Etretat, France

On the way back from Honfleur to Paris, we stopped at Etretat, which is best known for its alabaster cliffs.  By some trick of nature (I imagine erosion from the waves), arches have been carved into the rock.  The cliffs have inspired such artists as Claude Monet.  To me though, they really do look like they are being supported by flying buttresses that jut out from the ocean.  We only had a few minutes to stare at these wonders of nature, as the sun was setting.  But it was definitely worth the trek to see them.

The town of Etretat itself, though quite small and touristy, has its own charms.  I especially liked three wooden buildings, depicted below, that appeared to be several hundred years old.

Honfleur, France

On January 24, on a typically cloudy and overcast day in Northern France, we drove a few hours from Paris to Honfleur.  Honfleur is a pretty, little town in Normandy filled with quaint, well-preserved, narrow buildings and atmospheric cobblestone alleys.  Over the centuries, the town's beauty has been immortalised by various painters, including Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet.

Honfleur also has a beautiful, picturesque port, which, interestingly enough, played a role in certain key events in Canadian history.  Though there is a small plaque in the middle of town that confirms it, it's hard to imagine that this idyllic harbour was the location from which Samuel de Champlain began his journey across the Atlantic, eventually landing in Canada where he founded Quebec City along the Ottawa River.

Honfleur is also notable for St. Catherine's Church, which is the oldest wooden church in all of France and was built during the 15th and 16th centuries.  Since the church was constructed by the town's shipwrights, it's unsurprising that it's architecture boasts several naval elements.  For example, the church's first nave, intended to stand like a market hall, rather looks like an upside-down ship's hull.  The church has a separate bell tower, depicted below, which is also largely built of wood.