Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Drive through the
Val de Seine
Morning
Take the D982 from Rouen
to St-Martin-de-
Boscherville to visit the
lovely Romanesque abbey
of
St-Georges de
Boscherville
(see p80)
.
Walk around the gardens
and enjoy the views. After
a browse in the abbey
shop, revive yourself at
one of the village bars.
Chateau Gaillard and Les Andelys
Les Andelys and Château
Gaillard
The twin villages of Grand and
Petit Andelys enjoy a glorious
setting on a lazy curve of the
Seine in the shadow of the pale
ruins of Richard the Lionheart's
Château Gaillard, built at break-
neck speed in 1196 to prevent
Philippe Auguste from reaching
Rouen. Below lie the winding
streets of tranquil, timbered Petit
Andely, and more commercial
Grand Andely, with a fine 16th-
to 17th-century church and two
interesting museums - one
dedicated to the painter Nicolas
Poussin, the other to the
Normandie-Niémen regiment.
d
Map J3
•
Tourist office: rue Philippe
Auguste. 02 32 54 41 93
Continue on the D982 until
you reach the D143 turn-
off for the bewitching,
ruined
Abbaye de
Jumièges
(see pp18-19)
.
This is a place for calm
contemplation, so don't
rush your visit. Afterwards,
make your way to the
picturesque Seine-side inn
Auberge du Bac
(2 rue
Alphonse Callais) for lunch.
Afternoon
Retrace your steps to the
D982 and head on to the
Abbaye de St-Wandrille
(see p80)
. Finish with a
visit to the shop, filled
with goods produced by
the monks.
Cross the elegant
Pont de
Brotonne
into the
Forêt
de Brotonne
(see p67)
via
the D40, and spend the
rest of the afternoon
exploring this tranquil
forest at the heart of the
Parc Régional Naturel
des Boucles de la Seine
Normande
(see p42)
. Visit
the
Maison du Parc
in
Notre-Dame-de-Bliquetuit,
then stop for tea at the
simple
Chez Agnès
. Leave
the forest on the D913,
take the little roads via
Barneville and Mauny to
La Bouille
, where the
bac
(ferryboat) will ferry you
across the river to Sahurs.
From here, turn right and
follow signs for Rouen.
Lyons-la-Forêt
Visit this picture-postcard
town in the Lieure Valley and
you'll understand why Ravel used
to come here to compose. Sights
nearby include the impressive,
early-17th-century pink-brick
Château de Fleury-la-Forêt, with
a superb collection of toys and
dolls; Château de Vascoeuil,
which has traditional cottages and
modern sculpture in its grounds;
and the ruined Cistercian Abbaye
de Mortemer with its museum.
d
Map K2
•
Tourist office: 20 rue de
l'Hôtel de Ville. 02 32 49 31 65
For more on Lyons-la-Forêt
See p63
79
