What You Need to Know About the Seine-Maritime Department
Today we present to you the department numbered 76 in France. Formerly known as Seine-Inférieure until 1955, this French department in the Normandy region is now called Seine-Maritime. Historically, a department occupying the same territory was once called Seine-Inférieure, and it is a department that was created after 1790, the year of the French Revolution.
Demographically, the Seinomarins currently number 1,255,633 inhabitants and they live in an area of the territory of 76 which amounts to 6,278 km2. This territory is administratively divided into 3 arrondissements, 10 legislative constituencies, 35 cantons, 18 intercommunalities, and 708 communes.
Which Departments Border the Seine-Maritime Department?
Geographically, department 76 overlooks the English Channel which forms a line between Bresle and the Seine. Its neighboring departments are obviously the Eure department, the Calvados department, and finally, the Oise department.
What Is the Climate Like in the Seine-Maritime Department?
Since the department has a coastline overlooking the English Channel, it is more exposed to westerly winds. Moreover, through its west-north section, department 76 exhibits an oceanic climate, which is quite evident. This type of climate is characterized primarily by the regularity of temperatures displayed, depending on the latitude, and the generally mild environment. Additionally, there are also light rains, although they are still abundant enough to be well distributed throughout the year.
In the east-south part of the said department, however, there is temperature irregularity although the environment is calmer there. This could lead to the fact that this part of Seine-Maritime presents a climate somewhat similar to that of the Paris basin. Furthermore, the relief and proximity to the coast could generate these few climatic zones:
First, there is the coastal climatic zone of the Pays de Caux: in this part of the territory, there is a coastline of at least 10 km stretching from Fécamp to Le Havre. This is where the oceanic type climate is mainly observed. During the winter periods, that is at the beginning of the year; temperatures fluctuate between 4 and 5°C, then in other regions like Le Havre for example, the periods around August show an average temperature of 17°C. Throughout this coastal climatic zone, precipitation is moderate, ranging from 700 to 900 mm per year with frost that can occur 20 days per year and also some disturbances marking the autumn and winter seasons.
In the eastern part of this territory lies the central zone. The climate is a bit colder, moreover, there is a lot of frost, up to 60 days of snow and frost during winter. Temperatures even reach -4°C to -6°C during the winter period, that is at the beginning of the year. Snow quantities are much higher and range around 90 to 120 mm per year.
Finally, let’s talk about the Seine valley: it is a climatic zone extending from Rouen to Caudebec-en-Caux. Here, the climate is a bit more temperate as the rains are less abundant, around 700 mm per year. However, when it comes to frost, there are 50 days of frost per year with slightly lower temperatures when entering the zone where the Pays-de-Caux is located, particularly during the summer period. All seasons combined, there is less wind in this zone compared to if you were on the coasts near Rouen.
What Are the Most Important Cities in Seine-Maritime?
If you are passing through the 76 department, that is to say Seine-Maritime, do not miss the opportunity to visit these towns:
- Rouen
- Le Havre
- Fécamp
- Dieppe
- Rives-en-Seine
- La Feuillier
- La Londe
- Le Petit-Quevilly
- Anglesqueville-la-Bras-Long
- Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray
What are the most important municipalities in the Haute-Seine department?
We ranked these municipalities according to their area, so here are the 10 largest municipalities in the Seine-Maritime department
- Vatteville-la-Rue
- Le Havre
- Arelaune-en-Seine
- La Feuillier
- Beauvoir-en-Lyons
- La Londe
- Haudricourt
- Saint-Vigor-d’Ymonville
- La Cerlangue
- Sigy-en-Bray
