Haute (higher) Normandy covers the area downstream from Paris as far as the sea at Le Havre. It is divided into two departments (Seine-Maritime and Eure), basically north and south of the snaking Seine River. "Seine" comes from the ancient Gallic word "Sequana" which can be translated into English as both "snake" and "swan", which can lead to confusion. In this case, "snake" is very apt as the river has a gradient of less than 1 in 3000 from its source near Dijon in Bourgogne (Burgundy.

It its lower reaches below Caudebec, it is now considerably narrower than in early times. At Tancarville, for instance, the river was over 3 miles wide but is now a few hundred metres and easily spanned by the great suspension bridge.

It was created in 1956 when Normandy was divided into Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie. This division continues to provoke controversy, and some continue to call for regrouping of the two. However, the name Haute-Normandie existed prior to 1956 and referred by tradition to territories currently included within the administrative region: the Pays de Caux, the Pays de Bray (not that of Picardy), the Roumois, the Campagne of Le Neubourg, the Plaine de Saint André and the Norman Vexin. Today, most of the Pays d'Auge, as well as a small portion of the Pays d'Ouche, are located in Basse-Normandie.

Rouen is the regional capital, historically important with many fine churches and buildings, including the tallest cathedral tower in France. The region's largest city, in terms of metropolitan population, is Le Havre.