Orival

Orival brings together nature, marked hiking trails and historic sites as distinct highlights for a trip. The white cliffs along the Seine and the calcareous dry grasslands define its natural appeal; the trails vary in length, duration and terrain, while the church and castle offer their own historical points of interest.

Nature at the Roches d’Orival

The Roches d’Orival are white cliffs along the Seine in Orival. The Les Roches d’Orival natural area includes calcareous dry grasslands and is home to an exceptional variety of orchids. The cliffs and natural areas therefore offer distinct aspects of nature: a striking landscape along the river, as well as calcareous dry grasslands and orchids. The Boucles de la Seine amont, coteaux d’Orival Natura 2000 site covers 99 hectares. It lies between the localities of « le Nouveau monde » to the west and « Hameau des Roches » to the east.

Marked trails and their features

Four marked educational trails in Orival can be linked together. The Sentier du plateau boisé is 1.5 kilometres long, easy and suitable for everyone. The two longer trails differ in distance and duration: the Sentier de l’oppidum is three kilometres long and takes about one hour to one hour and 20 minutes; the Sentier des troglodytes is 5.5 kilometres long and takes one and a half to two hours. The Sentier de l’oppidum includes several challenging sections, including three steep climbs. The terrain is slippery in wet weather. Along this trail, you can discover the history of the area while viewing some archaeological remains. The Sentier des troglodytes has several difficult climbs; caution is advised when the ground is wet. It leads to the remains of Roche Fouet Castle, the limestone slopes and the troglodyte dwellings. The trails also differ in their historical interest: the Sentier de l’oppidum includes archaeological remains, while the Sentier des troglodytes leads to castle ruins and troglodyte dwellings.

Church, Stations of the Cross and historic sites

The Church of Saint-Georges dates from the 12th century and is the region’s only semi-troglodyte church. From there, the Chemin de Croix climbs uphill through the slopes. It has 13 stations featuring 13 statues by Raymond Delamarre (1890–1986). Richard the Lionheart had a castle built on the Roche Fouet rock in the 12th century, overlooking the valley. The remains of a Roman fortified camp can also be found at the Roches d’Orival. The historical references span different periods: the camp is Roman, while the church and castle are associated with the 12th century.

Visiting the Maison des Forêts

The Maison des Forêts in Orival is occasionally open to the public on Saturdays or Sundays, but only when events are scheduled there. If you are considering a weekend visit, check the programme in advance; opening is tied to these events.

Discover more destinations: Clères, Saint-Pierre-En-Port, Angerville-L'orcher, Le Bourg-Dun, Biville-la-Rivière, Petiville, Saint-Pierre-Lavis, Saint-Aubin-Le-Cauf

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.