The best walks and hikes around Gonneville-La-Mallet

If you walk a little further, you will also see the arch from the other side.

Formed underwater millions of years ago, the cliffs are composed of deposits of pale calcareous marine organisms and the skeletons of siliceous organisms. They then rose to form these flint-strewn limestone giants. They appear particularly resilient, yet they are fragile and constantly changing: wind, tides, rainwater infiltration, frost and subsequent thawing weaken them. Erosion leads to regular landslides and cliff retreat.

very well marked and little frequented in April 2025

super beautiful

The "Customs Officers' Trail" along the Normandy coast is a real highlight for hikers. Here you can enjoy constantly changing views of the steep chalk cliffs and the deep blue sea, which always offer new perspectives. Whether you start in Étretat or choose the cape as your end point, this trail has a lot to offer. The contrast between the green meadows and the rugged cliffs that drop directly into the sea is particularly impressive. The trail is easy to walk and takes you past some of the most beautiful viewpoints on the Alabaster Coast. You hike along narrow paths that meander through the landscape and are repeatedly rewarded with fantastic panoramas. The coast changes depending on the tides and weather, and each section of the trail offers its own little surprise. A perfect place to take a deep breath and enjoy the wild beauty of Normandy to the fullest.

The Falaises d'Étretat on the Alabaster Coast are one of the most impressive natural landscapes in Normandy. The chalk cliffs, up to 100 metres high and interspersed with dark layers of flint, stretch majestically along the coast and seem to hold their ground inexorably against the gnawing waves of the English Channel. Over time, maritime erosion has formed fascinating rock formations such as the famous arches La Porte d'Aval and La Porte d'Amont, as well as the striking rock needle L'Aiguille, which rises 51 metres high out of the sea. Étretat itself, once a small fishing port, has developed into a charming coastal town that has retained its character. The chalk cliffs were an inexhaustible source of inspiration for numerous artists, including Claude Monet, who immortalised the extraordinary beauty of this coast in many of his works. Anyone who visits the Falaises d'Étretat can experience the rugged beauty of this landscape up close on the cliff paths. Along the way there are spectacular viewpoints that offer a view of the vast coastal landscape and the deep blue sea. The descent into the town of Étretat is particularly impressive, where the historic promenade and the remains of bunkers from the Second World War are a reminder of the region's turbulent history. The forces of nature that have been at work here for thousands of years have created a unique panorama that captivates not only hikers and nature lovers, but also art lovers.

This famous rock was painted by Monet and many others, and is a sight not to be missed.

La Porte d'Aval, (the Gate of Aval), a huge flint arcade, was carved out by the waves as they hit the end of the cliff of Aval. "The Needle" (l'Aiguille), 51 metres high, is a witness to the geological past of the cliffs of Etretat.