Verneuil-Sur-Avre can be explored through a range of cultural and landscape themes: the former keep, Tour Grise; Saint-Nicolas Abbey; two churches with remarkable sculptures; and paths offering views of the historic centre. When planning your visit, it is worth considering these highlights separately: the town’s history, monastic architecture, sculpture and green spaces each offer a different way to experience the place.
Tour Grise: keep, town history and views
Tour Grise is a former keep commissioned by Philippe Augustus in 1204, following the conquest of the Duchy of Normandy. The tower houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Verneuil-Sur-Avre. From the top floor, visitors can look out over the medieval town and its surroundings. The same building thus brings together a historical landmark, the story of the town and a view from above.
Saint-Nicolas Abbey: history and guided tours
Saint-Nicolas Abbey was founded in 1627 for Benedictine nuns and is one of the few Norman abbeys still preserved on its original site. During a visit, visitors can see the chapel, crypt, cloister, the Benedictine nuns’ cells and the refectory. The abbey also includes a biscuit-making workshop where the famous nonnettes were made. The historic rooms and the workshop offer different points of interest within the monastic complex.
Guided tours are regularly offered during school holidays. Tours can also be arranged on request for groups and individual visitors. As the official tourism programme may change, it is advisable to check the dates before your visit.
Two churches with different sculptures
Notre-Dame Church was built in the 12th century at the same time as the town and was altered in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its exceptional collection of statues includes stone figures by the Verneuil school from the late 15th century, as well as polychrome wooden statues from the 13th century. Sainte-Madeleine Church has a different focus: its tower is decorated on two levels with more than thirty statues. A comparison therefore highlights the different materials and dates of the works at Notre-Dame alongside the large sequence of figures arranged on the tower at Sainte-Madeleine.
Green spaces and paths in Verneuil-Sur-Avre
Parc André-Faugère adds a green space of 1.3 hectares to the area’s cultural highlights. It features flowers, trees, shrubs and water features. Paths along the avenues offer views of the towers and churches of Verneuil-Sur-Avre. The park’s design thus brings together landscape features and views of the town’s buildings.
A ground-level trail marking leads along the Voie Verte to the historic centre. Along the way, visitors can see manor houses, houses with turrets and chequerboard façades, churches, the abbey, the keep and narrow streets. The route therefore leads not only into the centre, but also makes various visible architectural forms part of the journey.
The Voie Verte des Bois Francs is flat and secure; motor vehicles and horse riders are not permitted. Verneuil-Sur-Avre is also a stop on the GR22 route to Mont-Saint-Michel, used by hikers travelling from the direction of Paris. The route information offers different ways to find your bearings: the Voie Verte trail marking leads to the historic centre, while the GR22 places Verneuil on the way to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Discover more destinations: Amfreville-La-Campagne, Notre-Dame-De-L'isle, Saint-Pierre-La-Garenne, Sainte-Colombe-près-Vernon, Corneuil, Le Thuit, Saint-Denis-Le-Ferment, Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle
Return to the regional travel overview: Eure.
