What to do in Veules-les-Roses, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France?

The only village in the Seine-Maritime region to be listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, Veules-les-Roses has all the charms of a Norman village between the sea and the countryside. Inhabited since the 4th century, this flowery village takes its name from the old Saxon well meaning "watering place". This natural resource is omnipresent in the landscape and has shaped the history of the village, which was a fishing village in the Middle Ages and then one of the first seaside resorts popular with artists and writers in the 19th century.

The Veules, the "smallest river in France", has long powered the mills of weavers and millers as well as the cultivation of watercress before flowing into the salty waters of the Channel.

A seafront characterised by its bathing cabins, the heart of a village where fishermen's houses, thatched cottages and villas with flower gardens stand side by side: Veules-les-Roses has a variety of architecture and landscapes that make it a must-see on the road from Fécamp to Dieppe. Here are the must-sees and must-dos, between heritage, gastronomy and nature!

Visit the Church of Saint-Martin in Veules-les-Roses

This church, whose bell tower dates from the 13th century - the rest of the building dates from the 16th century - is home to murals recently uncovered in the choir vault. Don't miss the abundant polychrome statuary, whose various elements date from the 15th to 17th centuries.

The "smallest river in France" trail, a must-see

The must see in Veules-les-Roses! Along your walk along the Veules, you will discover the natural and architectural heritage of the village as well as of the seaside resort: cliffs, mills, watering holes, watering holes and other villas will all take shape. If it is possible to walk the path by yourself, guided tours are available all year round for groups (by appointment), and for individuals in July and August.

Taste the Veulaise, the oyster cultivated in Veules-les-Roses

Veules-les-Roses can pride itself on cultivating two culinary specialities: watercress (whose festival is celebrated in April in the village) and the Veules oyster. The first oyster tables were set up on the coast in 1997. The "Veulaise" is the first oyster of Seine-Maritime raised in the open sea on the foreshore of the Veules!

Walk in the footsteps of Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo stayed several times with his friend Paul Meurice, in a pavilion annexed to the villa that the latter had built facing the sea. Visit the "Grotte Victor Hugo", near his friend's villa near the sea, to contemplate the view that the author of Les Misérables loved so much.

In memory of the writer's visits to his friend's house, the City of Paris has also granted the deposit of its fragments of the monument erected to Victor Hugo in 1902 in Paris (then partly melted down under the German occupation): the result is a stele comprising several reliefs depicting Victor Hugo in various situations. There is also a medallion showing Paul Meurice, who was the executor of Victor Hugo's will.

What to do around Veules-les-Roses?

From Veules-les-Roses, there are several other walks you can take: 7 kilometres away, the Maison Henri IV in Saint-Valery-en-Caux is worth a visit. Fifteen kilometres away, don't miss the Vasterival garden in Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer, or the Château de Miromesnil in Tourville-sur-Arques. Go further and visit Varengeville-su-Mer, known in particular for its Bois des Moutiers Floral Park.