Barneville: Seine Panorama, Walking Trails and History

Barneville can be understood through its history, views of the Seine and bocage countryside. Notre-Dame Church brings together a foundation story and later alterations; archaeological finds near La Croix Simon date back to the Middle Palaeolithic. For walks and hikes, there is the 3-kilometre Les Vergers trail and the Circuit Trois Vallées-Barneville-sur-Seine, included in the walking programme. The Panorama de Barneville-sur-Seine adds an open view across the river to these attractions.

Church, Craft and History

The history of Notre-Dame Church begins after a donation in 1079: Guillaume le Conquérant transferred the lands of Barneville-sur-Seine to the monks of Jumièges, who then built the church. Later changes took place over several centuries. The nave was altered in the 15th century, followed by changes to the west portal and the choir in the 18th century. The church was fully restored in 1991. These dates refer to different parts and phases of the building: construction, alterations and restoration are not a single building phase, but a sequence in the history of the building.

Roof tiles are also part of the town’s history. Barneville-sur-Seine was known for their production in the 14th century. In 1410, the Count of Tancarville bought roof tiles from Barneville to build his castle. This specifically dated purchase links local craftsmanship with a named building project. Another medieval trace is the Passage de la Roche between Le Mesnil-sous-Jumièges and Barneville-sur-Seine. It was one of six water crossings dependent on Jumièges Abbey and is mentioned on the cultural cycling route “Sur les terres des moines de Jumièges”.

Finds around La Croix Simon reach far further back than these medieval dates. The discovery of several worked flints places the earliest known human use of the area in the Middle Palaeolithic, around 100,000 years ago. The historical picture thus includes both a very early archaeological date and later evidence relating to the church, craftsmanship and water crossing.

Views of the Seine and Bocage Countryside

The Panorama de Barneville-sur-Seine has an orientation table and offers an open view of the Seine. The view stretches from the Pont de Brotonne to Saint-Martin-de-Boscherville. The panorama viewpoint also lies along the GR223. Together, the view and its named endpoints give the Seine panorama a specific geographical span; the GR223 is another point of reference for locating the panorama.

The bocage countryside of Barneville-sur-Seine consists of hedgerows, orchards, meadows and ponds. It forms a gradual transition between the wooded slopes and the plateau’s large agricultural fields. The open views across the river and the more varied bocage landscape therefore offer contrasting types of scenery. Barneville-sur-Seine is connected to Le Landin by the Seine; this connection extends from the towpath to the heights overlooking the Jumièges loop.

Walks and Hiking Trails

The 3-kilometre Les Vergers walking trail starts at the church car park in Barneville-sur-Seine. As route details can change, check the latest trail information before setting out. The Roumois Seine walking programme lists the Circuit Trois Vallées-Barneville-sur-Seine as a communal hiking trail. The GR223 is another named route reference for the panorama. These details provide different starting points for planning: a walking route with a specified length and starting point, a hiking trail included in the communal programme, and a panorama along the GR223. You can therefore organise the routes and landscapes according to which features are of particular interest during your stay in Barneville.

Discover more destinations: Asnières, La Lande-Saint-Léger, Normanville, Saint-Pierre-De-Bailleul, Les Damps, Gaillon, Routot, Saint-Etienne-Sous-Bailleul

For the overview of the wider region: Eure.