Veules-les-Roses, Coastal commune in Seine-Maritime, France
Veules-les-Roses is a coastal village on the Alabaster Coast in Seine-Maritime, featuring traditional Norman cottages and watermills that run from the beach toward inland areas. The settlement is shaped by a small river flowing through gardens and watercress cultivation ponds that structure the entire layout.
The village evolved from a 19th-century fishing and weaving center into an artist's retreat, drawing writers like Victor Hugo to its shores. This shift reflected a broader transformation as coastal communes discovered new economic roles as holiday destinations.
The Church of Saint-Martin anchors the village center with its Gothic architecture, standing near old manor houses that show signs of past prosperity. Traditional Norman timber-framed houses line the streets throughout the commune, revealing how people have lived here across generations.
The location is easiest to reach by following the coastal roads and lies in a flat landscape west of Dieppe with no significant elevation changes. Walking around is straightforward, as the beach, village center, and gardens sit close together and connect well on foot.
The local river is among France's shortest watercourses and shapes daily life with its constant flow through gardens and buildings. Its small size belies the fact that this waterway provides the foundation for traditional watercress cultivation in the area.
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