Normandy’s Culture and Heritage

Tourism in Normandy

Located in Varengeville-sur-Mer, near Dieppe, the Shamrock Garden presents a collection of more than 1500 hydrangeas belonging to 70 different species, all on 2 hectares. Recognized worldwide, the site is labeled “National Collection and Remarkable Garden”. Equipped with your small guide given at the entrance, you just have to let yourself be carried away by the spectacle of harmonies of colors, plays of light and shadow and its shaded alleys. A unique collection in the world!

Visit the Vastérival Garden, located a 5-minute walk from the house. Created in 1957 by Princess Sturdza, this nine-hectare garden, thought out and calculated to the nearest centimeter, well protected from the wind by a hedge of cypresses, birches, and willows, brings together 10,000 species of plants and remains magical in all seasons. Magnolias, camellias, “Vastérival pink” hydrangeas, and roses that climb the trees, the subtle shades of rhododendrons and azaleas, a garden where the rarest species rub shoulders with the simplest flowers, for a changing bouquet, day after day.

In the heart of the pretty village of Offranville, known for its authentic dovecotes and its famous twisted bell tower, William Farcy Park offers 2.5 hectares of plant beauties. You can discover 21 themed gardens, punctuated by a pretty stream over which a small wooden bridge is erected. This place exudes a feeling of serenity.

A magnificent beech grove of 10 hectares houses the 16th and 17th century castle. A bicentennial Lebanon cedar dominates the park and the famous traditional vegetable garden, which still supplies the castle with flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The strict order of the rows of vegetables contrasts with the exuberance of the flower beds that surround them. Today, the Miromesnil vegetable garden combines the geometry of the French garden and the irregularity of the shapes of the English garden. A charming classified chapel, with stained glass windows and polychrome statues from the 16th century, nestles in the woods.

On the road to Dieppe, 5 minutes from the house, discover Varengeville-sur-Mer, its church, and its marine cemetery. The Saint Valery church was built on the edge of the cliff, offering an unobstructed view of the sea and the cliff’s edge. Initially built in the 12th century and enlarged in the 16th century, the building withstands storms and the onslaught of waves. This church is also renowned for its stained glass windows, including the one created by George Braque, who rests in the cemetery surrounding the church. Overlooking the sea, it has been a source of inspiration for several artists, including Claude Monet. A must-see!

Facing the sea and the city, the Old Castle of Dieppe houses the maritime memory of the city and one of the most beautiful collections of ivory in Europe. It is the only monument, along with the St Rémy and St Jacques churches, to have survived the Anglo-Dutch bombardment of 1694. Located in the fortress castle, the Dieppe Museum presents the history of this city through numerous objects and representations. Visiting the castle from the outside is an opportunity for a small hike, which allows you to discover some of the most emblematic sites and monuments of Old Dieppe: the marina, St. Jacques Church, the pier, the waterfront, and the city center.

Located 5 minutes from the house, discover Ango Manor in Varengeville-sur-Mer. Ango Manor, the former summer palace of Jehan Ango, a wealthy shipowner and patron. The first monument classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, Ango Manor is a unique place, with its exceptional Italian Renaissance architecture, its dovecote which is considered the most beautiful in France, its site, and its park. This manor is composed of a harmonious alliance between local materials: the pink brick, known as Varengeville brick, flint, and sandstone collected at the foot of nearby cliffs, while the ornaments of the openings are carved from stones coming from the banks of the Seine. The brick and flint are worked in polychrome patterns.

A little further, just 10 kilometers from the house, let yourself be seduced by one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, and walk along the smallest river in France, the Veules. A stroll along the water allows you to discover the village through the mills, thatched cottages and watercress beds. On the seafront, you won’t be able to resist tasting a dozen Veulaises, an oyster raised in the open sea.