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Dieppe by the Seashore I

in Dieppe
3.7 km
2h
Easy

  • In the space of one hour, discover the most iconic sights in Dieppe’s old town.

  • This very easy urban trail is a great way to discover some of the most emblematic sites and monuments in Dieppe’s old town: the marina, Saint-Jacques Church, the jetty, the seafront, the town centre and the imposing château perched atop the cliff. This walking tour is a pleasant way to spend one hour learning about the history of Dieppe, from fortified town to seaside resort. This first route within Dieppe can be supplemented by Trail No. 2.
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Points of interest
1 Estran Cité de la Mer
The framework of Estran Cité de la Mer in Dieppe is founded on shipbuilding, open-sea fishing, the coastal environment and an aquarium. With these four themes spread out over 1,600 m², you and your family can learn all about the treasures of the Upper Norman coast. Cliffs, scallops, longboats, trawling net, cuttlefish and so on will have no secrets for you!
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2 Notre-Dame de Bonsecours Chapel
Sitting atop the cliff to the east of town, Notre-Dame de Bonsecours Chapel was built in 1876. Initially a place of pilgrimage, it later became a place dedicated to the memory of sailors lost at sea.
Decaux. Chappelle de Bonsecours (17).JPG
3 Dieppe Beach
Extending 1,500 metres from Le Bas Fort Blanc restaurant to the western jetty, this long strip of pebbles right outside the town centre is steeped in history.
Dominated by the old château housing the municipal museum and its extraordinary collection of sculpted ivory, its lawns host many of the activities that punctuate life in Dieppe. In the summer, it transforms into an immense hub for swimming and other seaside pastimes.
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4 Museum of Dieppe & Château
This flint and sandstone château was built by Captain Desmarets, sometime after 1435, to defend the town against the English. It was connected to the fortifications surrounding Dieppe. The château served as the seat of the town governor and housed a garrison up until 1820. Over the centuries, it was expanded and remodelled multiple times. After being purchased by the municipality, it was turned into a museum in 1923.
Its prints, sculptures, paintings and models reflect the town’s rich artistic and historic heritage. The museum invites you to learn about Dieppe’s glorious maritime past, become captivated by pieces by the Old Masters (Renoir, Pissarro, Braque, etc.) and admire the town’s amazing collection of sculpted ivory.
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5 Viewpoint
A panoramic view of the town
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6 Tourelles Gate
Built in the 15th century using sandstone and flint, and altered multiple times thereafter, the Tourelles Gate comprises a vaulted passage flanked by two circular towers crowned with conical roofs. This gate is the only survivor of the town’s original seven, five of which faced the sea. Along with the château and the ramparts near the old Crab Tower, it is only of the last remaining vestiges of the town’s defences. Those fortifications were undoubtedly built beginning in the 11th century and were then regularly rebuilt before finally being destroyed in the 19th century.
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7 19 August 1942 Memorial
Located inside a 19th century theatre, the Memorial retraces the history of the Anglo-Canadian raid of 19 August 1942. Documents, objects, photos, and period uniforms and weapons bring the extreme brutality of that operation to life. A 40 minute film, based on archival documents and accounts from soldiers who participated in the raid, explains how the events unfolded.
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8 Saint-Rémy Church
The first Saint-Rémy Church, the only remnant of which is Saint-Rémy Tower, was originally built in the 13th century, at the base of the hillside where the château is located today. However, it gradually fell to ruins, which is why the decision was made to build another Saint-Rémy Church, closer to the heart of town. The first stone was laid by Thomas Bouchard, parish treasurer and magistrate, in 1522. In 1545, the Gothic choir, surrounded by an ambulatory and radiating chapels, was completed. Its décor already showed the influence of the first French Renaissance. Construction was then interrupted by the Wars of Religion. Work resumed in the early 17th century but in a completely different style, that of the Counter-Reformation.
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9 Saint-Jacques Church
Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, Saint-Jacques Church bears the marks of its different eras. The church was first built around 1283, on top of the remains of the small Sainte-Catherine Chapel and another church, also dedicated to Saint James, which was destroyed in 1195. The new church, located along the coastal Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, was designed to feature vast proportions. Work on it was only completed in the late 16th century.
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69 meters of difference in height
  • Start altitude : 7 m
  • End altitude : 7 m
  • Maximum altitude : 50 m
  • Minimum altitude : 7 m
  • Total positive elevation : 69 m
  • Total negative elevation : -69 m
  • Max positive elevation : 40 m
  • Min positive elevation : -40 m
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