Churches, a chapel and a wayside cross give La Crique a distinct cultural and historical focus. At the same time, Les Biquettes de Saint Ouen is a local farm that keeps Fossés goats and processes their milk. Visitors interested in both church and architectural history and the conservation breeding of livestock will find two distinct yet complementary themes in La Crique.

Churches, building phases and heritage designation

The Eglise paroissiale des Saints-Innocents was founded in the 12th century. The choir dates from this period, though it was later altered. The nave was built in the 13th century and modified before further changes in the 16th century. The choir and nave are different parts of the building; their separate construction dates and alterations make the church’s development clear. Today, the building is used as a private residence. You should therefore not assume that the interior is open to the public when planning your visit.

The Croix de carrefour in La Crique was designated a historic monument on 27 December 1913. This precise date answers a different question from the church’s building chronology: it concerns the monument designation, while the latter concerns the church’s construction and alteration phases.

Church names and chapel history

Records from 1495 to 1517 preserve the name “Ecc. par. Sanctæ Trinitatis de Criqua” for the parish church of La Crique. The place name La Crique is also derived from the Old Norse word kirkja (“church”). This adds a linguistic strand to the building’s history: both the church’s historic name and the interpretation of the place name.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine dates from the 19th century and was blessed by Cardinal de Bonnechose on 23 April 1877. An oratory is associated with the chapel and was frequently visited by pilgrims. This links a church building with a precise date to a pilgrimage tradition centred on the oratory. The parish church dates back further than the chapel.

Farm shop and cycling

Les Biquettes de Saint Ouen keeps Fossés goats, a local breed subject to conservation breeding, and processes their milk on the farm into products for direct sale. Products are sold at the farm and at markets. This example brings together breed conservation, processing and sales as parts of a single agricultural practice. The farm shop is listed as open on Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00; check before your visit whether these opening hours are still valid.

An older cycling map shows a route between Grigneuseville and Montreuil-en-Caux that passes through La Crique. This may be a useful starting point for planning your route. Check the signs and the current route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Mont-Saint-Aignan, Vittefleur, Grèges, Ry, Rouen, Saint-Pierre-Le-Vieux, Bracquetuit, Petiville

For the wider travel overview: Seine-Maritime.