Baie de Seine

The coast alternates between sandy beaches and rocky promontories and, in general, it offers little shelter for shipping.

Le Havre is the major port of the region; there are minor harbours at Barfleur, Port-en-Bessin, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Langrune-sur-Mer, Ouistreham, Trouville-sur-Mer and Honfleur.

Domestic and foreign tourists visit the coast, given its World War II associations, sandy beaches and proximity to Paris.

There are coastal resorts at Arromanches, Deauville, Cabourg, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Trouville-sur-Mer and Honfleur.

The Normandy coast was the location, during World War II, of the main Allied landings in France; the unavailability of significant harbours caused the Allies to construct artificial harbours (Mulberries) at Arromanches and Omaha Beach.