The Valley of the Eure and the Seine
At the heart of Normandy, 100km from Paris, welcome to THE ideal destination for a holiday or weekend break, just 30 minutes from Rouen and Giverny and 20 minutes from Evreux and Neubourg.
The Valley of the Eure and the Seine, 100km from Paris
At the heart of Normandy, 100km from Paris, welcome to THE ideal destination for a holiday or weekend break, just 30 minutes from Rouen and Giverny and 20 minutes from Evreux and Neubourg. Here the quotation ‘water, water everywhere…’ is very true ! The landscape has been shaped by water : the Seine with its amazing meander, limestone cliffs and splendid views, the delightful rivers Eure and Iton, lakes with water sports and activities. The countryside is covered with forests and woodland, most notably the 4,600 hectare Bord-Louviers national forest. Journey through time and admire the rich heritage : from the Vikings to Richard the Lionheart, from builders to boatmen, from medieval times to the newest ‘commune’ in France. From ancient buildings of Vernon stone and half-timbered houses through to the most modern of constructions.
It is a destination for absolutely everyone : nightbirds, foodies, sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, history buffs and children ! There is no excuse to be bored ! Play golf near the hills by the Seine or along the Eure, go cable skiing at Léry-Poses outdoor activity centre (beaches with lifeguards, crazy golf, amusement park, cycle trails, rock climbing ; rowing, etc.), microlite flying, aqua trekking on the Eure, canoe course between Acquigny and Criquebeuf-sur-Seine, cruise along the Seine, unique experiences at Biotropica Zoo (alligators, piranas, anaconda, red pandas, otters, mini-farm...), walks with donkeys, lots of signposted walks in forests, beside rivers and lakes (troglodyte dwellings, panoramic views, bird reserve, Voire Vert traffic-free ‘greenway’), aquatic complex, paintball, cookery courses and workshops. And if you are feeling peckish after all that, there is a huge choice of places to eat : bistros, gastronomic or traditional restaurants, creperies, pizzerias and guinguettes (waterside cafés). You really are spoilt for choice ! For evening entertainment : dinner-show at Moulin d’Andé, wonderful performances at the Moulin de Louviers, Scène Nationale, Theatre de l’Arsenal and Theatre Ephéméride. And why not an evening at the cinema followed by a trip to a discotheque !
Essential sight-seeing in the Valley of the Eure and the Seine :
Louviers, a textile town with a rich past, has picturesque districts with half-timbered houses, historic buildings like the church of Notre-Dame, the Cloître des Pénitents the only cloister in Europe built on water, and a number of bridges. Pont de l’Arche is a village overlooking the Seine and the Eure, a historic gem and blend of Viking history, legends and the Hundred Years’ War, with medieval ramparts and half-timbered, corbelled buildings. The Abbaye de Bonport, founded in 1189 by Richard the Lionheart, is one of the rare abbeys whose medieval cloisters have survived. It is open from April to September. The village of Poses is full of unspoilt, picture-postcard scenery along the towpath beside the Seine with views of wooded islands and hills including the famous Côte des Deux Amants. The majestic 250m long dam across the Seine has stunning, open views too ! The 16 hectares of grounds of the Renaissance Château d’Acquigny are well worth a visit and a real haven of peace, with the status of ‘Jardin Remarquable’. It has a winding river, kitchen garden, medicinal and culinary herbs, flowers, an orangery, Italian-style garden and rare species of plants. The village of Acquigny is a lovely place to stroll around too. The post-Impressionist painter Michèle Ratel exhibits her works at her Atelier Galerie du Bord de Seine (studio-workshop) at Poses in a beautiful setting with a riverside garden designed by the artist herself. Also at Poses, trace the history of river boatmen at boat-museums, marvel at graffiti made by boatmen on the walls of the church and observe the underwater life of the dam at Seinoscope.
Val-de-Reuil : this new town is nothing like a typical Norman town with its very contemporary Astrolabe, colourfully painted walls and church of La Fraternité. Fans of modern architecture love its American street lay-out and raised pedestrian walkways. « I adore spending downtime with the family cycling or walking along the Voie Verte (traffic-free ‘greenway’), visiting an exhibition of contemporary art, going to a market…the town has quite simply everything you need for everyday life and leisure. »
Continue the Gîtes de France Eure experience with a relaxing weekend break at Lyons-la-Forêt."
