Hardencourt-Cocherel: History and the Vallée Bance Walking Trail

Hardencourt-Cocherel combines local history with a walking route to a historic memorial site. It is also home to a pond fishery offering different fishing options. If you are looking for a hotel, these highlights can help you decide what to base your stay around: the history of Cocherel, a walk, or fishing.

The Battle of Cocherel and the Pyramide Du Guesclin

The Battle of Cocherel took place on May 16, 1364. The French army, led by Du Guesclin, fought against English and Navarrese troops. The battlefield is in Hardencourt-Cocherel. The Pyramide Du Guesclin is also located in the commune; it was renovated in 2017. As a memorial, the pyramid recalls the local history of the battle. The two years refer to different events: 1364 for the battle and 2017 for the renovation. This distinguishes the monument’s historical context from its later restoration. For visitors interested in history, the connection between the named battlefield and the memorial site offers a specific starting point for getting to know Cocherel.

Walking the Vallée Bance Trail

The Vallée Bance walking trail leads to the Pyramide Du Guesclin and right up to its base. It starts at the 3 Étangs car park on Chemin des Sources in Jouy-sur-Eure. This gives the route a named starting point and a specific destination: the trail leads from Jouy-sur-Eure to the memorial site in Hardencourt-Cocherel. If you are planning the walk, you can use these place names to find your way without confusing the starting point with the destination.

Above Chambray, the route passes through woodland and cultivated fields, with views across the Eure Valley. It therefore links the historic destination with a landscape that includes both wooded and agricultural areas along the route. The valley views add another perspective to the experience. If you are interested in the trail, the focus is not only on the pyramid and its history, but also on the landscape along the way.

Fishing at L’étang des Cerises

The L’étang des Cerises pond fishery has been in Hardencourt-Cocherel since June 1, 2020. Fishing is offered at four fully fenced carp ponds and one trout pond. The trout pond has a maximum capacity of 20 anglers. The options differ by fish species and scale: there are four carp ponds, while a maximum number of anglers is specified for the trout pond. If fishing is your main interest, these details can help you choose between the types of ponds. Fishing is clearly distinct from walking to the pyramid or visiting to learn about the history of the battle.

Plan your stay around your interests

To plan your stay, you could start by considering what matters most to you: Would you like to explore the history of the battle, follow a walking trail with a named starting point and destination, or choose one of the fishing options described? These three themes offer different ways to experience the destination, without requiring you to combine them into a single outing.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Samson-De-La-Roque, Tourville-La-Campagne, Sacquenville, Brionne, Letteguives, Sainte-Opportune-du-Bosc, Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle, Le Vaudreuil

Back to the main travel guide: Eure.