Manneville-ès-Plains: Church, Heritage and Landscape

Manneville-ès-Plains lies on the plateau of the Pays de Caux, near the English Channel. The village combines a rural landscape with the parish church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption and historic buildings from different periods. This gives you several ways to plan your visit: the landscape, local history and activities such as a waymarked circular route.

Landscape of the Pays de Caux

The landscape is shaped by typical Clos cauchois and banks planted with oak and beech trees; these banks provide shelter from the wind. Mature beech trees stand around a pond in the village. These details make it easy to distinguish the wider landscape from the village surroundings: banks and Clos shape the landscape, while the pond and beech trees describe the village setting. This lets you understand the local landscape not just as a general backdrop, but through its specific features.

Church and local history

The parish church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption is located in Manneville-ès-Plains and has belonged to the Abbey of Fécamp since 990. After the fire of 1840, the choir, sacristy and side chapels were restored from 1841 to 1842; the nave, west portal and bell tower followed in 1849. The painting “Saint Sébastien” is in the north side chapel. The church thus brings together a long historical connection, restorations with clearly recorded dates and a work of art with a specific location.

A manor house built around 1460 in the Gothic style stands directly beside the church. It was inhabited by the abbesses of Montivilliers. Its construction date and former use offer two different perspectives on the house: its Gothic style places it in an architectural context, while its residents provide another link to local history. The church and manor house thus represent different aspects of the local heritage.

Other buildings add to this picture. The old presbytery is covered with sculptures and bas-reliefs. Another local visual feature is the unusual façade of a house called “A l'oriflamme de Saint Denis”. The historical background extends beyond individual buildings: the local economy combined different forms of weaving with wool, flax and cotton alongside agriculture. Architecture, art and work are therefore distinct, but equally tangible, themes in local history.

Circular route and horse-riding activities

The “Circuit N°6 - Aux sources de la Veules” passes through Manneville-ès-Plains and then continues along the GR 21 to Veules-les-Roses. It is listed as 17.52 km and designated for walking and Vélo/VTC. The route description identifies both the section through the village and the continuation to Veules-les-Roses: Manneville-ès-Plains is a point along the route, not its stated destination.

The Écuries de Manneville offer another activity. They provide group or individual riding lessons for adults and children aged two and over. The Poney Club at the Écuries de Manneville in Manneville-ès-Plains offers activities and riding lessons year-round. If riding lessons are part of your travel plans, check availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Criquetot-Sur-Ouville, Martin-Église, Ouville-La-Rivière, Eslettes, Gonneville-Sur-Scie, Le Mesnil-Sous-Jumièges, Theuville-aux-Maillots, Mauquenchy.

For the broader travel guide: Seine-Maritime.