A château towering above one of the Seine’s most beautiful meanders
Built for Richard the Lionheart in 1198, the castle defended the river upstream of Rouen, protecting the Plantagenet Duchy of Normandy. After Richard’s death in 1199, his brother, King John of England, inherited the castle, but in 1204, French king Philippe Auguste seized it, bringing the whole of Normandy into the possession of the French crown. Today, climbing to the top of the site, enjoy breathtaking views over the Seine Valley.
Custom route
Custom route
6 Vernon / Les Andelys
Leaving Vernon, its Seine-side quays and the Vieux Moulin, a picturesque watermill, echoes of Impressionist settings and colours are still easy to pick up. Continue west along the Seine towpaths, once vital to commercial trading along the river. Passing lakes and sand-extracting works, you also encounter medieval Norman history, in the form of the mighty Château-Gaillard, dominating the town of Les Andelys since the 12th century.
7 Les Andelys / Poses
Leaving Les Andelys, admire the magnificent cliffs rising above the Seine. The river’s winding meanders lead you to the small village of Poses, once a centre for Seine mariners, its towpath in an idyllic setting. Learn about the river boatmen’s life and life along the river via the two boats-cum-museums recounting this story, via mariners’ graffiti on the church walls, and via the dam here, with its Seinoscope, allowing you to view fish passing through. One meander follows another, with islands in the stream, the settings unspoilt. To relax at the end of your day, enjoy a refreshing visit to the outdoor leisure activities centre at Léry-Poses, based around lakes right beside the Seine, and to Biotropica, an animal park next door.