Ancretteville-sur-Mer is a rural commune just a few minutes from the sea. Saint-Amand Church, Château d’Angerval and the Le Hêtre hiking trail offer three distinct ways to explore the area: religious architectural history, distinctive architecture and a route connected to the coast.
Saint-Amand Church: Building History and Furnishings
The remarkable Saint-Amand Church was built in the 18th century over a 12th-century sanctuary. This brings together two clearly distinct periods: the older sanctuary and the later church building. Its features include a bell-tower porch topped with an “à l’impériale” slate dome. The floor plan follows the shape of a Latin cross; the transept is made of brick and flint. The construction period, floor plan, tower design and materials can therefore be considered as different aspects of the church.
A transept is the part of a church that lies across the nave. This helps explain the Latin-cross floor plan, while brick and flint describe the choice of materials for a particular part of the building. Form and materials offer two different ways of looking at the architecture.
Inside is an 18th-century altarpiece. An altarpiece is a structure behind an altar; its central painting is César Bredel’s “l’Adoration des Bergers,” painted in 1755. The altarpiece ensemble was listed as a protected object on 14 September 1984. The dates mark different stages: 1755 dates the central painting, while 1984 marks the listing of the ensemble. The French title means “Adoration of the Shepherds” and identifies the subject of the work.
Château d’Angerval: Stone, Brick and Light
Château d’Angerval offers a different architectural feature: it is built of stone and brick and is described as an 18th-century “lantern structure.” Numerous openings let light pass through both façades of the building. While the description of Saint-Amand focuses on its floor plan, transept and altarpiece, the château’s materials and façade openings take centre stage.
Le HĂŞtre Hiking Trail: Through the Village Towards the Coast
The 2023 regional hiking guide describes the 15-kilometre Le HĂŞtre hiking trail, which passes through Ancretteville-sur-Mer and continues towards Chemin des Dalles. Further along, the route leads to the beaches of Les Petites Dalles and Les Grandes Dalles, as well as a coastal panorama. Le HĂŞtre is listed in the Departmental Plan for Areas, Sites and Routes (PDESI). As trail conditions may change, check them before setting out.
There are different options to consider when planning your visit: the building history and furnishings at Saint-Amand, the château’s distinctive architecture, or a 15-kilometre hike that takes in both the village and the coast. This can help you decide whether you would prefer your stay to focus on culture or hiking.
Discover more destinations: Veulettes-Sur-Mer, Le Bocasse, Guilmécourt, Haudricourt, Trouville, Gruchet-Saint-Siméon, Saint-Valéry-En-Caux, Boudeville
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
