Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Normandy Bridge (Pont de Normandie)
The 1.25-mile-long Normandie Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western
world (about €5 toll each way). This is a key piece of a super-expressway that links the
Atlantic ports from Belgium to Spain. View the bridge from Honfleur (better from an ex-
cursion boat or the Côte de Grâce viewpoint, and best at night, when bridge is floodlit).
Also consider visiting the bridge's free Exhibition Hall (under tollbooth on Le Havre side,
daily 8:00-19:00). The Seine finishes its winding 500-mile journey here, dropping only
1,500 feet from its source. The river flows so slowly that, in certain places, a stiff breeze
can send it flowing upstream.
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Etrétat
France's answer to the White Cliffs of Dover, these chalky cliffs soar high above a calm,
crescent beach (from Honfleur, it's about 50 minutes by car or 2 hours by bus via Le
Havre). Walking trails lead hikers from the small seaside resort of Etrétat along a verti-
ginous route with sensational views (and crowds of hikers in summers and on weekends).
You'll recognize these cliffs—and the arches and stone spire that decorate them—from
countless Impressionist paintings, including several at the Eugène Boudin Museum in
Honfleur.Thesmall,ConeyIsland-liketownholdsplentyofcafésanda
TI
(PlaceMaurice
Guillard, tel. 02 35 27 05 21,
www.etretat.net
)
.
Getting There:
Etrétat is north of Le Havre. To get here by car, cross the Normandy
Bridge and follow A-29, then exit at
sortie Etrétat
. Buses serve Etrétat from Le Havre's
gare routière,
adjacent to the train station (5/day, 1 hour,
www.keolis-seine-mari-
Sleeping in Etrétat:
$$$ Hôtel Dormy
makes a nice splurge if the scenery moves
you(Db-€138-165,RouteduHavreattheedgeofEtrétat,tel.0235270788,
www.dormy-
ThoughHonfleurispopularinsummer,it'sbusiestonweekendsandholidayswhenprices
can rise (blame Paris). English is widely spoken (Honfleur is a popular weekend getaway
for Brits). A few moderate accommodations remain, but most hotels are pretty pricey.
Budget travelers should consider the
chambres d'hôtes
listed.
Only two hotels have elevators (Hôtel le Cheval Blanc and Ibis Budget Honfleur),
but Hotel Monet has ground-floor units.
