Summary
Positioned at Place Général-de-Gaulle in Évreux, one cannot help but realize they are in a departmental capital: The structures here, including the Maison des Arts, town hall, and the 15th-century belfry, exude a sense of authority.
Similarly, Évreux’s splendid Gothic cathedral is a historical symbol of clerical power from medieval times, adjoining an episcopal palace that now serves as the town’s engaging museum. Remnants of Évreux’s Gallo-Roman fortifications can be found in the city center, alongside the remains of the ancient sister city at Gisacum, where a vast bathing complex has been excavated.
Let us explore the best activities to engage in while in Évreux:
1. Évreux Cathedral
Constructed of chalk and featuring an exceptionally ornate facade on the north side, the cathedral should be at the top of your itinerary.
It has endured a series of conflicts over the years, resulting in a diverse mixture of architectural styles: Following significant damage during the Hundred Years’ War, it was redesigned in the Flamboyant Gothic style, with additional Renaissance enhancements from the 16th century.
However, what truly distinguishes the cathedral are the 14th-century stained glass windows, which utilize a unique silver stain only found here and in Rouen.
2. Bishops’ Palace
Connected to the cathedral by a passage, the Bishops’ Palace was commissioned by Raoul du Fou in the 1400s.
This structure is a listed “monument historique” and was constructed atop the Gallo-Roman wall.
Remarkably, it stands at four stories and houses the town’s museum.
Before entering, take time to appreciate its exterior, featuring turrets, mullioned windows, decorative mouldings above doorways, and exquisite dormer windows on the top floor adorned with pinnacles.
3. Musée d’Évreux
Located within the splendid episcopal palace is the town’s museum, chronicling Évreux’s history and archaeology.
Moreover, the museum boasts a rich art exhibition, featuring works from the 17th to the 20th centuries by artists such as Nicolas Maes, Boudin, Jongkind, Soulages, and Fernand Léger, in addition to sculptures by Rodin.
The archaeology galleries display numerous findings from the excavation of the Roman city of Gisacum located under Vieil-Évreux.
A notable highlight is an impressive bronze statue of Stator.
The medieval rooms showcase a mitre belonging to the 14th-century bishop Jean de Marigny as well as various Aubusson tapestries from the same era.
4. Beffroi d’Évreux
It is uncommon to find a traditional belfry in this region; specifically, the Beffroi d’Évreux by the water on Place du Général-de-Gaulle represents one of France’s southernmost belfries, as the majority are located in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.
This structure survived the Second World War intact and dates back to the 15th century, showcasing similar Flamboyant Gothic decorations as the Bishops’ Palace.
The tower reaches a height of nearly 44 meters and is home to the iconic “Louyse” bell, which was cast in the 1400s.
5. Remparts
The ramparts of Évreux were erected in 275 to safeguard the city against incursions.
They spanned over a kilometer, encompassing an area of nine hectares.
Numerous remnants persist, particularly along Rue Saint-Louis, outside the médiathèque, and on the pathways adjacent to the Iton.
However, the most picturesque view can be found from the bend in the Ilot known as the Mirroir d’Eau (Water Mirror), adjacent to the cathedral and episcopal palace.
6. Place du Général-de-Gaulle
Seating yourself by the central fountain on Place du Général-de-Gaulle will allow you to appreciate magnificent monuments all around you.
The town hall, constructed in the 1890s, features an “Eclecticist” design.
The fountain before it dates back to 1882, a collaborative effort between architect Charles Genuys and sculptor Louis-Émile Décorchemont.
It depicts a woman holding an oar, symbolizing the Eure and its tributaries, the Iton and Rouloir.
Facing the same square are the Italianate theatre from 1903, the Maison des Arts, and the Belfry.
7. Église Saint-Taurin
This medieval church was once affiliated with a Benedictine monastery founded to honor St Taurin, the first Bishop of Évreux, who was martyred in the 5th century.
The building was rebuilt in the 15th century, resulting in a blend of Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
A significant feature within is the reliquary of St Taurin, dating back to the 1200s, known for its exceptional quality of medieval goldsmithery.
Additionally, the church houses statues from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, alongside stained glass windows in the choir and south transept, dating from the 1400s.
8. Maison des Arts
This beautiful structure, also located in the same square, is designed in a Louis XIII-Revival style.
Completed in 1880, it originally served as Évreux’s museum, which relocated to the Bishops’ Palace in 1959. Since the 1980s, it has been transformed into an art center, featuring studios, classrooms, and galleries, and offering workshops for children during the summer.
For those interested in viewing the town’s emerging artistic talent, the galleries welcome visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
9. Wander along the Iton
This river has always been a pivotal aspect of life in the town: Historically, the walls were aligned with the Iton’s course during Roman times, and later it was utilized for waterfront industry, supporting dyers and tanners with water, as well as powering mills.
One of these, the Moulin de Navarre, remains in good condition and still contains its electric turbine, installed in 1893. Additionally, the abundance of washhouses can be noted: In earlier times, anyone with property along the riverbanks could construct a laundry and charge individuals for use.
As you traverse the town, you’ll observe that many residents seized this opportunity!
10. Gisacum
Almost 2,000 years ago, the Gallic Aulerques Éburovices tribe established two cities in this region.
Mediolanum Aulercorum ultimately evolved into modern Évreux, while Gisacum, situated seven kilometers southeast, served primarily as a religious sanctuary.
During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, it expanded to cover over 250 hectares before its abrupt abandonment.
The site has undergone excavations since the early 1800s; while many artifacts have been transferred to the museum in Évreux, there is an interpretation center at the site that is open daily from March to November.
Currently, the only accessible monument is the bathing complex measuring 109 meters by 84, which reflects Gisacum’s historical significance.
11. Voie Verte le Bec-Hellouin-Évreux
A railway line once connected Évreux to Honfleur on the coast.
This line was closed in 1971, and over the past two decades, various segments of the route have been refurbished to create walking and cycling paths.
Beginning at the Évreux station, one can journey as far as the medieval abbey at Bec Hellouin, without needing to navigate roads.
This offers families an excellent opportunity to explore Normandy’s renowned “bocage” countryside, characterized by lush pastures, orchards, and hedges.
12. Arbr’en Ciel
If you are visiting with children during school breaks, this “accrobranche” park will be open daily.
For those unfamiliar, accrobranche courses are designed within woodland, elevated above ground level, and feature rope ladders, zip-lines, monkey ladders, and Himalayan bridges.
This activity is not exclusively for children, as adults can also attempt these courses.
Arbr’en Ciel guarantees safety, as participants wear harnesses attached to a cable that runs the length of each course.
Across five courses varying in difficulty, visitors will find themselves within a mature oak forest just five minutes from Évreux.
13. Day Trips
Using Évreux as your base, you will discover an abundance of captivating, historically rich, and picturesque destinations within a one-hour drive.
Château Gaillard, located in Les Andelys, is a formidable castle, constructed by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century and fiercely contested by both the French and the English during the Hundred Years’ War.
In contrast, Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny provide a tranquil experience, where visitors can see the pond, Japanese bridge, lilies, and wisteria that inspired his paintings, alongside inner spaces designed by the artist himself.
To the north lies Rouen, famous for its half-timbered houses and cathedral, which Monet also famously depicted in his works, while Dreux to the south is notable for the burial site of members of the aristocratic House of Orléans at the Chapelle Royale.
14. Calvados Morin
Calvados is a traditional brandy crafted from apples, synonymous with Normandy.
Within Évreux, you will find yourself on the furthest eastern edge of the Calvados AOC, which governs the distillation process for this beverage.
At Calvados Morin, one of Normandy’s oldest distilleries, visitors can gain unique insights into the production of calvados; the facility opens for tours on Fridays from March to October.
Set against a scenic backdrop along the banks of the Eure, the distillery showcases every facet of the manufacturing process, from apple harvesting and pressing to aging in underground cellars established in the 1800s.
15. Food and Drink
Ensure to set your alarm for the market in the center of Évreux on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
If you are staying at a gîte, it is the perfect place to complete your grocery shopping, and in autumn, one can sample the celebrated apples (Calville blanc d’hiver and Rever) that Normandy is known for.
A unique local delicacy is rillettes d’oie (a type of goose pâté), while the town is also recognized for its confectionery.
The intriguingly named zouzous d’Auzou are pralines filled with nougat.
Meanwhile, La Louyse du Beffroi d’Évreux is named in honor of the town’s belfry, featuring an apple confit soaked in pommeau (a blend of apple juice and calvados) and coated in dark chocolate.
