Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Drive Along the
Risle
Morning
Starting in
Pont-Audemer
(see p90)
, follow the sign-
posted trail around the
town's highlights. If it's
Friday (market day), rue de
la République will be lined
with tempting food stalls.
Take the D130 for the lovely
24 km (15 mile) drive along
the Risle and through the
Fôret de Montfort to
Le
Bec-Hellouin
(see p46)
.
Wander in the abbey
grounds and climb the Tour
St-Nicolas for a fine view.
The calm atmosphere of
the village makes a perfect
setting for lunch, especially
at the picturesque
Auberge
de l'Abbaye
(see p95)
. If
you have a picnic, head
back to Pont-Authou just
north of Le Bec-Hellouin,
and follow signs Canoe-
Kayak-La Risle over a foot-
bridge to a tranquil
aire de
pique-nique
on an island in
the river.
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame, Evreux
fire and bombs, much of the
antique glass has been restored.
The Musée d'Evreux includes
Gallo-Roman archaeological finds,
plus fine carved misericords and
tapestries in the medieval
section.
d
Map J4
•
Tourist office: 1 pl.
Général-de-Gaulle. 02 32 24 04 43
Vallée de l'Eure
Easily accessible from Paris,
the lush Eure Valley is a popular
weekend destination for city
dwellers. The stretch of the Eure
between Chartres and the Seine
is sometimes referred to as the
Valley of the Mistresses, since it
passes first the château of Louis
XIV's secret wife, Madame de
Maintenon (just outside Normandy
in Île de France), then Château
d'Anet
(see p91)
, commissioned
by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of
Henri II. From Anet, the D143
and D836 follow the river past
attractive Ivry-la-Bataille and
Pacy-sur-Eure, with its fine 13th-
century church. A lovely stretch
at Cocherel comes next, then
Château d'Acquigny, set in a
landscaped park. The Eure ends
at Louviers, which has a small but
pretty old quarter near its 13th-
century church of Notre-Dame
(see p92)
.
d
Map J4
•
Tourist office:
pl. Dufay, Pacy-sur-Eure. 02 32 26 18 21
Afternoon
Leave Le Bec-Hellouin on
the scenic D39 to St-
Martin-du-Parc and Le
Buhot, then turn left on
the D26 to
Harcourt
, with
its stern medieval fortress-
château and the oldest
arboretum in France
(see
p91)
. Leaving by the D137,
reconnect with the Risle
at
Brionne
(see p90)
.
There's plenty to do here,
including canoeing
(see
p93)
. The square keep (or
donjon) on its hill is a fine
sight against the setting
sun; from it, there is a
panoramic view over the
Risle Valley. In town,
there's a choice of cafés
and restaurants for a
relaxing evening drink or a
meal. Best is the 18th-
century
Auberge du
Vieux Donjon
(rue Soie).
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