Petiville: Landscape and Heritage
Accommodation in Petiville
Petiville lies in the heart of the Parc Naturel des Boucles de la Seine Normande. When choosing a hotel destination, the town offers two clear perspectives: its natural and riverside landscape, and the history of its buildings and routes. When planning your trip, you can decide whether the VĂ©loroute, the public garden or the historic sites should take priority during your stay.
Landscape, the Seine and the Cycling Route
About 1,100 of the municipality’s total 1,674 hectares consist of floodplains, making them a significant part of Petiville’s landscape. The Véloroute du Val de Seine follows a former towpath along the Seine and runs alongside Petiville for about 8 km. The approximate route length gives a clear indication of its scale, while the former towpath provides a historical link to the route. The ferry “Bachelotte”, which connected Petiville and Vieux Port until 1958, was also part of the former transport link.
Le jardin de la biodiversité is a public garden. It offers a different focus from the cycling route and is a place for recreation, relaxation and discovering plants. The remains of the Cale du Vieux Port are visible at low tide, so the tide level is relevant when choosing when to visit. A picnic area is located at the former slipway, at the entrance to the Véloroute. Check before your visit whether the area is open for use.
Architectural and Local History
The former parish church of Saint-Martin in Puits Fortin has major building phases dating from the 11th century, the first quarter of the 17th century and the second quarter of the 18th century. It was destroyed in 1857; only the cemetery and its cross remain. The stained-glass windows of the former Saint-Martin church date from 1611, are classified as historic monuments and were restored in 2007.
Other historic buildings reflect different uses in the past. Ferme Beaucamp is a former presbytery, built in 1733 and restored in 2009. The Maison de la charité in Petiville formerly served as a presbytery and became a meeting place for the brothers of the charitable brotherhood. Grain storage was the main purpose of the Grange dîmière on the Puits Fortin estate: it was used for this purpose by the religious community of Saint-Taurin Abbey in Évreux. The Maison des Douaniers on Rue du Mascaret became Petiville’s customs office. The Ferme du Chapitre commemorates the canons of Rouen’s acquisition of the fiefdom of Le Tot in 1281. Permission to build a chapel at Château de Chalendar was granted in 1640; its main building was rebuilt by descendants in the 18th century.
Discover more destinations: Eslettes, Veulettes-Sur-Mer, Autretot, Saint-Wandrille-Rançon, Avesnes-en-Bray, Aubermesnil-Aux-Érables, Incheville, La Haye.
Go to the regional travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
