Experience the best of Dieppe

Dieppe lies where the River Arques reaches the English Channel, between the chalk cliffs of the Normandy coast. The old harbour is lined with restaurants and fishing boats, and the old quarter climbs the slope toward the castle, which has medieval origins. The town has long been a ferry port for England.

The castle houses a museum with a fine collection of ivory carvings, a craft for which Dieppe was long known. Painters including Turner and Sickert found inspiration here. The Allied raid of August 1942, in which Canadian troops took most of the losses, is remembered at memorials in and around the town. Inland lie the Pays de Caux plateau and the Pays de Bray, a hilly district known for its cheeses.

Sole dieppoise, sole poached with mussels, shrimp and cream, is the town's classic dish, and mussels and oysters appear on nearly every menu. Calvados and cider are Normandy's drinks, and the dairy cream makes a rich base for many dishes. The seaside is busy in summer, while spring and autumn are quieter and the light on the cliffs is clear.