Varengeville-Sur-Mer Churchyard, Historic church cemetery on coastal cliffs in Varengeville-sur-Mer, France
Varengeville-sur-Mer Churchyard is a burial ground situated on an 80-meter-high cliff overlooking the English Channel from towering white chalk cliffs. Gravestones are scattered across green meadows with expansive views along the coastline.
The burial ground was established around the 16th century alongside the adjacent church, marked by its distinctive sandstone cross at the entrance. Both structures developed together and continue to form the community's spiritual center today.
The site sits next to the Church of Saint Valery, whose windows were designed by the artist Georges Braque. The location reveals a strong connection between faith and artistic creation in this coastal French community.
The site is located west of Dieppe and accessible via Route de l'Église, though access is restricted due to ongoing coastal erosion. Visitors should note that new burials are no longer permitted and the grounds are best explored on foot.
The cemetery loses roughly one meter of coastline each year to erosion, gradually moving graves closer to the edge. This ongoing process makes it a vivid example of nature's power reshaping the French coast.
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