Augeville-Bosc-le-Hard: The Augeville Route in the Land of Abbé Pierre

A route offering the chance to explore the countryside around Bosc-le-Hard and to visit the grave and museum in Esteville where Abbé Pierre lived for several years. In the village is a shelter still in operation today, run by the Emmaüs Association of Paris: La Halte d’Emmaüs.

Details

n°90908
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.46 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 59 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 59 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 571 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 492 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The route starts at the car park at the foot of the Saint-Éloi chapel, in the hamlet of Augeville, in Bosc-Le-Hard.

(S/E) Continue along Rue de la Chapelle until you reach Rue du Bel Évent, where you should turn right to join the D25.

(1) Turn left towards Cottévrard. At the entrance to the village, turn right onto the walking trail that goes round Cottévrard.

(2) Walk past the feudal motte. The motte is situated in a small copse; you’ll need to go inside it – it’s used by successive generations of the village’s young people as a mountain bike route.
When you reach the D15, turn right towards Bertramesnil. In the village, turn right (still on the D15) to reach Esteville.
At the junction of the D15 and D57, continue along the D15, Rue de la Forge, towards the Place de l’Église and the castle.

(3) After passing the town hall (public toilets available), the cemetery and the church, turn right onto Rue de la Mairie and follow it to the D15 (Route de Cailly), then turn left onto it. About 300 metres past the bend in the road, you will find the Abbé Pierre Museum.

(4) Walk through the site – having visited it if you wish – to reach Route d’Emmaüs.
On the Route d’Emmaüs, turn left towards Claville. At the bend to the left, turn right onto Chemin Vert and follow it until you reach Rue du Bois Normand. Cross the road and continue for about 125 metres.

(5) Two possible routes:
Avoiding farmland
- Cut across the edge of the field to the power line, follow it to the left as far as the Bois du Perroquet. Follow the edge of the woodland to the Chemin du Bois Durand.

During the period from June to August, depending on the crops
- continue along Rue du Bois Normand to the junction with the Route de Claville. Turn right and join the D6. Follow it to the right towards Claville-Moteville. At the junction at the entrance to the village, turn right and head towards the cemetery and the church. Then follow the directions as described.

(6) Turn left towards Rue de l’Église in Claville-Moteville.

(7) When you reach the Church of Saint-Martin and Sainte-Marguerite in Claville-Moteville, continue along Rue de l’Église towards the D6, then turn right onto it. After 150 metres, turn right onto the track that winds round past the château and follow the track until you reach Rue de l’Église, then return to the previous junction.

(6) Carry on along the same road until you reach the D57.

(8) Cross it, and take the Chemin des Plaines opposite, then turn left at the bend onto the Chemin agricole des Plaines. Cross the railway line. At the D25, turn right towards Cottévrard for 100 metres.

(1) Turn left onto Rue du Bel Évent to join Rue de la Chapelle and the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 551 ft - Chapelle Saint-Eloi
  2. 1 : mi 0.4 - alt. 558 ft - The ‘circular’ junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.24 - alt. 541 ft - Cottevrard – Feudal motte
  4. 3 : mi 3.45 - alt. 554 ft - Esteville – Castle, church, cemetery
  5. 4 : mi 3.95 - alt. 568 ft - Esteville – Abbé Pierre Museum
  6. 5 : mi 4.69 - alt. 561 ft - Waypoint – towards the Bois du Perroquet
  7. 6 : mi 5.36 - alt. 509 ft - Optional visit to Claville-Moteville
  8. 7 : mi 5.77 - alt. 522 ft - Claville-Moteville: church, castle and park
  9. 8 : mi 7.9 - alt. 518 ft - Bosc-Le-Hard
  10. S/E : mi 9.46 - alt. 551 ft - Chapelle Saint-Eloi

Notes

IBP = 39 HKG
The walk consists of one-third on minor roads and two-thirds on farm tracks, with some woodland sections.
No particular difficulties.

The Saint-Éloi Chapel in Augeville is equipped with picnic tables and benches, and there is a small bus shelter with a bench in the car park.

Esteville Town Hall: public toilets available.
Picnic facilities available in Esteville at the museum site.

Access:
A28, exit 11 (Le Pucheuil), then follow signs for the D98–A29; at the junction with the N29, take the D25 towards Cottevrard–Bosc Le Hard; after Cottevrard, approximately 1.5 km on, turn right onto Rue du Bel Évent, then onto Rue de la Chapelle.

Worth a visit

(S/E) The Chapel of Saint Éloi in Augeville with its square well. Visits and picnics are possible; please book in advance on 02 35 33 41 05. Contact Ms Arlette Paumier.

(2) Feudal motte: remains of a military settlement on a mound of unknown name dating from the Late Roman Empire, succeeded by a medieval fortified castle from the 11th and 12th centuries, of which a few substructures remain, now owned by the local council.

(3) Esteville Castle: private.

(3) Abbé Pierre’s grave.

(4) The Abbé Pierre Museum. Visitors can explore the site, have a picnic or lunch, or buy drinks there.
• Abbé Pierre – Emmaüs Centre, a place of remembrance and a place of life. Route d’Emmaüs, 76690 Esteville.
Telephone: 02 35 23 87 76 / Fax: 02 35 34 31 85 Contact: centre-abbe-pierre-emmaus.org.

(7) Gouville Castle in Claville-Moteville
The château grounds are open to visitors from March to September; for appointments and access to the grounds, please contact tel (02) 35 33 42 42

(7) The Church of Saint-Martin and Sainte-Marguerite in Claville-Moteville

- The small castle-turned-town hall in Bosc-Le-Hard.

- The market hall and the Church of St John the Baptist in Bosc-Le-Hard

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
massouille 06
massouille 06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that we did in reverse so we could have a picnic at the Abbé Pierre Museum (where we received a warm welcome and enjoyed rediscovering the 1954 appeal) after about 10 km. We took into account the changes to the route so as not to walk through the fields during the growing season. Perhaps through our own clumsiness, we didn’t manage to spot Claville Castle. Thank you for making for a lovely day

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anneplantrou_msa
anneplantrou_msa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk along quiet country lanes and footpaths, with a very interesting stop in Esteville (exhibition of photos by Abbé Pierre until 15 December; €6 admission to the museum), a warm welcome, and you’re welcome to bring your own picnic. Drinks available on site if needed.

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KROWICKI
KROWICKI

Hello,

First of all, thank you for generally enjoying the hike. In response to your comments regarding:
- the section along the edge of the field at ((4)), I chose this route to add a touch of adventure off the beaten track at the time and to avoid the road. I was lucky enough to meet the farmer, who is a hiker himself and didn’t mind us crossing the field provided we took care not to damage the crops.
- the route to take at ((6)) – indeed, the tour of the château is only available during the summer months and is not free of charge, which is why in the section ‘During the walk or nearby’ I noted
((6)) Gouville Castle in Claville-Moteville
The castle grounds are open to visitors from March to September; contact for booking a visit and access to the grounds: tel. (02) 35 33 42 42
Regarding point ((1)) the feudal motte at Cottevrard, it is true that on the latest versions of IGN maps after 2015 many small points of interest have disappeared – a shame, but anyway, the motte is located in the small wood; you have to go inside it; it is used by the village youngsters on a mountain bike route for doing wheelies.
Finally, I have amended the description in line with your comments.
Thank you for your constructive comments.

Kind regards.

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kelylamil
kelylamil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk through the countryside, offering the chance to discover several lovely spots such as Saint Eloi Chapel, the square wells, Gouville Castle and so on... A very interesting walk for that reason.
However:
- the section at the edge of the field at (4), i.e. between two fields, even though they are not currently being cultivated, caused us a bit of a problem as there is no path. We were therefore on private land (even if it is agricultural). The author suggests an alternative route, but this requires returning to the road.
- The route to take (6) to walk around Gouville Castle does not seem possible outside the castle’s opening hours: the entrance and exit points (described by the author) are blocked by large gates.
Like Benoitrando, I would have liked to find the feudal motte.
Could directions to it be added to the description? Similarly, shouldn’t it be made clear that the starting point is not at Bosc Le Hard but in the hamlet of Augeville? Admittedly, reading the map ensures you don’t go astray, but relying solely on the description can be misleading if you are unfamiliar with the area.

Overall, a very positive review of this hike.

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benoitrando
benoitrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route starts at St Eloi Chapel in the hamlet of Augeville, in the commune of Bosc Le Hard. Personally, it took me a while to find St Eloi Chapel in Augeville. Also, regarding the car park, you shouldn’t come with a group of walkers with several vehicles, as there isn’t enough space to park next to the glass recycling bin. So I set off from the church in Bosc-le-Hard, where there are parking spaces for more vehicles; this adds about 3 km to the route. I also think it’s a shame to bypass the village of Cottevrard and the feudal motte, as there are no signs to help you find it. Route du Bel Event, actually the hamlet of Bel Event in the commune of Critot. Otherwise, contrary to jicébé’s opinion, I enjoyed this route and personally I love discovering churches, which are magnificent buildings (I was spoilt on this route, with four churches and a chapel).

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jicébé
jicébé

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

a route that runs almost entirely through the lowlands
offering little of interest (except for Abbé Pierre’s tomb and the Augeville Chapel)

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