Visit in 2 days

Discover the magnificent landscapes of the Seine Valley and head for Jumièges, located in the heart of the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Nature Park. First, take a guided tour of Jumièges Abbey and its gardens , where you can admire the majestic testimony to Norman Romanesque art, with its open-air nave. The Abbey of Jumièges, surrounded by a 15-hectare English park, is immediately recognized as an emblem of the Romantic landscape. Destroyed after the French Revolution, its magnetism earned it the nickname “the most beautiful ruin in France” by Victor Hugo. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Auberge des Ruines and go foraging with chef Christophe Mauduit, a benchmark in wild plant-based cuisine. He’ll share his secrets with you… To round off your day, you can take an electric bike ride along the Route des Fruits , which winds its way through bucolic orchards for some 60 kilometers. The microclimate here is highly conducive to fruit-growing, thanks to the presence of the river, lower rainfall and the white chalk cliffs that reflect heat and protect against cold winds.

In the afternoon, you can visit the Corderie Vallois in the Cailly valley, a former hydraulic spinning mill that invites you to take a trip back to the 19th century. Period machines are still in operation in this museum that awakens all 5 senses. A stone’s throw away, the Les Confiseurs workshop-boutique is housed in a former industrial site. An opportunity to discover how the famous apple sugar is made. Or perhaps your journey will take you to Elbeuf, a former cloth-making town that still bears many traces of its past. To round off a day rich in discovery, we suggest you spend a lovely evening enjoyinga beer at Brasserie Ragnar, a church brewery set in the garden of the church of Saint-Nicaise. If you’re in the mood to try the famous Rouen-style duck, you’ve come to the right place! It’s a unique experience, to be shared with family and friends. This traditional recipe is served in 4 restaurants (Café Victor, La Couronne, Les Capucines, Le Parc – remember to book ahead). At nightfall, Rouen’s Notre-Dame Cathedral is showcased each summer with a son et lumière spectacle that blends heritage and fantasy.

In the afternoon, after more than two years of restoration work, discover this former 16th-century ossuary, which has become a favorite with visitors. This is one of the last surviving gallery cemeteries in France, and its fantastic decorations are unique examples preserved in Europe. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, this exceptional site has retained all its fascinating atmosphere. The Aître Saint-Maclou is an unusual place not to be missed! Another must-see in Rouen is France’s oldest Jewish monument, La Maison Sublime. This unsuspected site was discovered by chance in 1976, during work under the courtyard of the Palais de Justice. Built around 1100, just after the 1st Crusade, it is, for some, the world’s only surviving example of a medieval rabbinical school. Others believe it to be a private residence. Intriguing, isn’ t it? And last but not least, Rouen’s historical center is home to a spectacular tour… The Historial Jeanne d’ Arc is dedicated to the history and memory of La Pucelle! Witnesses, reconstructions and audiovisual effects take you to the heart of the 15th century, to the very places where Joan of Arc was tried and later rehabilitated! An unusual experience guaranteed!