A walking trail starts in Riville at the Église Saint-Pierre and leads through the Normandy countryside; the village is also on the Véloroute du Lin. Manor houses, farms and ecclesiastical art offer two further, distinct perspectives on Riville. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Riville, you can decide whether cycling, walking or architectural history should be the focus of your trip.
On Foot and by Bike
The “Le Bosc aux Moines” walking trail passes through the Normandy countryside and showcases local architecture in several forms: clos-masures, churches, châteaux and manor houses. Starting at the Église Saint-Pierre gives the walk a clearly identifiable starting point. The Véloroute du Lin offers a different connection to the village: Riville lies on this cycling route. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between two distinct focuses—cycling or a walk taking in the landscape and architecture.
This choice answers a practical question right at the planning stage: Would you like to make the Véloroute’s cycling route your starting point, or begin a walk at the church? The local architecture also gives the walk a specific theme. Examples include not only churches, but also clos-masures, châteaux and manor houses.
Manor Houses, Farms and Architectural History
The Manoir du Vivier was built from stone, brick and flint in the early 16th century. The building also shows the influence of the Italian Renaissance, evident in the blue or blond flint mosaics. The mix of materials and the mosaics provide two distinct architectural features to look for when identifying the building’s style.
The Château de Caumont dates from 1728 and was built from brick and flint. Opposite its entrance are the remains of an oratory that served as a place of prayer for the village’s hunters. The site thus combines a specific architectural feature—brick and flint—with the oratory’s former religious use. The Ferme du Bosc-aux-Moines is also part of Riville’s architectural history: it was built in the 19th century, replacing an earlier manor house. From 1412, that manor house served as a place of rest for the clergy of Fécamp Abbey.
Another distinctive feature is the dovecote at the Ferme du Petit Riville. It was built in the 18th century and stands on a white-stone base. The lower section is decorated with black-brick diamonds. Its design is therefore quite different from the flint mosaics at the Manoir du Vivier and the combination of brick and flint at the Château de Caumont: the dovecote’s defining features are its base and geometric brick pattern.
Church and Art in Riville
The Église Saint-Pierre is particularly well known for its statue of Saint Expédit. The church also houses a monumental painting bearing the coat of arms of Jean-Louis Ficquet de Normanville. The statue and painting are two distinct artistic points of interest: one is a figure of a saint, the other a coat-of-arms motif in monumental format. Together with its role as the starting point for the walking trail, the church also has a special place in planning a stay.
Riville’s historical connections range from a manor house used as a place of rest for clergy to buildings dating from different centuries. The architectural forms combine stone, brick and flint with mosaics and geometric brick decoration. Anyone interested in local history can discover specific differences between the individual buildings—and make culture the focus of their trip alongside cycling or walking.
Discover more destinations: Moulineaux, Criquetot-Sur-Ouville, Quiévrecourt, Gommerville, Le Thil-Riberpré, Les Trois-Pierres, Tôtes, Tourville-Sur-Arques.
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
