Choosing Senneville-Sur-Fécamp can be guided by two different interests: hiking and coastal landscapes, or its layered architectural and church history. The GR21 and the La Côte de la Vierge loop offer two different kinds of route, while the Valleuse de Senneville-sur-Fécamp and the Val de la Mer add their own landscape features. The church brings together medieval architectural elements, later alterations and historic furnishings. As you plan your trip, you can decide whether your stay should focus more on the trails and coast or on the cultural heritage.
Hiking: a day hike or a loop
The one-day hike from Étretat to Fécamp along the GR21 passes through Senneville-Sur-Fécamp. The 13 km La Côte de la Vierge loop also runs here. The routes therefore differ in their format: one is a day hike between two places, while the other is a loop with a stated distance. When choosing between them, you can consider whether the section from Étretat to Fécamp or the 13 km loop suits you better. The descriptions provide different points of reference without treating the two hikes as a single combined route.
For guided hikes in the 2026 program, registration through the online shop is mandatory. If you are considering a later program, check the booking process again. This ensures that your plans follow the registration requirements applicable to each program.
Valleuse and beach at the foot of the cliffs
The Valleuse de Senneville-sur-Fécamp can be reached by a road lined with meadows. In the Val de la Mer, the valley ends at a staircase leading to a beach at the foot of impressive cliffs. The two landscape descriptions emphasize different features: in the Valleuse, the meadow-lined road is a feature of the approach; in the Val de la Mer, the stairs lead down to the beach below the cliffs. If you are including coastal scenery in your trip plans, both the Valleuse and the stairway access to the beach offer specific things to explore.
The church’s architecture and furnishings
The church was built in the Gothic style from the late 12th through the 13th century. The inner base of the tower and bays 3 to 6 of the nave survive from this period. The tower itself belongs to a later phase: after a fire in 1594, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. This sequence distinguishes the surviving Gothic elements from the later rebuilt tower and shows that the church was shaped over more than one period.
The connections to Saint Vaast and Saint Anne also have different historical roles. The north aisle contains an old stone statue of Saint Vaast, dating from the 12th to 13th century; the church was formerly dedicated to Vaast. It is now under the patronage of Saint Anne. Two chapels stand on either side of the portal. The church’s architectural features, saintly imagery and dedication can thus be considered as distinct details rather than attributed to a single period or dedication.
Three 19th-century ex-voto ship models are also housed in the church. In 1977, they were listed as protected historic objects. Along with the statue and architectural features, the models add tangible pieces of church furnishing to the site’s history: the models date from the 19th century, while the statue and parts of the building reach back to the Middle Ages.
Discover more destinations: Haudricourt, Sommery, Angerville-L'orcher, Bec-De-Mortagne, Auberville-la-Renault, Bois-Guillaume, Grigneuseville, Val-De-Saâne.
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
