The Tour Grise is a former keep built in 1204 by Philippe Auguste after the conquest of the Duchy of Normandy. It houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Verneuil; from its top floor, visitors can enjoy views of the medieval town and its surrounding area.
Those wishing to explore the Tour Grise and the Saint-Nicolas Abbey in Verneuil-sur-Avre can include renting a holiday apartment in their travel plans.
Culture
Saint-Nicolas Abbey was founded in 1627 for Benedictine nuns and is one of the few Norman abbeys still preserved at its original site. Visitors can see the chapel, crypt, cloister, the nuns’ cells, refectory and biscuit factory, where the famous Nonnettes are made. Guided tours are regularly offered during the school holidays; tours for groups and individual visitors are also available on request.
The Church of Notre-Dame was built in the 12th century at the same time as the town and was remodelled in the 15th and 16th centuries. It houses an exceptional collection of statues, including stone figures from the Verneuil school dating from the late 15th century, as well as polychrome wooden statues from the 13th century. The tower of the Church of Sainte-Madeleine is decorated on two levels with more than thirty statues.
Nature
Parc André-Faugère covers 1.3 hectares with flowers, trees, shrubs and bodies of water. The paths in Parc André-Faugère offer views along the avenues of the towers and churches of Verneuil-sur-Avre.
On the Way
Verneuil-sur-Avre is a stage on the GR22 route to Mont-Saint-Michel, used by hikers coming from the direction of Paris.
The Voie Verte leads to the historic centre of Verneuil-sur-Avre, marked by signs on the ground. Along the way, visitors can see manor houses, houses with turrets and chequerboard façades, churches, the abbey, the keep and narrow lanes. The Voie Verte des Bois Francs is a flat, secure route closed to motor vehicles and horse riders.
