Falaise d'Amont & Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Chapel
Climb the eastern cliff of Étretat and you reach a tiny white chapel dedicated to sailors lost at sea — its hilltop position delivers the most complete panorama of the town, the beach and both arches in a single glance. It's quieter than the western cliff and the views are arguably better for photography.
The chapel and the biplane monument
Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde dates to the 19th century and is still an active place of devotion, its walls lined with ex-voto offerings from fishing families. Just outside stands a striking full-scale replica of L'Oiseau Blanc, the Levasseur biplane in which Nungesser and Coli disappeared attempting the first transatlantic flight in May 1927 — they departed from nearby Étretat and were never seen again.
The Musée Nungesser et Coli sits beside the chapel and tells the full story of the doomed flight with original artefacts, period photographs and a moving account of the search that followed.
Best time and access
The path up from Rue du Docteur Fidière takes roughly 20 minutes at a steady pace. The top is exposed to Atlantic winds, so bring a layer even in summer — but that same wind keeps the air crystal-clear, giving views that stretch toward the cliffs of the Côte d'Albâtre on a bright day.
Sunset from this eastern cliff paints the Falaise d'Aval arch in deep amber across the bay, making it the best spot in town for end-of-day photography without shooting directly into the sun.
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