Veules les Roses

Nestled on the Alabaster Coast, Veules-les-Roses is one of the oldest and most charming villages in Normandy. Its unique feature is that it is bisected by the Veules, the shortest river in France, at only 1,194 meters long. The village stretches along this crystal-clear waterway, lined with flower-adorned thatched cottages, restored watermills, and rose gardens that have earned it worldwide renown. This bucolic setting, where fresh water meets white chalk cliffs and the English Channel, captivated many 19th-century artists and writers, from Victor Hugo to the poet Anaïs Ségalas. The village boasts a diverse architectural landscape, blending traditional flint and brick fishermen's cottages with opulent Belle Époque seaside villas. The website chateaux-en-france.com recommends that you don't miss the Church of Saint-Martin, a 16th-century marvel whose sculpted pillars tell the maritime history of the area. Between the ancient watercress beds located at the source of the river and the vast sandy and pebbly beach that is revealed at low tide, Veules-les-Roses offers a perfect blend of the Normandy countryside and the power of the coastline.