ONE-CITY-PER-DAY CHALLENGE
Etretat, Normandy, France
Wonders and solitude
“Our great torment in life comes from the fact that we are eternally alone, and all our efforts and actions are aimed at escaping this solitude.”
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893)
Could it be these serene landscapes, best enjoyed in solitude, that instilled the words of the French author, who lived in Étretat and later forged connections with both Gustave Flaubert and Émile Zola?
I don’t know.
But one thing’s for sure: the ever-changing moods and colors of this scenery make it the perfect place for painters, and writers.
The chalk cliffs of the Alabaster Coastal, with its iconic rock formations of the Porte d’Aval, Porte d’Amont, and the Manneporte, inspired many artists, such as the painters Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet.
So, if you need some inspiration, you know now where to go!
