When planning your visit to La Saussaye, you can choose from three routes described in different ways: the 10-kilometre Saint-Nicolas de Bosc Asselin circuit, the Saint-Louis walk with nine points of interest and an approximate duration of one hour, and the walking route “La Saussaye au fil des mares”. This lets you decide what matters most for your stay: distance, estimated time, or a route for discovering the town. The heritage offers several points of interest too, from the Collégiale Saint-Louis to an 85-metre-deep well and visible traces of earlier defences.
Routes with different points of reference
The Saint-Nicolas de Bosc Asselin circuit starts at Place du Cloître, is marked in blue and is 10 kilometres long. Its starting point and length make planning this circuit straightforward. The Saint-Louis walk has nine points of interest and takes about an hour. Along the way, you can observe birds, plants and insects. For planning your time, the approximate duration of the Saint-Louis walk is the key consideration; to compare route lengths, look at the distance of the Saint-Nicolas circuit. “La Saussaye au fil des mares” is a walking route that lets you discover La Saussaye. Before setting off, it is worth checking the route details; for the Saint-Nicolas circuit, pay particular attention to the markings and starting conditions.
The collegiate church and its protected surroundings
The Collégiale Saint-Louis is dedicated to Saint Louis and was built by Guillaume d’Harcourt between 1307 and 1317. It was constructed on the remains of the d’Harcourt family chapel; fires destroyed the church in 1553 and 1875. The construction period therefore clearly predates both fires, while its earlier history goes back to the family chapel.
The Place de La Saussaye site has been listed as a protected area since 18 July 1931. It includes the collegiate church, the lime trees in front of the west façade, lawns, the cemetery, the enclosure around the old well, and a gateway with two unequal bases dating from the 14th century. The site’s listed features therefore include both elements of the surroundings and the church itself.
Wells, house signs and visible traces
An 85-metre-deep well stands on the lawn in front of the town hall. In the past, monks allowed the so-called “bordiers” to draw water there—poor, indebted rural residents. The well’s history therefore includes its former use as well as its depth.
At the Maison du sonneur, a striking plaster bell can be seen on the half-timbered gable. It served as a sign for the former resident who held that role. The Saut du Loup is a deep ditch, still visible today, without a rampart; it protected the entrance to an estate and, in the past, the château. The Porte d’en haut can also still be seen near the “pelouse”. Objects belonging to the Charitons are displayed in a chapel of the Collégiale Saint-Louis. The town’s history thus offers a range of tangible points of interest, from architectural features and former defences to a house sign and exhibited objects.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Pierre-De-Bailleul, Fiquefleur-Equainville, Trouville-La-Haule, Breuilpont, Bosguérard-de-Marcouville, Gauciel, Fourges, Saint-Pierre-Du-Vauvray
For the broader travel overview: Eure.
