TheBaie de Seine (French pronunciation:[bɛdəsɛn],Bay of the SeineRiver) is abay in northernFrance.[1]
It is a wide, rectangular inlet of theEnglish Channel, approximately 100 kilometres (east-west) by 45 kilometres, bounded in the west by theCotentin Peninsula, in the south by theNormandy coast and in the east by the estuary of the riverSeine atLe Havre. The coast alternates between sandy beaches and rocky promontories and, in general, it offers little shelter for shipping. At the western end of the bay are theÎles Saint-Marcouf.
Le Havre is the major port of the region; there are minor harbours atBarfleur,Port-en-Bessin,Courseulles-sur-Mer,Langrune-sur-Mer,Ouistreham,Trouville-sur-Mer andHonfleur.
Domestic and foreign tourists visit the coast, given its World War II associations, sandy beaches and proximity to Paris. There are coastal resorts atArromanches,Deauville,Cabourg,Houlgate,Villers-sur-Mer,Trouville-sur-Mer andHonfleur.
TheBattles of Barfleur and La Hogue were naval battles fought off Barfleur andSaint-Vaast-la-Hougue in the 17th century.
The Normandy coast was the location, duringWorld War II, of the mainAllied landings in France; the unavailability of significant harbours caused the Allies to construct artificial harbours (Mulberries) atArromanches andOmaha Beach. There are remains of these harbours at Arromanches.
49°30′N0°30′W / 49.500°N 0.500°W /49.500; -0.500
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