Tide Times in Normandy

Normandy boasts 640 km of coastline with striking landscapes, from the chalk cliffs of the Pays de Caux to the vast tidal flats of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The tidal range can exceed 13 metres around Granville and Mont-Saint-Michel, making it one of the most spectacular places in the world to witness the power of the tides.

Normandy's tidal pattern is semi-diurnal, strongly influenced by the English Channel, which acts as a natural funnel amplifying the Atlantic tidal wave. Coefficients range from 20 to 120, and during equinoctial spring tides, the coastal landscape is completely transformed: kilometres of foreshore are exposed, revealing an exceptional biological heritage — seagrass beds, cockle banks, honeycomb worm reefs, and oyster farms.

The three coastal departments — Manche, Calvados and Seine-Maritime — have very different tidal profiles. Manche has the largest tidal ranges, Calvados has moderate tides essential for understanding the D-Day beaches, and Seine-Maritime has tides that sculpt the famous chalk cliffs every single day. Checking tide times is a vital reflex for anyone using the Norman coast.