The long northern sea wall (digue nord) protects the marina of Le Havre and provides a fine view over the outer harbour at one end. The beach, a favourite with surfers (3rd spot in France), stretches along the northern sea wall at the cape of La Hève. The tide makes it alternately a pebble or sandy beach. Relatively spared by the 1944 devastation, a few Belle Époque and 1930s villas still grace its boulevard.