Moutiers Gorge (Gorge des Moutiers)
About Moutiers Gorge (Gorge des Moutiers)
The Gorge des Moutiers is a spectacular natural valley carved into the white chalk cliffs of the Alabaster Coast, offering one of the most scenic coastal walks in Normandy. This dramatic geological formation was created by a small stream that cut through 80-meter-high chalk cliffs over millennia, revealing striking layers of white chalk dotted with black flint. A gentle 45-minute round-trip trail descends from the historic Saint-Valery Church through the wooded gorge to a secluded pebble beach at the base of the cliffs. The walk offers breathtaking views of the Norman coastline and farmland, with the iconic white cliffs rising dramatically on either side. Best visited at low tide when the beach is fully accessible, this free natural attraction provides an authentic glimpse of Normandy's famous Côte d'Albâtre. The trail is suitable for families, though care should be taken near cliff edges as the chalk erodes approximately 40 centimeters annually.
Interesting Facts
The white chalk cliffs of the Gorge des Moutiers erode at an alarming rate of approximately 40 centimeters per year, meaning the coastline visitors see today will look dramatically different in just a few decades. This constant erosion occasionally reveals prehistoric fossils and ancient flint tools embedded in the chalk layers, remnants of a time when this area was beneath a shallow tropical sea over 65 million years ago.
The nearby marine cemetery of Varengeville-sur-Mer, accessible from the gorge trail, contains the grave of the famous Cubist painter Georges Braque, who designed his own tombstone featuring a white bird in flight. Braque was so captivated by the dramatic light and seascapes of this coastline that he requested to be buried here rather than in Paris, joining a tradition of artists drawn to the Alabaster Coast's unique beauty.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Chemin de la Gorge des Moutiers, 76119 Varengeville-sur-Mer, France
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