Medieval Heritage Route in the Val de Risle

Car park in the immediate vicinity of the medieval castle.

(S/E) With your back to the entrance to the medieval castle of Montfort-sur-Risle, walk around the castle ruins on the right, following the discovery trail marked by information boards about the castle and its history. The QR codes on these tables give you access to a film shot by drone, allowing you to discover the entire site from the sky and get a glimpse of the architecture of yesteryear.

(1) At the bottom of the stairs, turn right to reach Rue de l'Écu via the Saint-Nicolas path (follow the blue markings). At the end of the path, turn left into Rue de l'Écu and walk down towards the village of Montfort. You will pass the birthplace of the painter Albert Lebourg. Cross Rue Saint-Pierre and go under the porch at No. 50.

(2) Then take a footbridge over the Risle, from which you can see a small hydroelectric power station and its fish pass. You will then come to a car park where there is a factory with a large brick chimney. This factory was once a weaving mill.

With your back to the factory, cross the car park and head towards another footbridge that runs alongside the hotel on the banks of the Risle to reach Square Jean Aublé. On your right, cross the Risle again via the footbridge to arrive at Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle. Cross the car park you are standing in, heading to the right to reach Rue Augustin Hébert. Walk up this street to the church of Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle, staying on the right-hand pavement.

(3) Just before crossing the Risle again, you will see another small hydroelectric power station on your right. Cross the roundabout and you will see the Nestlé-Purina factory.

(4) After the church, turn right and take the street that leads to Pont-Audemer. Walk along the Priory walls and turn right onto Rue de l'Église to reach the entrance to the site. You can also take the small gate in the wall near the church and walk straight through the Priory grounds (5). It is also possible to visit the church by asking for the keys at the town hall, which is just opposite. After visiting the Priory, retrace your steps.

(4) Cross the crossroads and follow Rue de la Butte à Feu opposite, heading towards Freneuse-sur-Risle, passing the school and then the pond on your left.

(6) At the end of the pond and just before the next crossroads, take the path on your right (yellow markings and^GR®224). Continue straight ahead, climbing the hill through the forest for about 1 km. When you reach a fork, leave the^GR®224and turn left, following the yellow markings. You will then arrive at La Baronnie.

(7) Go around the site and walk down the street that runs alongside it, then cross and follow the RD39 to the right.

(8) Turn left onto the RD577 towards Glos-sur Risle. Here you will see another small hydroelectric power station called Moulin l'Évêque because of its proximity to La Baronnie, the former residence of the bishops of Avranches. Continue straight on towards the other side of the valley to reach Glos-sur-Risle. At the end of the RD577 (Rue Saint-Martin), turn right onto Rue Saint-Vincent and continue for about 1 km until you reach Rue de l'Église on your right. At the end of this cul-de-sac, you will find the church and the remains of the seigneurial residence, which you can admire from the cemetery grounds.

(9) Turn back and retrace your steps to the left onto Rue Saint-Vincent. Take Rue de la Gare on your right. Go to the end of this street, passing in front of the still-operational railway station, and turn right to take the tunnel that passes under the railway line. Continue along this small road that climbs through the woods to the RD130.

(10) Cross this road carefully and continue straight ahead towards Écaquelon for about 500 metres.

(11) Then leave the tarmac road and take the footpath on the left. You are now in the Montfort National Forest. Follow the^GR® 224 markings, the light blue markings for the Chemin du Mont-Saint-Michel linking Rouen to Mont-Saint-Michel, and the yellow markings. Cross the D124 and you will come to a crossroads.

(12) Leave the yellow markings on your right and continue to follow the^GR®224and Chemin du Mont-Saint-Michel markings, as well as the blue markings. Continue through the forest along the Chemin Rural de Paris.

(13) After about 1 km, turn left, still following the blue markings and those for the Chemin du Mont-Saint-Michel (you are no longer following the^GR®224markings). Continue for another 1 km in this direction until you reach the medieval castle.

(1) Turn right onto the same path to return to the car park (S/E).

Parking is available in the immediate vicinity of the medieval castle.
Hiking maps and leaflets on the various sites visited, the Impressionist painters born in Montfort and the hydraulic heritage are available from the Val de Risle Tourist Office or on request:
Val de Risle Tourist Office - 5 place des Annonciades - 27290 Montfort-sur-Risle - 02 32 56 35 76 - email: info@tourisme-val-de-risle.com
These leaflets are also available on our website.

Remarkable trees in the Montfort national forest.

Augustin Hébert: At the end of the 19th century, Augustin Hébert developed a process that enabled the commune of Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle to be one of the first communes in France to benefit from public lighting.

Nestlé-Purina factory: This factory produces animal feed and formerly belonged to the Duquesne family. In 1883, Amédée Duquesne developed the first feed made from dried substances in France.