Two distinct travel interests are at the heart of Folleville: the Church of Notre-Dame, with its architectural and furnishing history, and the “Chemin des Mares” walking trail. Notre-Dame stands in the middle of a cemetery and combines various architectural features with several objects of art-historical interest. The walking trail complements this cultural focus with an outdoor activity. When planning your trip, you can decide whether architecture and sacred art or a walk is the main attraction.
Sundial with an Angel and Family Coat of Arms
The church’s sundial depicts a winged angel holding a shield bearing the coat of arms of the Le Sens family of Folleville. The description of the “Circuit des cadrans solaires autour de Thiberville” walking route cites the Folleville sundial as an example of the decorative function of sundials. This also places the object in the context of its design: the angel and coat of arms are specific details of its decorative aspect.
The Architecture and Furnishings of Notre-Dame
The church has an elongated floor plan divided into seven bays. The west façade has a single round-arched doorway, above which are two blind twin windows. The building’s history spans different periods: the first foundations date from the 14th century, and the choir was remodelled in the 18th century. The nave probably dates from the 16th or 17th century. The seven bays describe the interior layout, while the doorway and blind twin windows characterise the west façade.
The high altar reredos dates from the 18th century and was listed as a movable cultural asset on 21 March 1977. It is finished to imitate grey marble. The central panel features an oil painting on canvas depicting the Assumption of Mary, and two statues of angels adorn the reredos. The furnishings also include a 17th-century statue of Saint Sebastian. It is made of carved wood, painted in polychrome and gilded. This makes it possible to compare different materials and techniques: the painting on canvas on the reredos and the colourful wooden sculpture. The tombstone of Guillaume de Sens de Folleville’s wife in Notre-Dame was also listed as a movable cultural asset on 21 March 1977.
Walking the Chemin des Mares
The “Chemin des Mares” walking trail is of moderate difficulty, 7.3 kilometres long and takes about two hours. 63 per cent of the route runs along unpaved paths; the trail is marked in yellow. Its length and approximate duration give you a timeframe for planning, while the proportion of unpaved paths provides more detail about the terrain. Folleville (27230) is listed as the fifth stop. The walk therefore offers a clearly defined activity alongside the church’s architectural and art history.
Discover more destinations: Breteuil, Chambray, Letteguives, Saint-Grégoire-Du-Vièvre, Saint-Luc, Dampsmesnil, Harcourt, Andé
See the overview of the wider area: Eure.
