Property Normandy - Buy, Rent & Stay in Haute Normandy

Haute Normandy France

Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) is one of the 26 regions of France. It was created in 1956, when Normandy was divided into Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie. It comprises of the Departments Eure (27) and Seine-Maritime (76) Its area of 12,317 km2 makes it one of France's smallest regions in terms of size.

To the north of the region is the English Channel, with Picardie to the east, Basse-Normandie to the west and Ile-de-France to the south and the Centre.

The Haute Normandie Region:

Haute-Normandie is extremely important in terms of sea access to the rest of Europe, especially England. Bisected by the River Seine, which is navigable, the Seine Valley is not just a geographical line but is also the main access route between the Paris region and the sea. The port of Le Havre deals more with the commercial aspect of shipping whereas Dieppe, being far-less industrialised is more popular with visiting tourists.

Stretching south 100km from Dieppe to Etretat is the Cote d'Albatre (Alabaster Coast) a windswept coastline of chalky cliffs with good pebble beaches, backed by impressive tall, white cliffs. Along this coast there are small villages and resorts.

Although a large amount of Haute-Normandie is urbanised it is still largely an agricultural area with 45% of the region dedicated to arable farming on vast tracts of land. Inland the countryside is dominated by the River Seine, with its estuary just south of Le Havre. The countryside is characterised by a succession of plateaux and valleys. The plateaux rise to slightly different heights, from around 130-135 m by the sea to over 200 m around the elevation of the Pays de Bray - intersected by a large number of rivers and streams.

History of Haute Normandie

During the Roman era, Haute-Normandie was divided into a number of different city-states. The Franks conquered this region in the 5th century. The Normans devastated the region in the 9th century. During World War II, Haute-Normandie was the site of the ill-fated Dieppe Raid by Canadian and British armed forces on 19th August 1942.

Access to Haute Normandie

Travelling by ferry is the most common choice with routes from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Newhaven to Dieppe.

Haute-Normandie’s ease of access from the UK also makes the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Nord Pas-De-Calais region viable options, as is the Channel Tunnel.

There are direct flights from the UK to Caen and Le Havre through Skysouth from Shoreham Airport (Brighton). Flights to the Paris airports offer good deals with the option of either car hire or taking the TGV train service.

Normandy Climate

Haute-Normandie lies in the path of the Atlantic depressions, and enjoys an oceanic climate with fairly abundant rainfall, temperate summers and mild winters.

Major Towns in Haute Normandie

Principal towns

Rouen

Capital of Haute-Normandie and capital of the Seine-Maritime department. Historically, Rouen with its many spires and church towers, is an important city. It has around 200 half-timbered houses, with rough-hewn beams, posts and diagonals leaning this way and that. Rouen’s cathedral of Notre Dame is considered to be a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, famously painted in a series by impressionist Claude Monet. Rouen was once the furthest point down river where you could cross the Seine by bridge. The city was the infamous site of the trial and torture of Joan of Arc.

Le Havre

France's second most important port and a gateway for ferries to the UK and Ireland. At one time it was a prosperous trading post and home to great luxury liners. The city was obliterated by bombing raids in World War II and re-built between 1946 and 1964. It now has wide, straight central streets (with the sea visible at the end of each), lined with rows of three-storey concrete buildings.

Dieppe

An important port going back to the time of the Vikings, who founded it and named it “Djupa” meaning deep. Dieppe expanded and grew prosperous after William the Conquerer overthrew England in 1066. Today, it's an important ferry and fishing port and a pleasant seaside resort. On Saturday it hosts one of the best street markets in northern France, which spreads throughout the town's streets and sells fresh products from all over the country, including fish sold straight from the boats.

It is well-known for a failed landing operation by predominantly Canadian Allied forces during World War II on 19th August 1942.

Evreux

Capital of the Eure Department. Situated in the pleasant valley of the River Iton, the arms of which encompass. The town, on the south, slopes up toward the public gardens and the railway station. It is the seat of a bishop, and its cathedral is one of the largest and finest in France. At Vieil Evreux, "old Evreux," the Roman Gisacum, a Gallo-Roman religious sanctuary, there are the remains of a Roman theatre, a palace, baths and an aqueduct, as well as various relics which are now deposited in the museum of Évreux.

Attractions

Etretat

A pleasure resort on the Cote d’Albatre (Alabaster Coat) which has a pretty seaside location, pleasing architecture and no large port to ruin the views. It has an attractive centre filled with half-timbered buildings and a beach positioned between two magnificent cliffs. The white cliffs are spectacular and unusual rock formations including arches, tunnels and a solitary "needle" out at sea.

Fecamp

Fecamp on the Cot d’Albatre has an attractive seafront promenade and Benedictine monastery. Once it was a popular destination for pilgrims but today the majority of visitors come to try the digestif – Benedictine - that is still made here.

Giverny

In the Eure Department, most people come to Giverny see the place that took such a hold on Claude Monet who lived there from 1883 to 1926. It was here that Monet painted some of his most famous works including Decorations des Nympheas better known as Water Lilies. The Musee Claude Monet was his home and studio but it's the gardens that are a truly magnificent, particularly in the summer when the flowers are in bloom.

Economy of Haute Normandie

Most economic activity in the area is concentrated in the Seine Valley, which includes the two largest built-up areas in the region, Le Havre and Rouen.

Normandy Cuisine

Normandy as a whole is well known for its rich butter, cream and other dairy products. Its cheeses are world famous and include Camembert, Livarot, Pont l'Evêque, Brillat-Savarin, Neufchâtel, and Boursin. Normandy butter is highly prized, as is Normandy cream.

Gites, Hotels and Tourist Accommodation in Haute Normandy

This increase in tourism, especially since it is fuelled to some degree by the increase in low cost air fares, opens opportunities for those wishing to start or run a business in France.

Many people find converting an old barn or outhouse to a gite enables them to earn a useful supplementary income from those looking for a French gite holiday. Rural gite holidays are increasingly popular and a 'gite to rent' or 'gite louer' could be how you enjoy life without working in the rat race.

House & Property Prices in Normandy

The average price of a 2 bedroom apartment property for sale in Haute-Normandie is between 140k Euros and 180k Euros while the price of a 4 bedroom house is between 215k Euros and 255k Euros.

If you are looking for a good investment with a strong rental market then Rouen is a good investment. Prices here are however more expensive due to the high demand it experiences. Dieppe and its surrounding area also offers affordable property with a good rental market and its proximity to the UK makes the area suitable for a weekend home. Because of this it is experiencing high demand at the moment and prices are set to rise over the next few years.

House prices in Haute-Normandy are fairly average with some good deals going on period property to restore.

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