Church of Saint-Jacques

Victor Hugo, the legendary author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, visited the Church of Saint-Jacques on September 8, 1837, specifically to admire its Renaissance stone carvings. He was so impressed by the intricate sculptural work that he described it as 'veritables dentelles de pierre' (true stone lace), a testament to the extraordinary craftsmanship of 16th-century Dieppe artisans.

The Frise des Sauvages was commissioned by Jean Ango, one of the most powerful Renaissance ship owners in France who owned over 30 vessels. Ango's corsair captain, Jean Fleury, achieved fame in 1522 when he captured three Spanish ships carrying Aztec treasure that Hernan Cortes was sending to King Charles V of Spain - a heist that included gold, jewels, and exotic animals from Mexico.

Hidden throughout the church walls and bell tower are centuries-old graffiti of ships, carved by sailors who stopped in Dieppe before embarking on perilous voyages across the Atlantic, to Africa, and to the East Indies. These maritime etchings, some dating back to the 15th century, provide a unique archaeological record of the vessels that once sailed from this Norman port city.