Criquebeuf-En-Caux: Hiking, History and Coastal Landscapes

Criquebeuf-en-Caux is a coastal village whose paths, local history and landscape offer several points of interest to help you plan your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Criquebeuf-En-Caux, the area’s themes can help you tailor your trip to your interests: you might focus on a hiking route, the history of the Ramendeuses, the Church of Saint-Martin or the coastal landscape.

Hiking: Distinguishing between the long-distance trail and the circular route

The GR 21 long-distance hiking trail passes through Criquebeuf-en-Caux. The Sentier des ramendeuses also runs through the village. The GR 21 is marked in white and red. As conditions and diversions may change, check the route and trail markers before setting off.

The circular route “Sur les pas des ramendeuses,” Circuit No. 16, provides more precise information about distance and duration. It runs from Saint-Léonard through Criquebeuf-en-Caux and Yport to Fécamp; the stated distance is 14 kilometres and the duration is about three and a half hours. This approximate time is a useful reference for planning your day. Check the route status before departure. This will help you distinguish the circular route with its stated distance from the two paths that pass through the village.

The Ramendeuses: Work and Remembrance

The Sentier des ramendeuses has a historical connection: it enabled fishermen’s wives to travel to Fécamp to mend fishing nets. The path thus recalls a specific activity that lives on in its name. If you include the route in your trip plans, this background offers an additional perspective on its history.

The “Café-canard” is part of the area’s traditional food culture. The Ramendeuses would stop there to have a “Canard”: a sugar cube dipped in Calvados. This traditional stop links the history of the path with a simple, distinctive way to fortify yourself along the way.

The Church of Saint-Martin and its Maritime Role

The Church of Saint-Martin dates from the 16th century and is crowned by a light-stone bell tower from the 17th century. The building brings together two periods of construction: the church and the later-dated tower. The tower served as a navigational marker for sailors. This connection is a distinctive feature of the village’s history: the bell tower is part of the church’s architectural history and also served as a landmark at sea.

Coastal Landscape and Protected Area

Criquebeuf-en-Caux is surrounded by plains and cultivated fields. The village is also home to the Cavée Rouge, a small hanging valleuse—a small coastal valley. These two landscape features offer different points of interest: the open, agricultural surroundings and a named coastal landform.

The Natura 2000 site “Littoral Seino-Marin” is also part of the landscape. It includes the edge of the plateau, cliffs, beach, foreshore and marine areas extending to the 12-nautical-mile limit off the coast; Criquebeuf-en-Caux is one of the communes within this protected area. The site was designated because large numbers of seabirds of Community interest are found there. The Cavée Rouge represents a small-scale landform, while the protected-area designation points to the importance of seabirds.

Discover more destinations: Montigny, Le Tilleul, Bordeaux-Saint-Clair, Saumont-La-Poterie, Tancarville, Sotteville-Lès-Rouen, Criquetot-L'esneval, Beaubec-La-Rosière

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.