A castle with a chequered history
Offering wide views down over the Seine, the Château Robert le Diable has had a tumultuous past. The original fort is said to have been ordered by Richard the Lionheart, but the castle was repeatedly destroyed, then rebuilt. The building you see today dates back to the start of the 20th century. Acquired by Rouen Métropole in 2007, the site has been undergoing a major restoration campaign. The surrounds are accessible to members of the public and events are regularly staged here.
Custom route
Custom route
9 Rouen / La Bouille
Leaving the bell towers of Normandy’s capital behind, cranes take over the skyline, signalling Europe’s largest port for the exporting of cereals. Enormous cargo vessels, some almost 300m in length, load up here. Gradually, heading west, the atmosphere changes, as typical Norman villages with old sandstone and timber-frame houses follow. You arrive in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande, where the relaxing feel is added to by the slow coming and going of vessels. Before boarding the ferry across the Seine to reach La Bouille, stop to see the gardens at the Château de Soquence, with a beautiful viewpoint over the river. On the other bank, you can spot the Château de Robert le Diable, historic guardian of this Seine meander. La Bouille, birthplace of 19th-century writer Hector Malot, proved a source of inspiration for Impressionist painters and makes a lovely place to stop.