Rouen to Etretat Cliffs: Private day trip

The little fishing village of Etretat became the go-to destination for well-to-do Parisians at the end of the 19th century when getting some sea air was all the rage. An avalanche of attention followed, with painters including Monet and Eugène Boudin immortalizing its beautiful white cliffs on canvas. Guy de Maupassant spent most of his childhood here, and Maurice Leblanc chose the Hollow Needle as the hiding place of Arsène Lupin's (France’s most famous fictional gentleman thief). It’s no wonder that Etretat has been a destination for over a century - just look at the soaring white cliffs and their stunning formations. During low tide you can even walk through one via the “manhole”. While the town’s continued popularity means there’s no shortage of modern hotels, you can still find a slew of extravagant 19th century villas, and a unique early 20th century covered market.