This route invites you to explore the gardens along the Alabaster Coast, renowned for its 120 kilometers of cliffs. From Étretat to Varengeville-sur-Mer, let yourself be guided by the legacy of the Impressionist masters who immortalized this landscape in their paintings. Discover the gardens of this region by participating in the events of the Normandy Impressionist Festival along your journey.
Stage 1
Start in Varengeville-sur-Mer. On your way, be sure to stop in Veules-les-Roses, a picturesque town with charming alleyways. Varengeville-sur-Mer, a village often visited by many artists such as Renoir, Monet, and Pissarro, offers the opportunity to discover, in its iconic garden, a minimalist installation, Les Balises , which explores the erosion of the cliffs threatening the gardens of the coast.
In the neighboring village of Hautot-sur-Mer, visit the Jardin des Loups to participate in the Révolutions du Vivant: Art'griculture. On site: visits, creations and an exhibition in a 1.5 hectare garden.
© Association Nouvelles Elégances
Stage 2
Head to Étretat, home of iconic cliffs. Explore the site by strolling along the coastal paths, which offer exceptional views. Wander through the town square, a source of artistic and literary inspiration for many artists such as Monet, Boudin, and Flaubert.
In the Gardens of Étretat, a magnificent site combining landscape architecture and sculptures, you can discover the choreographic performance Les Eaux Dormantes.
© Etretat Gardens – Marine Nouvel by Jenia Filatova
To go further
Head to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. Stroll through its narrow streets and take the opportunity to visit Point du Jour for the " Making a Garden".
In addition, nearby on Tatihou Island you can participate in the Empreintes project, encapsulating a garden, a participatory art-science project that encapsulates a garden, combining research-creation and sensory experience.
© Gilles Saussier, A circle of rye for Brancusi, garden of Les Andelys, 2013
