Via little ferries, or bacs, and the bridges between Rouen and the Seine Estuary
Cycling along the Seine Ă VĂ©lo requires crossing from one riverbank to the other from time to time. Between Paris and Rouen, you cross via bridges or footbridges, in most instances with space reserved for cyclists.
Between Rouen and the Seine Estuary, many cargo ships ply the river, meaning bridges are rare. Rather than bridges, several free little ferries called bacs link the two riverbanks. Just one of the three great bridges between Rouen and the Seine Estuary is set up to allow bikes to cross the broad Seine without too many issues.
Remember, make sure to choose your final destination by the time you reach Jumièges. After this point, one branch of the route leads to Le Havre, north of the Seine Estuary, the other to Deauville, south of the estuary.
Here, you can find advice and details on the ways you can cross the Seine
The little Seine ferries, or bacs, between Rouen and Le Havre
A wonderful local institution, the little ferries known as bacs allow you to cross the Seine at several points west of Rouen. These services are free for you and your bike (and even for cars). If tackling the entire cycle route, you will need to use at least two bacs, but three if you choose Deauville as your final destination rather than Le Havre:
- Bac (ferry) Sahurs <> La Bouille: on the stage Rouen / La Bouille
- Bac (ferry) Berville-sur-Seine <> Duclair : on the stage La Bouille / Jumièges
- Bac (ferry) Jumièges <> Heurteauville: if you opt to cross to the Seine’s south bank to reach Deauville
Crossings are regular, happening roughly every 20 minutes between 6.30am and 10pm, daily, including Sundays and public holidays.
Bridges across the Seine
West of Rouen, just three bridges link the two banks of the Seine. Riding along the Seine Ă VĂ©lo cycle route, the best way to cross the great river in these parts is by the little ferries known as bacs.
The three bridges are engineering marvels and extremely impressive, given their height and length – they need to let large cargo ships pass underneath them and along this stretch, the Seine is at its widest.
Here are the bridges you’ll encounter, with information on whether or not it’s possible or permitted to cross them by bike:
- The Pont de Brotonne does have a fairly wide cycle lane, but note that it’s shared with farm vehicles. This is the shortest of the three bridges, and the most easily accessible to cyclists.
- The Pont de Tancarville is forbidden to cyclists. You can admire it from below, however!
- The Pont de Normandie can be crossed by bike BUT we recommend against your doing so. The cycle lane provided is narrow, meaning you ride along very close to the motorized traffic crossing the bridge. Also note that the wind can be extremely challenging on this bridge.