Fécamp, a town of artistic, architectural and historic interest and a water sports resort, keeps tradition alive and delights visitors for its authentic Norman atmosphere.

Cliffs and panoramic views

Cap Fagnet is the highest point along the Alabaster Coast, with Senneville-sur-Fécamp. From the top of its 110-metre cliffs, there is a breathtaking panoramic view of the cliffs,the town and the harbour. Stretching 17 kilometres into the distance is a white wall of cliffs running along the
coast to the small eroded rock known as the “Etretat Gate” of which author Guy de Maupassant was so fond.

A town of abbots and dukes

Fécamp was the seat of the Dukes of Normandy, a fact recalled today by the remains of the 12th-century palace. In the Middle Ages, the town was also well-known as a religious centre. Its abbey attracted crowds of pilgrims who came to see the relic of the Precious Blood. The minster dedicated to the Holy
Trinity is an Early Gothic building that is still impressive for its size and for the light from the lantern tower. Inside, the astronomical clock, which also shows the tides, reflects the town’s maritime history.

Cod fishing

In the 19th century, Fécamp specialised in cod fishing off the Grand Banks and the museum on the seafront is dedicated to the men who fished the waters off Newfoundland. Major work is currently underway in the harbour. Wet docks and boatyards are an integral part of life in Fécamp. Fromthe windows of his grandmother’s house, author Guy de Maupassant could see “brown houses topped with brick chimneys” from which smoke curled up into the sky. These were the smokehouses in which herring was smoked.