Fagnet Cape (Cap Fagnet)
About Fagnet Cape (Cap Fagnet)
Cap Fagnet is the highest point of the Côte d'Albâtre (Alabaster Coast), rising 105-110 meters above the English Channel and offering spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of Fécamp, the harbor, and the dramatic chalk cliffs stretching toward Étretat. This Natura 2000 protected site features the historic 11th-century Notre-Dame-du-Salut Chapel, built by Duke Robert the Magnificent (father of William the Conqueror) after surviving a shipwreck, alongside WWII German bunkers from Hitler's Atlantic Wall including the ruins of an experimental Mammut radar station. Visitors can explore the clifftop on foot via the GR21 long-distance hiking trail, discover the orientation table identifying landmarks visible on clear days, and see the modern wind farm with its five 49-meter turbines. The site is free to access 24/7 with parking available at the summit, though some areas near cliff edges may be closed for safety due to ongoing erosion. For the best experience, visit during sunrise or sunset when the light transforms the white chalk cliffs into a golden spectacle, and check with the Fécamp Tourist Office for guided tours of the underground WWII fortifications.
Interesting Facts
The cape shares its name with a legendary fishing trawler 'Cap Fagnet' (1956-1974) that won the French cod fishing championship six consecutive times from 1957 to 1962. Captained by Émile Friboulet and later Charles Pontillon, this 74.8-meter vessel caught over 30,000 tonnes of cod during its career and later had a dramatic second life as a mercenary ship for Bob Denard's 1977 Comoros operation.
During the French Revolution in 1792, when churches across France were being destroyed, the National Assembly specifically decreed that Notre-Dame-du-Salut Chapel must be preserved because it served as an essential navigation landmark for ships at sea — a rare instance of religious architecture saved by its practical maritime function.
French Navy personnel stationed at the semaphore (naval signal station) on Cap Fagnet must climb exactly 199 steps every day to reach their observation post, making it one of the most physically demanding commutes for any maritime surveillance position along the Normandy coast.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Cap Fagnet, Côte de la Vierge, 76400 Fécamp, France
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Complete Seine-Maritime in 18 days
Dieppe → Le Treport → Rouen → ...
Alabaster Coast in 9 days
Le Havre → Fécamp → Dieppe → ...
Rouen and Le Havre in a week
Rouen → Le Havre