Dieppe is a coastal city that was the first French holiday resort. There are sandy, wide beaches here, and above the buildings there is a cliff with a medieval castle.
From its beginnings, dating back to the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, Dieppe has been associated with the sea. Initially as a fishing village, with time as a port that has gained in importance due to its location on the English Channel. Besieged and destroyed many times during the Anglo-French wars, it had fortifications, fragments of which have survived to this day. There is a castle on the cliff above the port. Currently, it houses a museum presenting the history of the city.
Dieppe's history went down the most during World War II. In August 1942, the Allies carried out an landing here of approx. 5,000. soldiers, which resulted in heavy losses, but became an important stage in the preparations for the landing in Normandy, which were carried out two years later.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Dieppe began to transform from a town with a typical commercial and fishing focus into a seaside resort. It was the first such place in France inspired by fashion from England. Nowadays, thousands of tourists rest on sandy beaches each year.
In addition to the castle and beaches, Dieppe's attractions include several historic churches, a preserved city gate with medieval fortifications, a Saturday market that spans many streets in the city center, and a Sea City museum that shows the town's links to shipping and fishing.
