Risk of life on the chalk cliffs: access prohibited from now on!

Risk of life on the chalk cliffs: access prohibited from now on!

Étretat, Frankreich - The famous chalk cliffs of Étretat in Normandy are no longer accessible to tourists. This measure was taken to ensure the safety of the visitors and to minimize the risk of fatal accidents and rock drops. The main reason for this ban is the progressive coastal erosion, which has severely affected the area in recent years. According to oe24.at, entering the rock breakthroughs below the cliffs leads to an increased risk.

The new rules restrict access to large parts of the beaches, while the beach on the promenade in Étretat is excluded from this ban. Access to three striking rock formations that are also considered to be tourist highlights is now prohibited. Every year the chalk cliffs attract around 1.5 million tourists, but fatal accidents always occur, especially when visitors are too close to the approximately 90 meter high cliffs.

measures for security

Visitors can only approach the edge of the cliffs up to five meters. In addition, the municipality assumes no responsibility for accidents that arise from disregarding the new regulations or climbing barriers. In the event of violations of the restrictions, fines of at least 35 euros threaten. The fire brigade has announced that they will invoice rescue operations in the future, unless they are serious accidents. As early as 2022, the fire brigade had pointed out the dangers of the cliffs in a warning video.

erosion is a far -reaching problem that not only endangers the safety of people, but also the infrastructure. In Criel-sur-Mer, a village in Normandy, the crumbling rocks threaten numerous houses. Mayor Alain Trouessin has declared that it is predicted that up to 32 houses will have to be demolished in the next 50 years because they are too close to the abyss. In recent years, the municipality has lost 30 centimeters of rocks annually, which increases the concerns of the population, such as SRF.CH.

tourism and challenges

The rocks along the Alabaster coast attract numerous hikers who want to enjoy the impressive views. There are already some beautiful photo motifs along the hiking trails, such as the famous Falaise d’Aval and Falaise La Manneporte. According to a travel report by diedaeubersunterweg.de, visitors often experience narrow paths with a wonderful view of the chalk cliffs and the Atlantik.

However, the local authorities face the challenge of reconciling the strong rush of vacationers who want to explore the coast with the impending dangers of erosion. It remains to be seen how the new access restrictions on tourism will work in the region and whether they can actually reduce the dangers for visitors.