The Château de Martainville combines a château with a museum dedicated to everyday Norman culture. At the Musée des Arts et Traditions Normands, an exceptional collection of furniture from Haute-Normandie illustrates the development of styles from the 15th to the 19th century. The reconstructed interiors also take visitors through different regions: they depict farmhouses from the Pays de Caux, the Eure department, the Pays de Bray and the Norman coastal region. They are furnished with furniture and everyday objects from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Collections and exhibitions at the Château
The top floor houses one of the most significant collections of Norman headdresses, jewellery and traditional costumes. A dedicated room is devoted to instruments used in folk music in Normandy. The collection themes therefore range from furniture styles and furnished interiors to clothing and music.
The Musée des Traditions et Arts Normands presents temporary exhibitions each year on subjects related to Normandy. In addition, the L'Espace Musical association presents a new exhibition each year on the history of music in Normandy on the top floor. Its theme is linked to that of the current temporary exhibition, so the individual exhibition themes change.
Audio guides are available at the Château reception. If you would like to use one, you can ask about current availability in advance. The museum also offers guided tours with audio description; check the current booking arrangements before your visit. A self-guided visit to the Château can be supplemented with a visit to the Colombier. Find out about the current access arrangements in advance.
Park, château history and church
The Parc du Château de Martainville includes outbuildings, a coach house and a reconstructed Renaissance-style garden. The park is open year-round during the Château’s opening hours; check the current hours before your visit. During school holidays, it offers holiday activities for individual visitors, with specific dates varying. Tours and educational workshops are available for groups. These require prior arrangements, and the programme may vary depending on the season.
The Château was probably built for Jacques le Pelletier in the late 15th century. In Martainville-Épreville, the Église Notre-Dame is also worth a visit: it was consecrated on 1 October 1670 and dedicated under the titles Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix and Saint-Joseph. It is one of the rare church buildings from the time of Louis XIV to have survived almost completely intact and in a unified style.
Route and getting there
The Promenade au pays d'Emma Bovary is a 66-kilometre discovery route that you can travel by bicycle or car. Its 15th stage leads to the Château de Martainville in Martainville-Épreville. Route conditions and signage may change; check the information before setting out.
From Rouen, you can reach Martainville-Épreville via the RN 31; the distance is 17 kilometres. The route heads towards Darnétal, Gournay-en-Bray and Beauvais. This gives you different options for planning your trip: individual cultural attractions in the town and a 66-kilometre discovery route. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether you want the château and its collections to be the focus of your stay or whether you would rather make the route your main priority.
Discover more destinations: Colleville, Sommery, Sotteville-Lès-Rouen, Bennetot, Bosc-Roger-Sur-Buchy, Le Thil-Riberpré, Bretteville-Du-Grand-Caux, Sausseuzemare-en-Caux
Back to the regional travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
