Angerville-la-Martel is a rural commune on a plateau, about ten minutes from the sea. Its landscape includes half-timbered houses, characteristic examples of local architecture, and a manor house made of stone, flint and sandstone. The history of Église Saint-Martin and the La Tour Lanterne trail also offer concrete starting points for discovering the village and its surroundings.
Architecture and local history
The imposing, coat-of-arms-adorned gate of Château d’Angerville dates from the 18th century. Together with the half-timbered houses and the manor house, these details show different aspects of local architecture: the construction of the houses, the materials used for a manor house and the design of a gate. Anyone interested in rural architecture will find not just one type of building here, but several clearly distinguishable features.
At Église Saint-Martin, architectural history meets a named stained-glass window. The spire was rebuilt in 1772 after being destroyed by lightning. In the south aisle, bay 6 contains the stained-glass window “Calvaire, Vierge à l’Enfant” — a Calvary scene with the Virgin and Child. The year refers to the restoration of the spire; the bay number indicates the window’s location within the church.
Another historic landmark is the Tour Lanterne in the hamlet of Ypreville. Erected in 1936, the memorial monument commemorates the former leper colony of Epreville. The year 1936 refers to the monument’s construction; it commemorates a former institution. The gate, church tower and memorial monument thus highlight different aspects: architectural design, rebuilding after damage and remembrance of a former leper colony.
The La Tour Lanterne trail
The 17-kilometre La Tour Lanterne walking trail starts at Église d’Angerville-la-Martel and takes about four hours and 30 minutes. It first crosses the Angerville plain and then climbs into the Valmont valley. The sequence of plain and ascent gives you a sense of the route; its distance and approximate duration help you set aside a block of time in your day’s plans. The circular trail is listed in the PDESI.
The Colleville ponds are also a nearby point of interest in the landscape. They lie in the Valmont valley, which is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible. The ponds are a separate feature of the surrounding area; the trail route described here runs across the Angerville plain and climbs into the valley.
A date to note in September
The Foire Saint-Mathieu is still held every year on the weekend of the fourth Monday in September. If you would like to plan your stay around the fair, check the specific event dates before visiting. The annual September date is a different planning reference from a hike with an approximate duration: one helps you choose when to travel, while the other helps you gauge how much time to allow locally.
To plan your visit, you can first choose your focus: architectural history and local architecture, the trail with its stated distance and duration, or a stay timed around the Foire Saint-Mathieu. These topics offer different ways to get to know Angerville-la-Martel without requiring a fixed sightseeing itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Tourville-les-Ifs, Bertreville-Saint-Ouen, Sainte-Adresse, Criquetot-Le-Mauconduit, Bailleul-Neuville, Maniquerville, Cany-Barville, Neufchâtel-En-Bray.
For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
