View of Acquigny in Normandy, reflections on the water.In the heart of the lush green valleys of the Seine and Eure rivers, the lively towns and picturesque villages of Seine-Eure all have the distinctive feature of being by the water and offering visitors some great cultural discoveries.
Conquer the cultural heritage of Seine-Eure during your stay in Normandy and succumb to the charms of towns and villages with their typical character and preserved architecture. Louviers, Pont-de-l’Arche, Val-de-Reuil, Poses, le Vaudreuil and Acquigny invite you to come face-to-face with their history, heritage, culture and people.
Discovery tours available free of charge from the Seine-Eure Tourist Office in Louviers and Gaillon detail the sights not to be missed: listed sites, museums, castles, ancient remains, churches and local architectural treasures.
In Seine-Eure, fully appreciate these towns and villages, their special atmosphere, the beauty of their buildings, the traces of history, not forgetting the local Normandy produce… Festivities and cultural events abound from spring to autumn.
View of a street and typical Norman half-timbered houses in the center of the town of Acquigny in Normandy.
Downtown Louviers, view of a typical street overlooking the church and Normandy half-timbered houses
aerial view of acquigny in Normandy, featuring its château, park and gardensLocated on the banks of the Eure and always associated with a strong presence of water, the small character town of Louviers was shaped by its drapery industry in the Middle Ages. “Today, the town retains many traces of this historic prosperity, as if frozen in time by the factories, washhouses, mills, half-timbered houses and beautiful residences of master clothmakers and wealthy merchants. As you stroll through the town, let yourself be surprised by the flamboyant Notre-Dame church coloured as it was in the 14th century, its Penitent cloister built over water (unique in Europe!), its cobbled medieval streets, its museum and fascinating exhibitions.
Wander around the lively town centre with its restaurants, cafés and shopping streets!
Dominated by the imposing towers of the Château de Gaillon, the town is an important stop-off point in the Seine-Eure for history buffs. Discover the many vestiges of a past that has survived the ages. The symbol of Gaillon, its castle overlooks the pretty town and is a must-see. Formerly the summer residence of the Archbishops of Rouen, this architectural masterpiece is considered to be one of the first Renaissance castles in France.
In the town below the castle, its weathered stonework and charming alleyways tell the story of its medieval history. Admire fine examples of half-timbered houses on the Place de l’Eglise and in the picturesque Margot lane. The journey through history continues on to the Priory, the Jardins Hauts and the church of Saint-Ouen, all of which surprise visitors with the originality of their architecture.
At the heart of the shopping streets, the Gaillon market is a meeting place for locals and allows visitors to discover regional specialities all year round on Tuesday mornings.
Take a step back in time as you explore this small town that defends its history! At the crossroads of the Seine, Eure and Andelle valleys, on a promontory overlooking the river, this fortified medieval town was founded in the year 1000 following the Viking invasions. Its strategic geographical location at the gateway to Rouen gave it an important role in the history of Normandy and France.
Today, Pont-de-l’Arche is a remarkable testament to medieval architecture: its narrow streets, its flamboyant Gothic Notre-Dame-des-Arts church, the Tour de Crosne and its magnificent timber-framed houses featuring a bold palette of colours. Take in the half-timbered architecture of the Maison du Gouverneur, the Maison en avant-sollier and the Vieux Manoir. As you wander along the ancient streets, the old stones and typical little shops reveal an intimate, warm and friendly atmosphere.
Lower down the town, strolling along the banks of the Eure offers a green interlude and a unique vantage point for great shots. On foot or by bike, the route continues to the large park of Bonport Abbey, another medieval Norman jewel, founded in 1189 by Richard the Lionheart.
Created in 1975 between the Seine and Eure rivers and christened Val-de-Reuil in 1985, the new town is anything but a typical traditional Normandy town. With its American-style town plan, its town centre with the strange name of “town sprout”, its business parks and its raised pedestrian walkway, this original town is a real lesson in town planning and contemporary architecture.
Admire the Monument to Memory and Peace, erected in 1992 following an architectural competition. Be surprised by the intriguing Astrolabe, a harmony of circles forming a sundial inaugurated in 1991, which conceptualises the sky and the cycles of time. You can also discover the “Murs Peints”, a collection of 3 building facades decorated as part of a competition launched in 1976 with the aim of encouraging residents to take ownership of their urban space.
For a getaway in the heart of nature near Val-de-Reuil, the Grande Noé bird sanctuary offers an exceptional view of the lakes for birdwatching. The Léry-Poses leisure centre in Normandy is a delight for children, nature lovers and epicureans alike, with a host of sporting and water sports activities. Finally, Biotropica’s wildlife gardens and zoological greenhouse invite you on an exotic safari and a wild immersion in the world of animals from the four corners of the globe.
The impressive facade of the Notre-Dame church in Louviers, Normandy, features flamboyant Gothic architecture.
Wood carving on the typical Norman building of the B&B Le Vieux Logis in Acquigny, Normandy.
Graphic view of the Memory and Peace monument in Val-de-Reuil
Remnant of the ramparts of the medieval town of Pont-de-l'Arche in Normandy: the Crosne Tower.Nested between the Seine and immense lakes, the village of Poses developed thanks to the river and for a long time occupied an important place in the world of barge transport. From the Latin “Pausa” meaning pause or rest, this stopover was a must for bargemen after crossing the pertuis, the strait with strong currents between the Grande île and the mainland.
Despite the evolution of maritime transport on the Seine, the soul of this small town of boatmen, hauliers, fishermen and river carters remains authentic today. On foot or by bike, explore its remarkable maritime heritage along the towpath: the 235m-long dam and its locks, the Musée de la Batellerie with the tugboat “Fauvette” and the “Midway”, the church of Saint-Quentin with its graffiti depicting besognes (ancestors of barges). Embark in Poses for a cruise aboard the boat William the Conqueror between Poses and Vernon, and cruise peacefully along the route of the Seine mills and the Impressionists. For a more intimate atmosphere, opt for a private cruise with Liberté Seine on a boat that can accommodate 6 passengers.
A short diversions to the Seinoscope at the pass allows you to watch the fish swim up the river. Art lovers will push open the door of the art gallery of Michèle Ratel, a post-impressionist painter who happily shares her passion and inspiration.
Created in 1967, the small town of Le Vaudreuil offers a blossoming face, nestled in the hollow of the valley and crossed by the Eure. An invitation to stroll along the river!
In the past, the Vaudreuil estate covered the Lower Eure Valley, from Incarville to the Seine. Its name is said to mean “the ford in the valley” due to its strategic position. Its history is closely linked to the history of France.
The Eure brings a lovely freshness to the Vaudreuil countryside. Take the towpath, pass by the golf course and venture into the heart of nature in the Pâtures wetlands. In the heart of this 50-hectare area, 10 of which are open to the public, observe the ecological richness of this rare biotope: 3,000 trees of local species (ash, willow, oak, birch, black poplar…) Escape and a change of scenery guaranteed!
The church of Saint-Cyr, the Sergenterie, the Hôtel-Dieu, the church of Notre-Dame, the manor house of la Rive, the Maison des pages and the old coaching inn punctuate your journey through the heart of Vaudreuil’s heritage.
The flagship monument of this village nestled at the confluence of the Eure and Iton rivers, the Château d’Acquigny is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture at its height. The Italianate loggia is a real gem, while the south facade of the château heralds Classicism.
Labelled a “Remarkable Garden”, its 16-hectare landscaped park, designed and planted at the end of the 18th century, is a collection of spectacularly large exotic trees: redwoods, Louisiana cypress, Chinese sophra, Oriental plane. The 400-metre-long water mirror, orangery and kitchen garden are just as sumptuous. A must-see for families, lovers or friends during your stay in Seine-Eure!
As far as heritage is concerned, don’t miss the former 16th-century prison on the right bank of the Eure, which was the seigniorial court where the barony of Acquigny held court. The old railway station is an architectural curiosity well worth a visit. The chapel of Saint-Mauxe and the church of Sainte-Cécile evoke different waves of Christian architecture.
At Les Damps, walk along the banks of the Eure and discover the village’s heritage during an hour-and-a-half stroll punctuated by historical and architectural curiosities: the bridge over the Eure, the Gentilhommière, Saint-Pierre chapel, the reinforced cement barge that is the only barge in the euroise, the “Camp aux Anglais”, the “Les Vauges” and “Le Corbusier” districts, the town hall and finally the Maison de la Dame Blanche, the oldest visible building in Les Damps.
Cross this atypical commune with a strange name, which includes the communes of Ecardenville-sur-Eure, Fontaine-Heudebourg and La Croix-Saint-Leufroy. A walking tour takes you past the parish church of Saint Paul, the town hall dating from 1882, the double wash-house, the farm known as “du manoir”, the turrets of the former abbey of La Croix-Saint-Leufroy and the old mill that was once Marcel Pagnol’s second home. This tour, available from the Tourist Office, is also available in a fun version for children aged 3 and over.
