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Dieppe-Even more surprising and charming town

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Historical introduction

Raid on Dieppe

Visit of town, surprise!

Something typical for Dieppe is its sea museum, known as E.S.T.R.A.N.-Cité de la mer, an oceanographic museum, opened in 1993.
Located on the part between low and high tide it's a superb and ambitious realization. 
Its primary task is to vulgarize scientific and technical culture about Sea and Fishing. It created a welcoming structure for formation and research. A maquette presenting the different types of boats and their fishing techniques in relation with the nature of the sea bottom (rocky, sandy, muddy or gravel). You will also see a lot of aquariums and for the younger, boats you can steer by remote control. 
The other important church of Dieppe is the eglise SAINT-REMY. It suffered a lot along the centuries, like the Anglo-Dutch bombardment in 1694, vandalism of the revolutionaries in 1789. Wind and weather have smudged the details of the facades. But inside, the paneling of the choir, the beautiful Renaissance decoration of the sacristy and Rococo organ defy the passage of years.
Next to the casino, the PORTE DES TOURELLES is the only remaining city gate connecting the boulevard de Verdun (the large avenue) and city center. The old gate gives on the quiet backwater of the place Camille Saint-Saens, where parked cars are a reminder that it was once filled with carriages of the rich and flavored. 
At the corner of the rue Beauregard, the TOUR AUX CRABES is one of the last remains (with the chateau and the tourelles) of the defensive system surrounding Dieppe from the 15th and 16th century. Today it's rather odd to discover it has a garden on top. At the top of a steep diagonal stone stair is a small square garden with dwarf espaliered apple trees and rose bushes. The ruelle Beauregard will return you beside the tower to the place du Moulin a Vent, a little open space which was a coal market in 1759. 

Let's now have a stroll along the QUAY HENRY IV. Your eye will be diverted by the many restaurants and terraces, but believe me, there is much more interesting to see. At no.49 for one, the MAISON D'ANVERS. Built in 1609, rebuilt in 1697, it owes its name to a later use of a bas relief, representing the city of Antwerp. Its one of the only remaining building with a "fronton de pignon" in Dieppe. Notice the height of the entrance gate and the dimensions of the interior courtyard: it was used as a coach relay. 

Other remarkable buildings are the ancient "COLLEGE DES ORATORIENS", formed by a church and a college. It burned down in 1941 and has been completelyrenovated in 2000. Next, at nos. 35 and 37, the HOTEL DE VICOMTE, rebuilt in the 18th century. It was the siege of the Lords power, justice and tax perceiving. It served probably as residence for the archbishops of Rouen, lords of Dieppe. 
Across the road, Dieppe's fishwives sprinkle water on the heaped mussels in the "Poissonnerie", the covered fish market at the harbor head, and in the café "Suisse", under the "Arcades de la Bourse" opposite, steaming bowls of moules mariniére are served-with memories. The 4.30 AM boat has juts arrived from Newhaven and Oscar Wilde is breakfasting on sandwiches, a bottle of red and bottle of white whine with his friends Reggie Turner and Robert Ross. Diners under the Arcades and the Poissonnerie get double protection, from the elements and from the buildings. Built after the bombardments of 1696, they are listed ancient monuments.

Bibliography

"The Dieppe Connection:The Town and Its Artists from Turner to Braque 
by Press Herbert (1992) Rendezvous at Dieppe by Ernest Langford (1998), Ville de Dieppe information leaflet, "Hoog Normandie" by Sandra Vermoolen( ANWB reisgidsen,Den Haag)

Dieppe contents

Even more surprising, charming town!

Saturday market-walk and excursions