ITINERARY
Have you ever dreamed as a child of walking on the ocean floor? Could you imagine what it would be like to stand at the bottom and see its inhabitants, seaweed, pebbles, and shells with your own eyes? These dreams can become a reality. The region on the border of Normandy and Brittany in France is famous for its vast tidal ranges. When the water recedes several kilometers, it exposes the ocean floor, providing an opportunity to stroll where just moments ago there was a deep sea.
Imagine walking on damp sand dotted with mollusks and colorful stones. The ocean floor comes alive before your eyes, revealing its secrets. You can observe intricate forms of seaweed, examine shells, and encounter crabs hastily hiding among the seaweed. Walking on the exposed ocean floor is not just a tour; it’s an exhilarating adventure that will stay with you forever.
We often come to Normandy with friends or family, and this year we gathered a large group. Our beloved relatives from Canada flew in to join us, and everyone, without exception, enjoyed this trip. Collecting shells during low tide has become not just a tradition but a true ritual. Even our nephew was thrilled with this fascinating activity. It’s truly an exciting adventure that requires some preparation but always brings a lot of joy and new experiences.
During a good tidal coefficient, the sea floor is exposed for several kilometers here (447 Les Dunes, 50290 Bricqueville-sur-Mer, France). The water level variations reach heights of 2.5-3.5 meters depending on the lunar phase. Walking among the columns covered with mussels, you can observe marine inhabitants that haven’t left with the tide, as well as shells. You can see crabs, small fish, and other marine creatures that remain on the exposed seabed. This activity is suitable for all ages and brings plenty of joy and amazement, allowing you to enjoy the beauty and riches of nature. An informational sign at the beach entrance displays various types of shells that can be collected, along with descriptions and the sizes suitable for collecting. This information makes the collecting process even more educational.
Digging for shells requires effort and special tools. People with buckets and rakes, in boots or barefoot, digging and collecting inhabitants of the seabed, create an impression of a vast garden tended by many gardeners. Each of them, armed with their tools, works diligently, immersed in the process of searching for treasures of the sea.
This unforgettable activity leaves warm memories and a sense of harmony with nature.
The most enjoyable part of this gathering is the delightful dinner. Its preparation is laborious, but it more than pays off.
Recipe for mollusks collected on the seashore
After carefully rinsing them in cold fresh water, we delicately arrange our collected mollusks on a heated skillet so they can quickly open their shells. Opening each shell and rinsing them just in case, we then pour over them the previously prepared sauce and bring to a boil covered, shaking occasionally but avoiding boiling.
The sauce, designed to accentuate the superb taste of the mollusks, is prepared as follows: finely chopped onions, sweet and hot peppers, optionally celery, and a couple of tomatoes are sautéed in vegetable oil. Then, spices are added: turmeric, black ground pepper, cloves, bay leaf, sweet ground paprika, thyme, pink peppercorns, salt, and sugar. Lemon juice and fresh herbs are also added. All this is then covered with a bottle of white wine, which we may have bought for tasting at the supermarket but didn’t like in its pure form. Finally, garlic and a spoonful of butter are added to give the sauce a deeper flavor. Use these ingredients and improvise according to your taste and desire.
The ready-to-eat mollusks can be served with pasta or bread, complemented by a glass of wine, creating the perfect blend of flavors and aromas.
This dinner becomes the culmination of the day spent on the coast. The effort put into collecting and preparing the mollusks is rewarded with their exquisite taste and the atmosphere of togetherness at the table. Each shellfish reminds us of the adventure on the shore, the sound of the waves, and the salty breeze. Such a dinner is not just delicious food but a celebration that brings joy and warm memories to all participants.
The return journey: Etretat
Would you like to experience new sensations and feel like a grain of sand under the endless cerulean sky, against the backdrop of the boundless turquoise sea and ivory-colored cliffs? Then this place is for you. Etretat is a picturesque corner on the Normandy coast where nature has created a true masterpiece. Majestic cliffs towering over the turquoise waters of the English Channel give the impression that they are carved from ivory. Here you will find the famous arches and needles sculpted by the sea and wind, which have become symbols of this place.
Take a stroll along the pristine white beaches where every pebble beneath your feet whispers of the ocean’s millennia-long history. Climb to the tops of the cliffs to relish breathtaking views that stretch endlessly across the sea and sky. Each moment spent here fills the soul with a sense of infinity and eternity.
Etretat is a place where you can forget about time and simply revel in the beauty of the surrounding world. Sit on the edge of a cliff, listening to the melody of waves crashing against the rocks, and feel all your worries drift away with the sea breeze. Here, nature displays its full power and magnificence, making you feel part of something grand and incomprehensible.
Traveling through Normandy is an immersion into a world of rich history, picturesque landscapes, and gastronomic delights. From the impressive views from the Pont de Normandie bridge to the charming villages on the way to Mont-Saint-Michel, from the captivating walks through the markets of Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal to relaxing evenings in Granville—every moment here is filled with enchanting atmosphere and warmth. Normandy leaves unforgettable impressions in the heart, making every return a true celebration that we are delighted to share with you.
