Hauville can be explored through its buildings and rural landscape. Two building periods meet at the Church of Saint-Paterne, while the Moulin de Pierre combines the history of milling with seasonal visits. Hedges, planted embankments, farmyards with fruit trees and ponds also shape the settlement landscape. For your planning, it is worth treating these themes separately: church architecture, milling technology and a named circular route are distinct reasons to set aside time for Hauville.

The building history of the Church of Saint-Paterne

The Church of Saint-Paterne has a Norman architectural form. The Romanesque nave dates from the 12th century; the transept and south aisle belong to the 16th century. This span of time makes the development of the same building easy to trace: the older core of the nave and the later sections are separated by several centuries. Those interested in understanding church architecture can distinguish the building’s parts: the transept runs across the nave, while the aisle adjoins it on the side. This makes it possible to read the building as the result of different phases.

A twelve-stop organ was built by Pierre Leduc between 1863 and 1868. It adds a dated 19th-century instrument to the building’s history. Saint-Paterne also welcomes audiences for concerts. Access to part of the building is restricted; check current opening arrangements and concert opportunities before your visit.

Bocage landscape and rural context

Hauville lies on the northern edge of the Roumois Plateau. Here, a bocage landscape with fertile agricultural land shapes the setting; flax is grown in particular. Other features stand out in the settlement landscape: hedges, planted embankments, farmyards with fruit trees and a network of ponds. The agricultural character of the plateau and the landscape features of the village thus sit side by side. If you are more interested in nature and landscape than in building history, this rural setting offers a separate point of reference when deciding on your trip.

Moulin de Pierre and activities

The Moulin de Pierre dates from the 13th century and is located in the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Natural Park. One of its technical features is a revolving roof that can be turned to face the wind. This design is a specific detail that helps explain the milling technology of the Moulin de Pierre.

The Moulin de Pierre offers visits for individuals and groups, as well as guided tours, demonstrations and workshops for families, schools and leisure organisations. Visits are available only from March to October and require advance booking. Check the current visiting arrangements before your trip.

The Circuit des Mares is a named circular route in Hauville and has an alternative variant. Alongside the buildings, this provides a walking option that can be included as a separate focus in your plans. The variant offers another route option to choose from. Different kinds of activities can be considered: for a mill visit, take the season and advance booking requirements into account; the Circuit des Mares is identified as a circular route with a variant.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Denis-Le-Ferment, Sainte-Colombe-près-Vernon, Toutainville, Sainte-Geneviève-Lès-Gasny, Tostes, Connelles, Saint-Pierre-De-Bailleul, Piseux

For an overview of the wider area: Eure.