Seine Maritime

Here is where the Paris basin, mostly levelled out at some 200 metres above sea level, suddenly drops into the Channel from immense, stark-white chalk cliffs. Behind this spectacular sea-front stretches the Pays de Caux, a vast, rolling chalk plateau given over to farming and cattle-breeding.

In the south of Seine-Maritime, the Seine river meanders towards the sea before producing a tidal bore - known as the mascaret - that reaches as far as Rouen. Over the centuries, this beautiful landscape saw the development of a culture that valued, protected and promoted its rich architectural heritage. Bustling ports and enchanting cities, endless beaches and a charming local way of life... This is Seine-Maritime, a land where tourists can indulge, enjoy and bring home great memories.

The former capital of the Veliocasses tribe, Rotumagos (the future Rouen), was an important town situated on a bend in the river Seine. The town was converted to Christianity in the 3rd century by Saint Nicaise and Saint Mellon.

The conquest of England by William in 1066 sparked a conflict between the kings of France and England. In 1204, Philippe Auguste annexed the duchy to the kingdom of France. Henry V of England captured Rouen in 1419 after a siege lasting six months; he held it until 1449. Meanwhile, Joan of Arc was accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake on the Place du Vieux-Marché.

Seine-Maritime saw a prosperous century before being once again devastated, this time by the great Religious wars. Rouen began to decline while Le Havre prospered. Air raids by the Germans in 1940 and then the Allies in 1944 levelled great parts of the two cities.

The reconstruction of Le Havre was mainly the work of the architect Auguste Perret, a native of the town and pioneer in the use of concrete. Thanks to improved navigation on the lower Seine and modernized equipment, Rouen regained its place as an outer harbor of Paris.

The traditions and customs of Rouen revolve around the riches of the Normandy countryside, an area of farmland reputated for quality breeds of cattle and apple-orchards.

One of the world's most famous cheeses was first created in the area - in 1791, a woman in the town of Camembert developed the mythical cheese after she was given cooking advice by an old priest.

Normandy is also a land of literature and the arts in general - Flaubert and his disciple Maupassant were natives of the Seine-Maritime area and both depicted the "Normand" character extensively. Proust staged some of his novels in this area and the impressionist school of painters, Monet in particular, drew a great deal of inspiration from Normandy's natural light.

The Seine-Maritime area is reputed for good cuisine.

Don't miss out on the lamb from the salt meadows, Rouen-style duck (in blood), or Auge-Valley-style chicken (with cream), etc. Local seafood is equally delectable - sole, flounder, turbot and mackerel but also scallop-shell and Cotentin oysters. A great deal of these savoury dishes are cooked with fresh cream. Cheese varieties are mostly from the Auge area, such as camembert, pavé d'Auge, livarot and pont-l'évêque. When it comes to dessert, suger, apples and butter are the basis for most local recipes. Honfleur boasts "teurgoule" (oven-baked rice pudding) and "falue" (a type of brioche). The recipe for Normandy apple-pie, cooked in cider, is the starting point for infinite variations, each of which have mouth-watering appeal. Cider, fermented apple juice, or poiré (pear cider) is used in a surprising number of dishes and Calvados, the apple or pear eau-de-vie, is served as a trou normand mid-meal to work up an appetite for dessert.