the needle-shaped formation L'Aiguille.
In the 19th century, the construction of a railway line turned the small fishing harbor into a popular destination for Parisians and other visitors from northern France. The natural arches were carved by centuries of wind and waves working on the soft chalk layer.
This part of the Norman coast drew writers such as Maurice Leblanc, who set his Arsène Lupin stories here and owned a house in the area. Today, walkers visit the cliffs in all seasons, and some explore the caves at the base of the rock formations when the tide is low.
Several paths lead up to the clifftops and offer different viewpoints over the rock arches and the sea, though some sections are steep and uneven. During strong winds or rain, the paths can become slippery, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The arches and the needle form natural frames through which sunrise and sunset can be seen, and their appearance changes with the tides and light. At low tide, flat rock platforms and smaller caves at the base of the cliffs become visible, which are otherwise underwater.
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