Criel-Sur-Mer: Coast, Heritage and the Yères Valley

Criel-Sur-Mer brings together the coast, heritage and trails along the Yères. If you are looking for a hotel in Criel-Sur-Mer, it helps to decide in advance whether you want to focus on the beach, local history or nature trails. These different highlights give you practical starting points for planning your stay.

Pebble beach and river landscape

Criel-plage is a family-oriented pebble beach with colourful beach huts. The pebbles and huts shape the beachscape and set it apart from a sandy beach. Beach features and facilities may change; if a particular offering is important for your visit, check before you travel.

The coastal river Yères flows into the English Channel at Criel-Sur-Mer. Several trails lead to the river or through the Yères Valley, so the river landscape can be just as much a part of your stay as the beach. The coast and the valley offer different experiences: Criel-plage is known for its pebble beach, while the trails along the Yères focus on views of the river and valley.

Manor house, church and château

The Manoir de Briançon dates from the late 16th century. The Grande Mademoiselle converted the building into a hospice for sailors’ orphans. Its history thus links its period of construction with a specific social function, making the manor house a historic landmark in Criel-Sur-Mer.

A walking trail in the park behind the manor house leads to the Yères and showcases the flora of the Yères Valley. A wetland trail behind the manor house offers opportunities to observe ducks. Donkeys and cows are present there seasonally and are used for ecological grazing. The trails offer different experiences: the walking trail leads to the river and valley flora, while the wetland trail offers opportunities for wildlife observation.

The Église Saint-Aubin is a protected historic monument and features Gothic elements inside. The church and the former rectory gardens can be visited independently. At the Château de Chantereine, by contrast, visits are only possible from the outside; its chapel, built in 1776, is still visible. As visitor access may change, check before your trip.

Hiking, cycling and cider

The Chemin des Soupirs is a starting point for hikes along the GR 21 long-distance trail. The marked Sang-Roy trail passes through Criel-Sur-Mer and the Yères Valley. Sang-Roy includes a stop at the artisan cider house Les Près. The stop includes a visit to the cider house and orchard, as well as a tasting of cider products. In this way, Sang-Roy combines hiking with a culinary experience centred on cider and the orchard.

From Criel-Sur-Mer, you can cycle along small country roads into the Yères Valley. This is an alternative to the marked Sang-Roy trail: the hiking trail passes through the town and valley, while the cycling route runs from Criel-Sur-Mer into the valley. Depending on whether you prefer to explore on foot or by bike, these two options offer different ways to find your bearings on outings in the river landscape.

Discover more destinations: Derchigny, La Vaupalière, Mont-Saint-Aignan, Bois-Guillaume, Avesnes-en-Bray, Sept-Meules, Épreville, Bihorel

Return to the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.