Petiville lies in the heart of the Parc Naturel des Boucles de la Seine Normande. The commune combines a landscape shaped by floodplains with the Seine and historic sites from different centuries. This gives you several points to consider when choosing your destination: nature and the river are just as much in focus as the area’s history.
Floodplain landscape and garden
Around 1,100 of the commune’s total 1,674 hectares consist of floodplains. These figures give an idea of the space this landscape occupies in Petiville. If you are interested in nature and the character of a river landscape, it forms an important part of the local scenery, alongside historic buildings and places of remembrance.
A distinct natural attraction is Le jardin de la biodiversité. This public garden is intended for recreation, relaxation and discovering plants. It offers a different focus from the wider landscape: here, plants and a garden take centre stage, while the floodplains shape the scale of the commune.
Cycle route and traces along the river
The VĂ©loroute du Val de Seine follows a former towpath along the Seine and runs for about 8 km alongside Petiville. The river is therefore also part of a specific cycling route. Its approximate length and course alongside the commune help you consider the route as a separate outing; they do not indicate a walking time.
The former ferry crossing is also part of the history of the Seine at Petiville: the “Bachelotte” ferry linked Petiville and Vieux Port until 1958. At low tide, remains of the Cale du Vieux Port, a former slipway, can be seen. There is a picnic area at the entrance to the Véloroute. As facilities may change, it is advisable to check their availability before your visit.
The cycle route, ferry and slipway each tell a different story about the river: the VĂ©loroute follows the former towpath, the Bachelotte connected two places, and the Cale preserves visible remains of an earlier structure. If you are interested in the Seine, Petiville thus offers both a present-day route and traces of the past.
Building history across several periods
The former parish church of Saint-Martin in Puits Fortin was destroyed in 1857; only the cemetery and its cross remain. Its main construction phases span the 11th century, the first quarter of the 17th century and the second quarter of the 18th century. Stained-glass windows dating from 1611 adorned the former Saint-Martin church. They are listed as historic monuments and were restored in 2007.
The Ferme Beaucamp also points to a former ecclesiastical use: built in 1733, the building was a presbytery and was restored in 2009. The Maison de la charité also formerly served as a presbytery; later, it became a meeting place for the brothers of the charitable brotherhood. These two buildings connect their former functions with specific stages in their architectural history.
Other sites reflect different institutions and patterns of ownership. The Grange dîmière on the Puits Fortin estate was used by the religious community of Saint-Taurin Abbey in Évreux to store grain. The Maison des Douaniers on Rue du Mascaret became Petiville’s customs house. The Ferme du Chapitre recalls the acquisition of the fief of du Tot by the canons of Rouen in 1281.
In 1640, permission was granted to build a chapel at Château de Chalendar. The main building was rebuilt by descendants in the 18th century. Together with the church’s earlier phases and later restorations, this means no single period is the sole focus: Petiville offers various points of historical interest that you can explore according to your interests in religious architecture, former uses or the development of individual estates.
Considering Petiville as a destination
If you are looking for a holiday rental for a stay in Petiville, the local attractions can help guide your decision: the main themes are floodplain landscapes, the Seine, a cycle route and historic sites. The landscape offers a broad perspective, while buildings and remains bring individual stories to life. Petiville may therefore be worth considering, especially if you would like to combine nature and cultural interests.
Discover more destinations: Vatteville-la-Rue, Yainville, Saint-Germain-Des-Essourts, Sotteville-Lès-Rouen, Vittefleur, Gournay-En-Bray, Crasville-La-Mallet, Épreville.
For the overview of the wider region: Seine-Maritime.
