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NORMANDY
Dieppe-Historical introduction
Historical introduction
It’s
not for nothing that Dieppe has always been one of the most liked harbours
in Normandy. It was already known by
the Vikings, being a safe harbour that gave protection to the longships of
the Normans. Very soon it became evident that this place was of outmost
strategic importance. Sailing port for a lot of discoverers, it was
once one of the most important ports of Europe. Fleets were departing to
Brazil, Guinea, New England and Florida to try to extend the French
emporium.
Verrazano set sail from here in 1524 to found a settlement known later in
history as New York City. Quebec settlers also departed from Dieppe,
establishing ties with Canada.
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Richard set sail |
Captured
by Richard Lion Heart in 1188, sacked by Philippe Auguste in 1195,
Dieppe’s prosperity finally recovered thanks to the export and trade of
saffron, pepper, ginger, cinnamon and also ivory through the port. During
the 100 years war it changes hands several times until the English conquer
the city in 1420. But not for long! In 1435 they will lose Dieppe forever
and the people of Dieppe will build the proud castle overlooking the city.
1668: new catastrophe, the black plague kills a huge part of the
population. In 1694, other hard times: a Dutch-British fleet destroys
Dieppe almost completely. Sigh….! Everything was to start all over
again. But the rebuilding gave the town its distinctive and elegant
arcaded brick terraces.
WWII brought its part of destructions where it played a crucial part,
therefore it doesn’t offer a very nice look at first sight. But if the
pleasure of a city stroll is limited, Dieppe merits a visit thanks to its
cute church, chateau-musee and long beaches.
The harbour has been enlarged to satisfy the demands of the fishing fleet
and cross-channel ferries. Note that he name Dieppe comes from the English
“deep”, so far a tight link with our British friends J.
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Dieppe air view from bomber |
As said
before Dieppe was heavily damaged on 19 th August 1942, when more than a
thousandAllied troops, most of them Canadians, tried to land near the
coast and were killed in an assault on heavily defended German positions.
Finally they had had to withdraw. Bombs damaged a lot of the Victorian
architecture but some parts of town escaped by chance. This “Dieppe raid
“ also called “Operation Jubilee” went into history and will be the
subject of another essay.
By the way, did you know that Dieppe is the nearest beach to Paris as it
is only 180 km from the capital? Bathers have a wonderful view on the
cliff coast and the chateau. And its visitors don’t come only from Paris
but lot passenger traffic from England! But it has to adjust today the
changes that the Chunnel inevitably brought.
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Bathers around 1900 |
We can
say that Dieppe invented the French seaside Dieppe, but is today,
unfortunately, only a
whim of what it was in the beginning of the 19th century, under the
patronage of aristocratic ladies like the duchesse de Berry who brought
her aristocratic friends from Paris. Soon the town became the haven for a
lot of artists and politicians from the capital like Louis-Philippe,
Delacroix and Alexander Dumas. It gave away that privilege to town like
Etretat, Cabourg, and Deauville. Sea bathing and lying on the beach
became much more affordable after paid holidays were introduced in France
in 1936.
We will visit the town in next essays.
Bibliography
A holiday history of France, by Ronald Hamilton (London-Hogarth press), Region Normandie, ses merveilles, ses cicatrices, by Louis Letellier (ed. Cloison, Rouen 1995, La France des petits chemins: Normandie, by J. de la Valléé (ed. Cité presse, Paris 1998),Identity of France, by Fernand Braudel (London, Fontana Press), Dieppe:Tragedy to Triumph, by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker (1992), Compatbilité du port de Dieppe au 15eme siècle, by Michel Mollat.
Even more surprising, charming town!