Photo of the month: Etretat

ETRETAT: The incredible rock formations on the Alabaster Coast in Seine-Maritime, Normandy have served as inspiration to writers and artists over the centuries. Spectacular from all angles!

Head for this iconic topographic outcrop immaculately carved out by nature at Etretat on the Normandy coast and you will be in good company. A long line of avid sightseers extending back to artists such as Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet have painted the white cliff beach scene while writer Maurice Leblanc set one of his ‘gentleman burglar’ Arsène Lupin stories here, and Guy de Maupassant spent time here as a child and wrote a tale called The Englishman of Etretat.

Instead of merely taking a photo, why not try something a little different: put a few hours aside to gaze down on the ‘hollow needle’ rock below, make like Monet and enjoy the shifting patterns of luminosity as the day and evening progresses. The solid-looking arch at the other end of the beach is Manneporte, or ‘large gate’.

Sitting on the Seine-Maritime Alabaster Coast, running from Le Havre to le Tréport, it shares geology with Dover’s White Cliffs.

Also not to be missed in March...

February 24–March 4
Paris Agricultural Salon
Reconnecting with rural France in a capital setting From sausage makers to cattle farmers and machinery manufacturers to winemakers, all of rural French life is here in Porte de Versailles - a celebration of rustic tradition provides a wonderful day out for the whole family.

March 16-19
Paris Book Fair
The 2017 edition of this behemoth literature love-in brings authors, publishers and avid readers together for over 800 events. This is a decidedly international event with more than 50 countries represented. A must-visit for bookworms.