Dieppe (pop. 35,694), one of France's best known passenger harbors and a popular seaside resort, lies on the Channel coast some 60km/37mi north of Rouen. In the center of the town is the little Place du Puits-Salé.
There are a number of memorials to the Canadian troops who landed here as part of the disastrous raid that took place in 1942. There is an interesting museum related to the Dieppe raid in nearby Pourville-sur-Mer.
The 2km/1.5mi long bathing beach extends westward to beyond the castle (1433), on a chalk crag above the town; it contains a museum (charts, ivories, pictures). From the Boulevard de la Mer, northwest of the castle, there are fine views.
Address: Musée de Dieppe, Rue de Chastes, F-76372 Dieppe, France
Hours:
June 1 to September 30: 10am-12pm, 2pm-6pm
October 1 to May 31: 10am-12pm, 2pm-5pm; Sun:10am-12pm, 2pm-6pm; Closed: Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The annual kite festival in Dieppe brings together the best kites from across the globe on one of Europe's most famed beaches. Solo and group acrobatic demonstrations are also included in this week-long event which takes place in early September.
To the east of the church are the extensive port installations, with the passenger harbor to the north of the attractive fishing harbor. East of the passenger harbor is the district of Le Pollet, with the chapel of Notre-Dame- de-Bon-Secours perched high above the harbor and the sea (views).
To the west of Place du Puits-Salé is the large church of St-Rémy (16th- 17th C.), with a fine interior. Northeast of this is the magnificent Gothic church of St-Jacques (12th-16th C.), with beautiful doorways and a richly decorated interior.