The White Cliffs

This is the town of  Étretat , France.  It's located on the English Channel in Upper Normandy and has a population of about 1,500.

One of the three famous white cliffs known as the Falaise d’Aval.  In the left of this photo is a sprawling golf course.

Unlike in America where there would be serious barricades . . . here, you are free to fall to your death should you forget you have a brain and venture any closer to that edge. 


Q: But what about small children? 

A: That is what parents with brains are for.

The water is crystal clear and the beach appears to be white sand . . . but it's not.

No other French coastline is similar to this unique 80-mile stretch, called La Côte d'Albâtre—the Alabaster Coast.

This is the white cliff known as the Manneporte.

No sand castles here.  The entire beach is made up of these white rocks.

If you look closely, you can see people all along the top of this cliff.  And, no, there are no fences.  Same as before - you will have to think for yourself and if that's not possible, don't go up there.

The little town is mostly for tourists and it is very picturesque.

This building with both French and American flags is a souvenir shop so I'm not sure why the American flag is there.  I will assume it has something to do with liberation during WWII.

If you look closely, you can see a person in a white t-shirt near that opening in the cliff (at the bottom).  

The little church atop the cliff was built in 1854.  It was bombed in 1942 by Nazi Germany and rebuilt in 1950.

Notre Dame de la Garde Chapel

The White Cliffs of Étretat, France - definitely breathtaking.