Dieppe, ancient home of the Roy family

Dieppe (town of Normandy - France). This harbour town has direct ferry links to southern England

The old town, which can be seen from the cliff tops, has retained its mediaeval layout, even though Dieppe had to be rebuilt at the end of the XVIIth century, when a fire destroyed the town. The city's history and economy are profoundly linked to fishing and merchant shipping. Dieppe used to receive great quantities of merchandise, including spices, and above all ivory.
The development of ivory carving and the prosperity of this cottage industry, even though it was not immune to external events, helped to enhance the city's reputation.

The castle Museum
The flint and sandstsone fortress was rebuilt on the west cliff in the XVth century, and now houses the museum collections : seascapes, ivories carved by local craftsmen as far back as the XVIth century, paintings by Boudin, Lebourg and Pissaro, prints by Braque.

Church of Saint-Jacques
Work on this church was started in 1995, on the site of a building destroyed by fire, and a number of alterations were subsequently made. The central portal, for instance, which is crowned by a fine rose window, dates from the XVth century, as does the 41-m high tower, while the apse and radial chapels were built in the XVIth century.

Church of Saint Rémi
This church was built between the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, and the central bell tower dates from the XVIIIth century.
lnside, visitors can admire the remarkable panelling of the choir, the organ case and the Renaissance decoration of the treasure room.

The Port
The port, with its fishing fleet, is located in the heart of the town. The trawlers and river barges provide a superb palette of colours, which have been a favourite subject for amateur and professional artists alike for many decades.
The port around which Dieppe's industry developed is specialised in citrus fruits bananas and timber.
A ferry port handling more than a million passengers a year between Newhaven (close to Brighton) and Dieppe.

The beach
The sea front is set slightly back from the shore itself, providing space for a vast expanse of lawns and play areas nearly 2 km long.

The "Cité de la Mer" will unveil the world of the sea for you in all its aspects : fish, fishing, the coast...

Leisure activities : Casino, 18-hole golf course,tennis courts, racecourse, seawater therapy centre, wind surfing, etc..

In the surrounding area
The chateau de Miromesnil (Tourville-sur-Arques (8 km from Dieppe).
Guy de Maupassant's official birthplace, this XVIth century chateau belonged to the Chancellor, Hue de Miromesnil, in the XVIIIth century. Its fine stands of trees, its chapel, its kitchen garden with flower-beds and its facade are all worth noting. The interiors contain mementos of the Marquis de Miromesnil and Guy de Maupassant.

Links to other sites on the Web

Avoyelles French Family Names
Organized trip to Coutances with Louisiana French Heritage Tour

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