The 8 things to do in Veules les Roses

Give yourself a bucolic trip between sea and countryside in Normandy with these 8 must-sees to make in Veules-les-Roses!

It is a small valley nestled in the Pays de Caux, between the alabaster cliffs. Between the banks of the Veules and the seafront, a village extends where Belle Époque villas and old Norman houses with doves are located. At the beginning, painters and intellectuals from all over Europe stopped to visit Veules-les-Roses and finally succumbed to his charms.

Then why not come back to the essentials for the holidays and go take a large bowl of fresh air on this seafront? Why not discover or re-discover the cliff show overlooking the Channel? It is the perfect opportunity to live with the tides and rays of the sun in the countryside.

On the programme there will be, walk fishing, farniente on the beach, bucolic walks, seafood tray and long moments of relaxation to observe the landscape. Do not forget to also slip into your suitcase some adventures of Arsène Lupin and these 8 things to do in Veules-les-Roses.

1. The village

Let's start with the beginning. First of all, you simply have to visit Veules-les-Roses! Flâner, wandering, wandering around in this village that concentrates all the charm of Normandy alone. It is one of the most beautiful in France and one of the oldest in the region.

It was built in a valleuse, a depression in the cliffs that gives access to the sea. Everything is there, from the houses to the old mills, to the Belle Époque villas and the bathroom cabins.

2. Saint-Martin church

Walking around and visiting Veules-les-Roses is necessarily falling on this gray stone building. If the building dates from the 16th century, the bell tower is the oldest part since it dates back to the 13th century. Do not content yourself with the exterior of the church which is rather simple because it is inside that the treasures are hidden.

In addition to an overturned carnival vault, typical of Normandy, you must admire the many motifs that adorn the sandstone pillars. There is also a organ of 1628 that is still used. Finally, don’t forget to lift your eyes to the vault of the choir where 17th century frescoes were updated during a restoration.

3. The Veules

The smallest river in France is 1149 metres long. This is one of the peculiarities of the village and it is not to be missed to go along of course. You can start the walk on the seafront to go up the trail to the source of the river. There you will find old stone bridges, doves and old hotels.

To sources, you can discover the cressonnières where the cresson is always cultivated. With a bit of luck, you may cross the owner in the middle of the crop. There is also a former mill before arriving at the hege of the water trough with the charming villas in the background.

Regardless of the season, this bucolic walk is always as charming. Guided tours are even organized if you want to learn more about this mini-family.

4. The bladder

Visit Veules-les-Roses, it digs so it's time to take a gourmet and iodized break! Seafood lovers may already know it but for others, the veulaise is the name of the oyster cultivated in the village. Or more precisely 600 meters from its beach.

If in history there are traces of ostreiculture in the region, the true adventure of velvet begins in 1997. Since that date, its quality has been vanished. The shell is renowned for its taste that would be due to the situation of oyster parks.

These are both brewed by the tides and also have a fresh water supply thanks to the streams that flow from limestone cliffs. For connoisseurs, it is a specialty not to miss.

5. Artists’ workshops

Already appreciated by Impressionist painters, Veules-les-Roses still welcomes many artists and artisans today. During your walk in the village, take the time to push the door of their workshops. In addition, they are often installed in character buildings, adding to the charm of discovery.

Ceramics, paintings, sculptures but also jewelry creation or embroidery, you will not miss things to admire. In addition, the city regularly organizes exhibitions to showcase their know-how.

6. In the footsteps of Victor Hugo

You are not the first to visit Veules-les-Roses! Indeed, the village has many illustrious visitors in its history. Among these are Victor Hugo. He spent several consecutive summers in the villa of Paul Meurice .

To go on its tracks, you can start by going to the well known "Victor Hugo Cave". To do this, go behind the monument on the seafront, a path indicated climbs in the cliff. This is where the writer loved to contemplate the landscape.

Also stop in front of the stele whose reliefs pay tribute to Victor Hugo. It came from the monument built in Paris in honour of the writer and that the capital offered Veules-les Roses in memory of his stays.

7. The beach

Visit Veules-les-Roses without going to see the seafront and the beach is impossible. As on most beaches on the coast, you have to wait for the low tide so that the pebbles leave the place on the sandbank. A dish at the foot of the cliffs is also available for walking fishing ferus, to you shrimps and bigorneaux!

For children, a playground is set up and sailing boat owners can meet at the nautical club. A number of other events and activities are organized during the summer, just looking at the program.

8. A hike along the Alabaster Coast

Do you know that the GR21 passes through Veules-les-Roses? This trail runs along the Norman coast. You can't do better to admire the landscape from the cliffs. Very well marked and without great difficulty, you can follow it from the village to reach Sotteville-sur-Mer to the east or Manneville to the west.

However, if you want to further explore the country of Caux, you can follow the paths that lead to Blosseville and La Chapelle-sur-Dun. So you can discover why the region of Veules-les-Roses is nicknamed the countryside to the sea.

How to get to Veules-les-Roses?

By car

Coming and visiting Veules-les-Roses by car is relatively easy. From Paris, the village is accessible in less than 3 hours by road A13 then the Dieppe motorway. The village is also accessible by the A29 . A bus service also goes to the Saint-Lazare train station in Yvetot where you will have to make a change to reach your destination.

By train

There is no station in Veules-les-Roses. If you come from the Paris region, the most direct is to take the regional trains to Dieppe. Then take bus 61 for Saint-Valéry-en-Caux and get off to Veules. It takes almost 4 hours to complete.

By plane

Coming by plane to visit Veules-les-Roses is not necessarily the simplest solution. However, you can go to a flight comparison, for example Skyscanner to find the most appropriate solution.

Caen-Carpiquet Airport has air links with airports in the province, such as Lyon , Nantes or Lille among others.

Where to stay in Veules-les-Roses?

Although it is a tourist destination, the village remains small. It is therefore better to take you in advance if you want to book a accommodation to visit Veules-les-Roses. However, the offer of tourist accommodation is diversified, you will find everything.

If the city has only a 3-star hotel, there are several guest rooms and tourist rentals. A Holiday Village is also nearby as well as camping. The most convenient to have access to all possible options is to use a hotel comparison which lists the different possibilities.