At the coastal city of Dieppe, France, you can experience the French resort lifestyle before you head to Paris. The town is famous for its pebbled beach, its proximity to the English Channel, and for its deep estuary which made it an important asset during wars. It was occupied during the Hundred Years War with England and has several areas of interest dating from the period including a castle which was built in 1435. Currently, visitors head to the area to get a taste of the seaside resort and visit its historic portion which has houses dating from the 18th century. Among the things of interest here are museums, golfing, spending time at the beach, and tasting French cuisine created with fresh local seafood. Indeed, visitors heading to the area will have no difficulty in finding the best things to do in Dieppe, France.
1. Marvel at the architecture of Chateau Musee de Dieppe
The Chateau Musee de Dieppe is located in a castle that was built around1435 and it serves as a good representation of medieval architecture. It currently plays host to a popular museum which is a must-see for tourists. The museum has a collection of 2,300 objects that represent the maritime history of the city and its port. The collection at the museum is spread over 15 rooms and among the objects are instruments used for navigation and a number of paintings created by French and Dutch painters.
Chateau Musee de Dieppe
Address: Rue de Chastes, 76200, Dieppe France
Website: Chateau Musee de Dieppe
Opening hours: June 1st - Sept 30th: Wed - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon & Tue); Oct 1st - May 31st: Wed - Sun: 10am - 12pm; 2pm - 5pm (6pm on Sundays and bank holidays, closed on Mon & Tue, January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, December 25th)
Price: 5 USD
2. Experience maritime history at Estran Cité de la Mer Musee
At Estran Cité de la Mer Musee, the focus is on the history of the port and the surrounding coast of Normandy. The maritime history of the region is showcased along with details about Anita Conti who was born in 1899 and is often described as the first among women oceanographers. The progress of shipbuilding in the area is also displayed in the modern museum along with fishing techniques and tools used by boats and trawlers in the region. Visitors can also trace the journey of seafood from the ocean until it served in meals.
Estran Cité de la Mer Musee
Address: 37 Rue de l'Asile Thomas, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Estran Cité de la Mer Musee
Opening hours: 9:30am - 6pm (daily, closed from 12:30pm - 1:30pm on weekends and holidays)
Price:Adults: 9 USD; Children: 5 USD
3. Visit the Gothic-styled Eglise Saint-Rémy
The Eglise Saint-Rémy is a Catholic church that was originally built in the 13th century. Of this original church, only a tower remains and lies at the foot of the hill near the castle. The church can be easily accessed by walking from the beach and the current version was constructed in 1522. The gothic elements of the church are especially visible in the choir section, while the façade was completed only by 1630 as the wars of religion deeply impacted the area. The church since then has undergone several renovations and has stellar stained-glass windows and an organ dating from 1739.
Eglise Saint-Rémy
Address: Rue Saint-Rémy, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Eglise Saint-Rémy
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4. Walk past the historic Quartier du Pollet streets
Walking through the Quartier du Pollet district in the city is a big favorite with tourists and it extends over several streets. The area showcases the life of fishermen and has some of their oldest houses. The influence of the English who lived in the city is also visible in the area and several murals created by them still exist. The Notre-Dame des Grèves church is also part of the area and there are several interesting bridges including one that bears similar rivets as the Eiffel tower.
Quartier du Pollet
Address: 22 Rue du Petit Fort, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Quartier du Pollet
5. Travel on the mini Train Touristique Dieppe
Taking a ride on the little train in Dieppe tourists can discover the most important sights in the port city. The train passes most of the important monuments in the city and also its old quarter and the scenic beach area. As the train has been repainted and made over recently, its carriages now boast a striking yellow color. The train also stops at the castle, where tourists can spend 10 minutes taking photos of the area.
Train Touristique Dieppe
Address: Quai Henri IV, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Train Touristique Dieppe
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11am – 4:30pm; Sat: 11am – 6pm; Sun: 11am – 5pm; Mon: 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Price: Adult: 8 USD; Child: 5 USD
6. Glimpse religious history at Church of Saint Jacques of Dieppe
At the Church of Saint Jacques, visitors can get a glimpse at the oldest church of the city. The church was the biggest when it was built during the 12th century and it was an important stopover on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella. After it burnt in 1195, the church was rebuilt and the process took over 400 years. Now, it stands as a good example of renaissance architecture. The Gothic aspect of the church is still visible and it has been renovated recently and boasts beautiful stained-glass windows.
Church of Saint Jacques of Dieppe
Address: 10 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Church of Saint Jacques of Dieppe
7. Explore the pebble-filled Plage de Dieppe
Dieppe owes much of its recent popularity to the fact that it is often billed as “the first beach” resort in the country. The beach which extends over 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) is an important part of the town and tourists and locals flock to it to spend time in the water and sunbathe. The beach is covered with pebbles and lies close to several monuments including the castle. There are also several restaurants in the vicinity making the beach popular all year round and there is an aquatic center and spa nearby.
Plage de Dieppe
Address: 6 Boulevard Maréchal Foch, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Plage de Dieppe
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
8. Dine on the finest local seafood at Le Turbot Dieppe
At Le Turbot restaurant, the menu offers a wide range of seafood dishes. The restaurant serves fish and seafood that arrives daily from surrounding areas and ports such as Dunkirk and also Boulogne. The restaurant is easily accessible and located in the popular area of the city. As for the menu, it features classic French options such as sole meunière. Even those who prefer meat will come away satisfied as there are dishes such as sweetbread with calvados and beef tenderloin also available.
Le Turbot
Address: 14 Quai de la Cale, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Le Turbot
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 12pm – 2:30pm, 7pm – 10pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
9. Watch local skateboarders at Skatepark de Dieppe
At the skate park that is located along the beach in Dieppe, children who are older than eight years and young adults spend time on skateboards, rollerblades, and BMX bikes. The skate park is a popular area where stunts are performed on skateboards and BMX bikes. As the skate park is located in a prime spot near the beach it draws a lot of the young crowd. Those who want to rollerblade or ride a bike in the skate park have to wear protective gear including helmets and padding on elbows and knees.
Skatepark de Dieppe
Address: 8 Boulevard de Verdun, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Skatepark de Dieppe
Opening hours: 1st April - 31st October: 9am – 10pm (daily); 1st November - 31st March: 9am - 6:30pm (daily)
10. Check golfing opportunities at Golf de Dieppe Pourville
At this golf course which is one of the oldest in the country, there are plenty of challenges for golfers to surmount. The course is located on the route between Dieppe and the Pourville-Sur-Mer commune and it affords a splendid view of the coast including the white cliffs that tower over the coastline in the region. The golf course offers adults and children access to 18 holes and the admittance fees vary across the year.
Golf de Dieppe Pourville
Address: Route de Pourville, 76200 Dieppe, France
Website: Golf de Dieppe Pourville
Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)
Price: Varies
Dieppe continues to be a popular destination for tourists
Tourists flock to the city of Dieppe to relax but also take time out to visit local attractions, of which there are many. Several sites are also associated with World War II and the failed Dieppe raid which took place in 1942, and often tourists find that they never have to go far to discover historic elements of the city.
History
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