Between a seascape to the north and the countryside to the south, Auberville reveals different facets of its landscape. Viewpoints overlook the Falaises des Vaches Noires and the English Channel; trails also wind through the landscape. Geology, hiking and religious heritage offer different ways to explore the area during a stay.

Cliffs and nature trails

The Falaises des Vaches Noires feature a distinctive badland morphology: ravines and rocky spurs alternate, shaping the terrain. The rocky landscape dates back to the Jurassic period and is known for its geological and paleontological richness. Dinosaur remains have also been discovered there. Viewpoints in Auberville look out over the cliffs and the English Channel.

The Sentier nature des Vaches Noires is a 1.7-kilometre nature trail for walking. It crosses bocage meadows and valleys where vegetation has reclaimed some former structures dating from the Second World War. After a wooded section, the trail offers a panorama of the sea; vegetation can affect visibility. The path thus combines scenic views with insights into the geological and paleontological significance of the cliffs.

Two hiking loops, different distances

The Boucle Notre-Dame is six kilometres long and combines religious heritage, rural paths and views of the Falaises des Vaches Noires. Its longer variant passes the Auberville war memorial, dedicated to the village’s children who fell in the First World War. The landscape and local remembrance are therefore among the defining themes of this loop.

Another longer loop covers 13 kilometres and takes approximately three hours. It starts in Auberville, follows a section of the GR 223 towards Villers-sur-Mer, passes along the Vaches Noires beach and through Houlgate, then returns to Auberville via the 100 steps. An information board on the longer loop offers views of the Dives estuary and the beaches of Cabourg, Varaville and Merville-Franceville-Plage. Comparing the route lengths can help with planning: no duration is specified for the six-kilometre Boucle Notre-Dame, while the 13-kilometre loop takes approximately three hours.

For the beach section of the longer loop, check the tide times so you are not caught by an incoming tide. From the beach, the Villers-sur-Mer Tourist Office organises year-round discovery tours of the Falaises des Vaches Noires. Dates and booking arrangements may change, so check them in advance if you plan to join a tour.

Notre-Dame and local heritage

The Notre-Dame church in Auberville was built from Caen stone in the 12th century and altered in the 17th century. Its façade features a bell gable with two openings; the two bronze bells were cast in 1759. Inside the church, the furnishings include a wooden nave ceiling with exposed beams, a 17th-century altarpiece, a painting from that century and a statue of Saint Mark. The altarpiece depicts The Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee.

Visitors interested in architecture and history will find specific details here alongside the hiking trails’ landscape highlights. Together with the war memorial and the views of the cliffs, these offer different focal points for planning a trip to Auberville, without requiring any one loop to cover them all.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Georges-En-Auge, Colleville-Sur-Mer, Périgny, Donnay, Litteau, Campigny, Potigny, Saint-Germain-De-Livet

For the wider travel overview: Calvados.