Gauciel: Manor House, Countryside and Regional Apple Products

Gauciel brings together rural heritage and open countryside with the presence of Base Aérienne 105. The manor house, Église Saint-Pierre, the designated long-distance trail GR® 26 and regional apple products offer different points of interest. These themes give you several ways to get to know Gauciel as a travel destination.

Manoir de Gauciel and historic architecture

The present-day square enclosure of Manoir de Gauciel was probably built in the 13th century and included agricultural buildings, among them the barn and gateway. A dovecote is all that remains of the medieval manor house; the barn was altered in the 15th century. The enclosure, including its walls, as well as the barn and dovecote, were listed as historic monuments by decree of 11 April 2008. The listing also included the ground of plots B1 and B2 in the cadastral section known as “Le Clos du Manoir,” including the pond area.

Église Saint-Pierre: flint and half-timbering

Église Saint-Pierre dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and is built mainly of flint. A half-timbered porch stands in front of the entrance; the doorway is topped by a sculpted keystone. As the top stone of an arch, a keystone is part of the doorway’s structure; here, its sculpture adds to the design of the entrance. The contrast between the flint building and the half-timbered porch brings different materials together in the architecture.

Countryside and long-distance trail

Gauciel lies within the ZNIEFF Type 2 area “La vallée de l'Eure d'Acquigny à Menilles, la basse vallée de l'Iton.” The name refers to the Eure valley from Acquigny to Menilles, as well as the lower Iton valley. The GR® 26 long-distance trail is also designated in Gauciel. These two designations offer different perspectives for planning a trip: the ZNIEFF identifies the wider landscape, while the GR® 26 provides a connection to long-distance hiking. If you’re planning a hike, check the latest trail information in advance.

Base Aérienne 105 and group tour

Base Aérienne 105 extends across 49 cadastral plots in the municipalities of Fauville, Gauciel and Huest. A guided tour of Base Aérienne 105 d’Évreux is available for groups. The programme includes a visit to the base museum, an overview of the base’s history and a look at an aircraft on the ground in the presence of a pilot. The group programme thus combines a museum visit, historical context and a close-up look at an aircraft. Dates and booking conditions may change; check them in advance if this tour is important to your travel plans.

Apple products from Gauciel

Gauciel fruit growers Stéphane Van Tornhout and Martine imported a variety of apple with red skin and red flesh from Canada. At Le Clos de Cerisey, this variety is made into juice and a Norman aperitif. The producer makes artisanal rosé cider and homemade by-products, which are sold in the producer’s shop.

Discover more destinations: Manneville-La-Raoult, Croisy-Sur-Eure, Saint-Luc, Bois-Normand-près-Lyre, Berville-Sur-Mer, Bernay, Bourth, La Haye-Malherbe

For the broader travel overview: Eure.