The most beautiful natural sites to discover Seine-Maritime

These two natural monuments are part of the wonders of the Alabaster coast between Etretat and Benouville. The Belval needle, with its match-like look in the middle of nowhere, is like an adventurer who would go out to sea and would have stayed there, facing the sight of the sea, without wanting to go back. 70 m of chalk that you can't reach on foot. Further on, Roc Vaudieu is more like a section of wall forming, with the Porte d'Amont in Etretat, a cove where the currents turn in circles. These two beauties can be admired from afar. Even at low tide, by taking the precaution of walking on the foreshore as far as possible from the cliff, the risk of scree is never to be neglected, not to mention the tides that can trap unwary people. Nevertheless, we go to the beach, using the Fonds d'Etigue, 800 m after Bénouville (rue des Terriens), at the end of which is a car park that can accommodate a few vehicles. From there, a small valleuse allows you to get down to the shore where you can walk forward, very far from the cliff face.

The Maison de la Réserve is the starting point for guided tours organised by the Maison de l'Estuaire, an association that manages the national nature reserve of the Estuaire de la Seine. The reserve covers 8,528 hectares. Five trails are accessible without a guide, including one from the Normandy bridge and another after the Hode road in Saint-Vigor-d'Ymonville. It is advisable to bring good hiking boots or even boots. Well-received storks have established their habitat here. This reserve is to be discovered and supported. It is to be hoped that soon a shuttle system will be in place to allow non-vehicle passengers to travel to the Reserve House.

These two forests are part of the Regional Natural Park of the Seine Boucles and are crossed by numerous equestrian trails, cycle paths and walking paths. All are accessible to families. The more experienced hikers can start the GR 2, which goes from St Pierre-de-Manneville to Le Havre and crosses these forests along the way. This multi-kilometer trail allows you to enjoy majestic beech and remarkable trees, taking advantage of picturesque villages such as Saint-Wandrille, Caudebec-en-Caux and Jumièges. In the shadow of the pine trees and sessile oak trees, the walkers discover the forest of the Trait-Maulévrier, which covers 3,000 hectares. Located on the right bank of the river, the diversity of its landforms makes it a forest highly appreciated by walkers. Left bank is the Broton forest, less rugged than its neighbor, which awaits you with its 6,700 hectares.

The chalk cliffs of Orival overlook the Seine valley between Orival and Rouen. In particular, they house the remains of the Château de Roche Fouet (12th century) and troglodyte dwellings. Access to these sites is only possible on foot, partly via the GR2.

Between the municipalities of Hanouard and Grainville-la-Teinturière, the Low Waters are a green area preserved by the conservation work of the Community of Municipalities on the coast of Alabaster. Located 15 km from the coastline, the site is accessible to all (hikers, hikers, cyclists, riders…). On 50 hectares, in the heart of the Durdent valley, this natural area of ecological interest, faunistique and floristic offers a pleasant promenade consisting of wet meadows, wood and ponds. Many remarkable species evolve like the small Polish horses Konig Polski or Highland Cattle, these Scottish cows with long red hairs, which contribute to the upkeep of the prairies and bring a rustic touch to the landscape. Visits are arranged by appointment to explore the site with a facilitator.