Seine-Maritime (76)

Description:

Introduction

Seine-Maritime has a long and sometimes violent history from 1200 BC through the periods of Celtic settlements, and Roman, Frankish and Norse invasions. It has a long association with the kings and realm of England following the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 right through to the Hundred Years War in the 15th century which began with the assault by Henry V of England on Harfleur.

In more recent times Seine-Maritime, or Bas-Seine as it was then known, was very much affected by World War 2. Occupied by the Wehrmacht, Seine-Maritime experienced two major Allied military raids in 1942 before the early Allied landings and liberation in 1944. During the liberation 2,000 people were killed and 60,000 wounded in Rouen alone.  The port town of Le Havre also recorded a high number of casualties during bombing raids.

It was in January 1955 that the department became known as Seine-Maritime.  Sincethis time all French department names starting with 'Bas-' (low) or including the word  'Inférieur' have been changed to more positive denominations (with the exception of the department Bas-Rhin).

In 1959, the Tancarville Bridge was opened, followed in 1977 by the Brotonne bridge.  Then in 1995, the Pont de Normandie was built near Honfleur.  This is longest cable-strung bridge in the world.

In 2005, the town of Le Havre was classified as a World Heritage Site.

Geography

The department includes the chalky plateau of the Pays de Caux and the cliffs of the English Channel coast (La Manche).

There are two types of landscape – 'champaign' and 'bocage'.

The champaign landscape is characterised by huge fields with very few hedgerows and is found on the dry chalky plateaux which are generally very flat with intense arable cultivation.

In contrast, the bocage landscape comprises deep valleys and rolling hills. This is often a surprise to the visitor, as it is not visible from most parts of the plateaux.  It is a more intimate landscape, with woodlands (many of them ancient) of beech and oak with small fields and meadows along the streams.  The major example of this is the Pays de Bray, part of is in the east of the département. The Pays de Bray is an essentially agricultural area, mainly arable and dairy but vestiges of the typical Norman apple orchards, especially pretty at apple blossom time, can still be seen. The Pays de Bray is well known for the excellent Neufchatel cheese, often heart-shaped, and named after the town from which it originates.

Culture

One of the greatest novels of the 19th century, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert is set in Seine-Maritime centred on Ry and Rouen. The novel La Place by Annie Ernaux largely takes place in Seine-Maritime and describes events and changes that took place in French society in the 20th century especially in relation to the rural population.

The département has several lovely chateaux, some , such as the Chateau de Vascoeil near Croisy sur Andelle, house art collections which include paintings by Picasso and Salvador Dali. Rouen itself is a major cultural centre with its museums, cathedral and other beautiful buildings.

The local dialect is known as Cauchois and is one of the most vibrant forms of the Norman language.