Vatteville-la-Rue: Discover its history and routes

You can explore Vatteville-la-Rue by asking two specific questions: Which historical traces shape the village, and which routes lead through the Brotonne landscape? The Église Saint-Martin, the Chapelle Saint-Maur and the Château de Vatteville-la-Rue offer different points of reference in the village’s history. There are also routes with distinct profiles: a hike through the forest and a circular horse-riding route starting in the village. This lets you decide whether local history or one of the routes described should be the main focus of your trip.

History through buildings and their former functions

The Église Saint-Martin is a listed historic monument. Its main construction phases date from the 15th and 16th centuries. The Chapelle Saint-Maur already existed in 1602 and served then as a relay for royal hunts. The two religious buildings thus reveal different historical aspects: for Saint-Martin, these are its protected status and construction phases; for Saint-Maur, its early existence and former function.

The Château de Vatteville-la-Rue was built at the end of the 11th century. After being besieged and partially destroyed in the 12th century, it was rebuilt. The ruins preserve remains of a keep and a large hall. These architectural features add specific parts of the complex to the timeline; they are still described as ruins in Vatteville-la-Rue.

At five stations among the ruins, visitors can use their mobile phones to visualize the building’s former appearance. As the technology’s availability may change, it is best to check whether this option is available before your visit.

Maritime history is also part of the historical picture: in the 15th century, it included fishing expeditions towards Newfoundland. This aspect adds another facet of the village’s history to the building history of the church and castle and the chapel’s former function.

Hiking, horse-riding route and landscape

On the section of the Route des Chaumières that passes through Vatteville-la-Rue, the route continues beyond the hamlet of La Neuville into the state-owned Brotonne Forest. This sequence gives you a clear picture of the route: Vatteville-la-Rue is followed by La Neuville, then the forest. The “La Forêt d’Arelaune” hike also passes through Brotonne Forest and offers views of the Seine.

Another option is “Sur les traces de François 1er”: this circular horse-riding route starts in Vatteville-la-Rue. It offers views of the Brotonne area and beautiful vistas of the river. Check the latest route conditions before setting out.

To choose between them, consider the difference between the routes: “La Forêt d’Arelaune” is described as a hike and combines Brotonne Forest with views of the Seine. “Sur les traces de François 1er” is a circular horse-riding route starting in the village; its landscape description mentions Brotonne and views of the river, without specifying which river. This lets you distinguish between the two routes by mode of travel and the landscape features explicitly mentioned for each.

If you are particularly interested in historic buildings and their place in the timeline, the church, chapel and castle offer different points of interest. For landscapes, the routes mentioned are the main attraction. You can take these priorities into account when planning your stay and looking for a hotel in Vatteville-la-Rue.

Discover more destinations: Gommerville, Saint-Wandrille-Rançon, Hugleville-en-Caux, Sept-Meules, Saint-Pierre-en-Val, Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, Trouville, Normanville.

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.