Great witnesses to a past life, the Falaises des Vaches Noires overhang the English Channel for 4.5km as far as Houlgate. Classified as a Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Ecologique, Faunistique et Floristique, their history spans millions of years, while their fossils are known the world over. In Jurassic times, Villers-sur-Mer as we know it today was a very different place: the whole of Normandy was covered by the ocean! Four ways to discover the Vaches Noires cliffs :

• On foot Although it's forbidden to climb the cliffs, a hiking trail from the beach allows you to appreciate part of them.
• At the Paleospace For 200 years, enthusiasts have been collecting fossils and continually enriching the Paleospace's collections.
• With a guide: Paleospace offers guided tours with an introduction to fossil research.
• Sand yachting: the Pôle Nautique Villers-Blonville uses the wild scenery of the cliffs to enhance its sand yachting courses.

A green lung by the sea. At the interface between the urban and rural worlds, the Marais de Blonville-Villersis 110 hectares of watered meadows, where fresh water feeds the flora and fauna, and where calm reigns. Popular with birdwatchers and hikers, four loops wind through the marsh to observe birds and immortalize their daily activities. Six ways to discover the Marais de Blonville-Villers :

• On foot: almost 5km of paths and three loops for walkers.
• On horseback The Centre Equestre de Blonville-sur-Mer takes riders for a ride in the marsh or a pony ride.
• By bike Whether classic, electronic, all-terrain or playful in the form of rosalies, all are available for hire at Cycles la Villersoise.
• At the Paléospace An alcove in the museum tells the story of the marsh, allowing visitors to touch coypu skin and observe birds and insects.
• With a guide: Paléospace organizes sensory and observation tours.

Visit the Paleospaceis to experience Jurassic Normandy! Right from the entrance, the scenography is more than impressive: Anna, the 5.4m-long ichthyosaur fossil, greets visitors as children look on in amazement. As you follow the trail, you'll discover life-size reconstructions of dinosaur skeletons, as well as authentic fossils found at the Falaises des Vaches Noires: pliosaurs, sea urchins, marine crocodiles, ammonites... in an atmosphere of Jurassic fauna.

The credo of Paléospace since its opening in 2011? To make science accessible to all through an edutainment approach. Visitors can play with touch screens and tablets, decipher the techniques used by paleontologists to find and interpret fossils, and understand how dinosaurs lived right up to their extinction.

Two kilometers. That's the extent of the Villers-sur-Mer beachwith its fine sand, where you can enjoy a walk whatever the season; its seafront dotted with seaside villas in a variety of styles; and its pretty 800m-long seawall, where passers-by can enjoy all this at the same time.

On the west side, the wild landscape of the Vaches Noires cliffs gives way to the iodized activities of the Pôle Nautique Villers-Blonville. Catamarans, sand yachts, paddles and kayaks cross the path of curious fossil hunters. In the center, the main Jean Mermoz beach is the ideal playground. In summer, the long ribbon of white cabins comes alive to welcome holidaymakers, and is surrounded by numerous sports and leisure activities such as beach volleyball, beach soccer and a children's beach club. Walking eastwards, the quieter Jean Moulin beach sees the seaside houses gradually diminish to make way for the Marais de Blonville-Villers.

A seaside resort full of charm, an ideal location by the sea, a long beach on the side of the cliffs, majestic brick and half-timbered villas... Innumerable assets that led the town to build a casino, an essential element of seaside resorts born in the 19th century. Since its foundation, Villers-sur-Mer has had a long history with gaming establishments. It has hosted no fewer than nine in the last century and a half, since its first wooden casino on stilts was built in 1856!

Le Casino Tranchantas we know it today, dates back to 1988. The building boasts a breathtaking view of the sea, much to the delight of players. Slot machines, electronic games, traditional tables and English roulette are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

On the seawall, a rounded belvedere juts out over the beach. Passers-by stop here, take photos and chat about its history. More than just an observation platform, it actually represents the entry point to the Greenwich Meridian on the European continent. For Villers-sur-Mer has the distinction of being the only French coastal town to be crossed by the imaginary line, the first land after England! The international reference on which all coordinates are based, the Greenwich Meridian determines longitude 0° and divides the earth into two hemispheres: East and West. From the North Pole to the South Pole, the meridian continues across Spain, ending in Ghana.

Like a border between the beach and the Auvergne countryside, theSaint-Martin church is distinguished by its neo-Gothic style and exceptional stained glass windows.

Originally, a church was built on the same site, but as Villers-sur-Mer grew and became more popular, it was no longer able to accommodate summer visitors. It was the wealthiest among them who financed the present-day Saint-Martin church, delivered in 1874. Three artists from Normandy were handpicked for this large-scale project: the Caen architect Lavallée-Dupeyroux for the Caen stone structure, the Jacquier brothers for the sculpture and the Duhamel-Marette studio for the 51 colorful stained glass windows, considered one of the masterpieces of the late 19th century in the Lower Normandy region.

In 2006,Saint-Martin church was listed as a Historic Monument.

Two streams, two bucolic strolls in the Villers hinterland: to the west, set back from the coast to the delight of nature lovers, the Parc San Carlo runs alongside the eponymous stream in a verdant setting. For over 600m, stroll through this shady haven of peace, a remnant of the immense estate that belonged to the Comtesse de Béarn until her death in 1929, where small wooden bridges span the stream. On the opposite bank, the Ruisseau Montcel offers a pleasant stopover between the Marais de Blonville-Villers and downtown Villers-sur-Mer, where trout may appear at the turn of a bend or at the foot of a small waterfall!

The best times to enjoy them? Spring and autumn, with their lively scenes and beautiful colors.

À Villers-sur-Mer, les visiteurs aiment flâner dans les rues du centre-ville pour une session shopping. Adresses utiles, gourmandes, de décoration ou soin santé, les commerces installés répondent à tous les besoins des visiteurs pendant leur séjour en Normandie.