Clères: Parkland and Architectural History

Clères brings together architectural history, parkland and the Clérette, a small river that flows through the town. These themes offer different starting points for planning your trip: historic building periods, animal and plant collections, riverside paths, and the rhythms of markets and events.

Architectural History and Market Rights

A charter issued in 1195 by Richard the Lionheart, Duke of Normandy and King of England, granted Matthieu II, Lord of Clères, the right to hold a market in the Halles on Tuesdays. The oldest house in Clères is a half-timbered house dating from the 15th century. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Buis, also known as the Chapelle du Tôt, dates from the late 15th or early 16th century and is regarded as a pilgrimage site for people with rheumatic complaints and for children who are late to walk. The former church of Clères, dating from the 16th century, bears traces from the 11th century.

The Château de Clères complex includes ruins on a motte, corresponding to the first castle, which dates from the 10th to 11th century. The Château de Clères was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century and later redesigned in the neo-Gothic style. The present-day church of Clères was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1893–1894. The buildings and their dates reflect different periods in the town’s history, from the early castle to later alterations.

The Parc de Clères: Animals, Plants and History

The Parc animalier et botanique de Clères was founded in 1919 by the French-American ornithologist Jean Delacour. Its animal collections are predominantly ornithological and include various species of cranes, flamingos, ibises, barnacle geese, turacos and pheasants. The range of species may change. The botanical collection also shapes the park: it comprises more than 2,500 rare plant species. The “Jardin remarquable” label is documented for 2023. Remains of a medieval fortress are visible at the park entrance.

Every year, the park hosts exhibitions, activities and performances about biodiversity and its preservation. Dates vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around a particular programme item, check the specific event dates for your travel period.

Riverside Paths, Cycling and Dates

The Clérette flows through Clères. The Marchepied is a path along the riverbank where you can stop; in the past, residents used it to draw water from the river. The waterside path and its former everyday use thus represent two different aspects of the town’s history.

The moderately difficult, 20-kilometre “Autour de la Clérette” cycling loop starts in Clères. It runs through Mont-Cauvaire, Montville, Anceaumeville and Le Bocasse. Check the latest route details before setting off.

A market is held in the Halles of Clères on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; check the current market schedule before your visit. The Halles are also regularly used for events, including a spring daffodil festival, medieval festivals held every two years, and regular Sunday morning gatherings of vintage car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Dates and formats may vary, so check the specific dates if an event is important to your trip.

The former railway station is also part of the town’s history: it was replaced by a new stop in 2011. The new building has bicycle parking and a footbridge over the tracks. If you plan to arrive by train, check the latest train services before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Grèges, Le Mesnil-Esnard, Ancourt, Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, Mesnières-en-Bray, Saint-Léger-du-Bourg-Denis, Etretat, Beauval-En-Caux

For the main travel overview: Seine-Maritime.