Discover Verneuil-Sur-Avre

Verneuil-sur-Avre brings together medieval architecture, church art and the history of Saint-Nicolas Abbey. Green spaces and paths also offer their own perspectives on the town. When planning your trip, these different highlights can help you choose which sights you would like to explore more closely.

Park and views of the town

Parc André-Faugère covers 1.3 hectares, with flowers, trees, shrubs and water features. These varied elements give the park its distinctive character. From the paths along the avenues, you can see the towers and churches of Verneuil-sur-Avre. The park thus brings together green spaces and views of the town’s prominent buildings. The paths and avenues offer a different perspective from visiting individual historic buildings.

Tour Grise: fortification and town history

Tour Grise is a former keep commissioned by Philippe Auguste in 1204, after the conquest of the Duchy of Normandy. Its date and historical context make the tower a tangible testament to Verneuil’s medieval history. Today, Tour Grise houses a permanent exhibition on the town’s history. From the top floor, there are views over the medieval town and its surroundings. The building, exhibition and views thus offer three distinct ways to explore the history of the fortifications, the development of the town and the landscape around it.

Church art and Saint-Nicolas Abbey

Notre-Dame Church was built in the 12th century, at the same time as the town, and was remodeled in the 15th and 16th centuries. It has an exceptional collection of statues, including stone figures by the Verneuil school from the late 15th century and polychrome wooden statues from the 13th century. The works differ in both material and period. The tower of Sainte-Madeleine Church is also decorated with sculptures: more than thirty statues stand on two levels.

Saint-Nicolas Abbey complements this church art with the history of a religious community. It was founded in 1627 for Benedictine nuns and is one of the few Norman abbeys to have survived at its original site. On a visit, you can see the chapel, crypt, cloister, the nuns’ cells, refectory and biscuit factory. The famous nonnettes were made in this factory. Guided tours are regularly offered during school holidays; tours for groups and individual visitors are also available on request. As the tourism programme may change, it is best to check the latest tour dates before your trip.

Paths and walking routes

Ground markings point the way along the Voie Verte to the historic centre. Along the route, you can see manor houses, houses with turrets and half-timbered façades, churches, the abbey, the keep and narrow lanes. The route thus leads through a townscape where a variety of buildings and historic areas can be seen.

The Voie Verte des Bois Francs is a flat, protected route. It is closed to motor vehicles and horse riders. Verneuil-sur-Avre is also a stop on the GR22 towards Mont-Saint-Michel; hikers coming from Paris use this long-distance trail. These details about the routes and the stop describe different ways to include the town in a trip.

Discover more destinations: Pullay, Bourneville, Foulbec, Lieurey, St-Pierre-Du-Mesnil, Chéronvilliers, Douville-sur-Andelle, Villerest.

For the broader travel overview: Eure.