Dieppe: Port of Four Horizons

Dieppe occupies a special place in Norman maritime history. Long before the age of exploration, Dieppe's sailors ventured far beyond European waters. In the 14th century, they established trading posts on the African coast. In the 16th century, Dieppe navigators explored the Americas, with some claiming they reached Brazil before the Portuguese. The city's maritime museum houses ivory carvings brought back from these voyages, intricate works that blend African craftsmanship with European themes.

The port's strategic importance made it a target throughout history. Vikings raided, English armies besieged, and in 1942, the disastrous Dieppe Raid saw Canadian forces suffer terrible losses in an unsuccessful assault on German defenses. The lessons learned here contributed to D-Day's success two years later, a bitter consolation for the 3,367 Canadians who became casualties in a single morning.

Today's Dieppe balances its roles as fishing port, ferry terminal, and seaside resort. The Saturday market, sprawling through the old town, offers the bounty of both sea and land: just-caught scallops (Dieppe is famous for its coquilles Saint-Jacques), Norman cheeses, and cider from nearby orchards. The beach, stretching for kilometers, draws Parisians who can reach the sea in just over two hours, maintaining a tradition that began with the railway's arrival in 1848.