The Roches d’Orival are white cliffs along the Seine in Orival. The Les Roches d’Orival natural area comprises limestone-loving dry grasslands and has an exceptional diversity of orchids; it is also home to the remains of a fortified Roman camp.
For Orival, personal travel planning may include the desire to rent a holiday apartment.
Nature
The Boucles de la Seine amont, coteaux d’Orival Natura 2000 site covers 99 hectares between the localities of « le Nouveau monde » in the west and « Hameau des Roches » in the east.
Trails
The Sentier du plateau boisé is 1.5 km long, easy, and suitable for everyone. The Sentier de l’oppidum extends over 3 km and takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. It includes several challenging sections, including three steep climbs, as well as slippery terrain in wet weather. While viewing some archaeological remains, this trail allows visitors to discover the history of the area.
The Sentier des troglodytes is 5.5 km long and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. It includes several difficult climbs; caution is advised when the ground is wet. The trail leads to the remains of the castle on the Roche Fouet rock, the limestone slopes, and the troglodytic dwellings. Four marked educational trails in Orival can be linked together.
Culture
The Church of Saint-Georges dates from the 12th century and is the region’s only semi-troglodytic church. From there, the Chemin de Croix leads uphill through the slopes. It comprises 13 stations with 13 statues created by Raymond Delamarre (1890–1986).
A castle overlooking the valley was built on the Roche Fouet rock in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart. The Roche Foulon group of houses consists of residential buildings.
Places
The Maison des Forêts in Orival may occasionally be open to the public on Saturdays or Sundays, exclusively when events are scheduled there.
Other places: Sassetot-Le-Mauconduit, Ingouville, Notre-Dame-De-Gravenchon, Bolbec, Saint-Léonard, Saint-Aubin-Lès-Elbeuf, Riville, Le Mesnil-Esnard
