The charming Graves beach
The important thing is not the destination, but the journey itself wrote Stevenson ... Park at the top of the charming village of Villerville.
Descend to the sea by making a detour through the “Cabaret Normand”, a cult place where many scenes of a
Monkey in Winter
were filmed
in 1962 with Gabin and Belmondo.
Then ask for the Parc des Graves.
At the exit of the village, this piece of greenery descends towards the beach of Graves.
An expanse of natural sand with its Roches Noires cliffs over 50 meters high.
The beach is accessible only at low tide, which contributes to its charm.
You can also discover it by the path that runs at the top of Roches Noires, a protected natural site.
Our recommendation:
almost with your feet in the water, you will find the “Cabane Bleue” which serves drinks, platters and salads to be enjoyed on the beach or on one of the picnic tables in the Parc des Graves, Seaview.
Where to sleep:
Le Paquebot opened in 2020 in an Art Deco building facing the sea. Rooms renamed cabins, with portholes overlooking the English Channel for some, terrace right on the water, restaurant that gives pride of place to fish and fruit from the sea… You are almost on board a transatlantic from the last century in this four-star hotel.
From € 135 per double room.
Le Paquebot, 3 rue des Bains, 14113 Villerville.
Phone.
: 02 31 87 01 60.
Our ten favorite hotels for a breath of fresh air in Normandy
Villers-sur-Mer beach, testimony to other eras
The seaside resort also bears witness to the Belle Époque with its villas along the beach.
Delphine Barré Lerouxel
With its air of a seaside resort from the last century, its bathing cabins in fine weather and its promenade, the beach of Villers-sur-Mer has a lot of fun ... Even more when you know that it is the first French point to be crossed by the Greenwich meridian.
If the beach is simply beautiful for sunbathing or sea bathing, it is also known to fans of paleontology.
At the end of the beach, at the foot of the Black Cow Cliffs, 100 meters high, many fossils are available to the most attentive gaze.
Our recommendation:
as a family, take a tour of the Paléospace Odyssée, a museum that brings us back to the Jurassic era, when Normandy was still covered by the sea. An educational and fun step to understand the history of fossils discovered on the beach.
Paléospace Odyssée, 5 avenue Jean Moulin, 14640 Villers-sur-Mer.
Phone.
: 02 31 81 77 60.
Where to snack:
new wine-tapas bar in Villers-sur-Mer, l'Aigue Marine is also a delicatessen specializing in seafood. You can come and get a picnic basket to enjoy on the beach or on the beach. sit in front of whelks mayonnaise, a plate of smoked fish or Norman oysters.
L'Aigue Marine, 21 rue Michel d'Ornano, 14640 Villers-sur-Mer.
Phone.
: 09 75 49 95 67.
Where to sleep:
stay by the sea and sleep in this guest house worthy of a five-star.
As its name suggests, the Villa d'Eaux was none other than the city's baths and showers in a first life.
Its owner (also behind
the Aquamarine, Editor's note
) has kept the Art Deco style, the typical facade and the patio with glass roof where it is good to laze around.
From € 240 per night.
Villa d'Eaux, 12 rue Michel d'Ornano, 14640 Villers-sur-Mer.
Phone.
: 02 31 87 01 60.
Read also: Deauville, Trouville or Honfleur: what to do with the family in Normandy?
Ouistreham Riva-Bella beach, sporty
In the heart of Normandy, Ouistreham Riva-Bella is also an ideal starting point for exploring the D-Day landing beaches.
Loic Durand / Calvados Attractiveness
A stretch of fine sand as far as the eye can see, there is room for everyone on Riva-Bella beach.
Kayaking, paddleboarding, sand yachting, water sports take pride of place here without ever disturbing swimmers.
We come to have a bowl of sea, to feel the sun, the wind and the spray ... And to bathe on the beach which hosted in 2014 the ceremony of the 70th anniversary of D Day with Barack Obama, Vladimir Poutine, Angela Merkel ...
Our recommendation:
on this immense expanse, try your hand at sand yachting to travel up and down the beach and get your fill of thrills.
Sessions of 1h30 in group or in private lesson at the sand yachting school of Ouistreham Riva-Bella.
Where to have lunch: a
new chic table, the Voile Blanche has landed on the beach.
In this high-rise restaurant, the view of the sea is incomparable.
Ask for a table on the terrace, under the white sail, and enjoy a seafood platter, half a grilled lobster or
fish & chips
.
Vegetarian proposal and meat menu.
La Voile Blanche, 16 place Alfred Thomas, 14150 Ouistreham.
Phone.
: 02 31 36 73 58.
Read also: D-Day Landing Beaches, our travel guide to Normandy
Cabourg beach, romantic Belle Epoque
4 km long, the fine sandy beach of Cabourg is the ideal place to enjoy the benefits of the seaside. Arnaud Guerin / Calvados Attractivite
Next to Ouistreham beach, Cabourg beach also displays its expanse of white sand.
More urban, Belle Epoque version, it is embellished with a walk.
Facing the sea, the Anglo-Norman villas alone deserve the walk.
The best time: at sunset when the beach is empty and nature takes back its rights.
The perfect time to go on a horseback ride with your hooves in the water.
A feeling of guaranteed freedom and a glass of champagne as a bonus for lovers with the Cabourg Le Home pony club.
Our recommendation:
in April 2021, the museum "La Villa du Temps rediscovered" opens its doors in Cabourg.
Before a swim in the sea, we stop there to discover, guided by Marcel Proust himself, the Belle Époque and its seaside architecture through the house but also passing works of art.
La Villa du Temps rediscovered, 15 avenue du Président Raymond Poincaré, 14390 Cabourg.
Where to sleep:
essential, room 414 of the Grand Hôtel de Cabourg can be booked well in advance ... And for good reason: it is a faithful reproduction of Marcel Proust's room with its Belle Époque furniture, including his office dedicated to the writing, and its view of the beach.
From € 150 for a double room and € 250 for the “Marcel Proust” room.
Grand Hôtel de Cabourg, Les Jardins du Casino, 14390 Cabourg.
Phone.
: 02 31 91 01 79.
To read also: On the side of Proust, Voltaire or Hugo: six houses of masters of literature to visit
Luc-sur-Mer beach, family friendly
Luc-sur-Mer is located 15 km north of Caen on the Côte de Nacre.
Fabien Mahaut / Calvados Attractiveness
The Côte de Nacre, north of Caen, is home to beautiful family beaches such as Luc-sur-Mer.
We love its fine sand, its place in Little Hell.
Completely renovated (
mid-April)
, it now almost merges with the beach thanks to its sand color.
After a family bath, we come to stroll there and, as is customary, taste the “gui-gui”, a hand-drawn sugar lollipop, an artisan specialty.
To taste and finish with sticky fingers and a smile with sweet lips, on the city pontoon, admiring the mother-of-pearl coast.
Our recommendation:
from May to November, learn about responsible shore fishing on the beach with a local fisherman.
Buckets and landing nets are provided for fishing for shrimp, gray, bouquets, crabs or mussels.
Many will return to the water to grow further, but the memory of a lovely moment of discovery remains.
Registration with the tourist office:
Terres de nacre
Read also: On the Normandy lands of the Pays d'Auge, walk in the land of Camembert
