In Tourville-la-Campagne, there are two distinct themes to explore: the architectural and artistic history of the Église Saint-Ouen and the Soulanger Ponds, each with its own features. The church brings together several datable structural elements and artworks; at the ponds, the focus is on their history of transformation and the facilities available to visitors. You can therefore plan your stay according to whether you are looking for sacred art, landscape change or a picnic spot.
Church: Building History and Art
The Église Saint-Ouen is a 17th-century building made of stone and flint. Its bell tower stands on a 13th-century square base. To understand the chronology, it is worth considering these details separately: the 17th century refers to the church building, while the tower base dates back further. The church therefore cannot be assigned a single date; the main structure and the tower base represent different periods.
The furnishings also span several centuries. The church preserves a 16th-century Pietà, carefully restored by Marcel Delaunay; traces of the original polychromy remain. There are also 13th-century baptismal fonts whose base bears the Instruments of the Passion. Chronologically, the baptismal fonts date from the same period as the bell tower base, while the Pietà and the church building are later. The architecture, sculpture and baptismal fonts thus offer different ways to explore the sacred history of the place.
The Église Saint-Ouen is open to the public during Heritage Days and for religious and cultural events. The European Heritage Days were scheduled to take place there on 19 and 20 September 2026. If you are planning to visit at another time, please check the specific event dates so that you can arrange your visit for one of the public opening occasions mentioned.
The Two Soulanger Ponds
The small Soulanger Pond on Rue des Canadiens offers a different kind of local history. It was redesigned at the end of 2017: the pond was dredged, its banks were renewed and it was refilled with water. Wild animal and plant species then returned, and the site was also enhanced. The dredging and renewed banks explain the physical aspects of the work, while the return of species was its ecological consequence. For nature enthusiasts, this offers a tangible way to explore how a habitat has changed.
The large Soulanger Pond is on Rue Elaoufi. There is a small, secure car park and a picnic table. The size designation and street name make it easy to distinguish from the small pond on Rue des Canadiens. You can choose according to your interests: landscape change at the small pond, or a car park and picnic table at the large pond.
Events and Choosing What to Explore
More than 150 walkers took part in the March Rose in October 2023. This past walking event offers a different focus from the church art and adds a concrete look back at walking to the cultural themes for visitors. If a particular event matters to your trip, check the announced dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Toutainville, Aubevoye, Saint-Marcel, Radepont, Douville-sur-Andelle, Piseux, La Vieille-Lyre, Pont-Saint-Pierre
For the wider travel overview: Eure.
