Lyons-la-Foret

Visit Lyons-la-Foret, Normandy

Lyons la Foret is a classified 'most beautiful villages of France' situated 30km east of Rouen, in a beautiful forested setting in Normandy. The village was founded on the site of a castle that once stood here, constructed in the 12th century.

Like many of the pretty Normandy towns, it is most notable for its half-timbered houses, typical of the region and mostly dating from the 17th to 18th centuries, after much of the town was destroyed by fire at the end of the 16th century.

Exploring Lyons-la-Foret

The main pleasure of a visit comes from simply wandering through the streets admiring the houses - many are half-timbered, others are in red brick, some are very highly decorated and many are covered with flowers creating a very picturesque village.

Individual sites of interest include the covered market place, dating from the 17th century and still the location of the weekly market, held in Lyons-la-Foret each thursday. The market hall is at the centre of the town with various shops in the surrounding buildings.

See also the 12th century Church of Saint Denis and belltower (although the tiny Chapel of Saint-John the Baptist just outside the town at essart-Mador is more picturesque).

Also in Lyons-la-Foret visit the town hall - upstairs is the room that was once used for local tribunals and is now used for marriages. It is a charming room with wood panelling and period wallpaper and furnishings.

Some notable events have taken place in Lyons-la-Foret: Henry the First died in the castle in the town, and Maurice Ravel wrote some of his music here - you can see the house where Ravel lived for three years at Maison de Ravel, at the top end of Place Ravel...

The town has also twice been used as the setting for film versions of Madame Bovary (first version was by Jean Renoir, the second by Claude Chabrol).

Attractions nearby

Close by to Lyons-le-Foret there are a couple of castles worth a visit - the castle of Fleury-la-Foret, and the castle of Vascoeuil (which also has some interesting modern sculpture set in the grounds).

The forest around the town is well worth exploring - it is still one of the largest Beech woods in Europe, and a lovely place for a quiet walk.

Photo kindly contributed by Vincent Liagre

Tourist classifications for Lyons-la-Foret: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*; One of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages);

Suggested places to visit near Lyons-la-Foret, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: La Roche-Guyon 37km; La Bouille 39km; Beauvais 46km; Jumieges Abbey 47km; Evreux 48km; Caudebec-en-Caux 55km; Abbey of Bec-Hellouin 57km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Lyons-la-Foret

Lyons-la-Foret tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins du château de Vandrimare - remarkable garden (9km) : Jardin Plume - remarkable garden (12km) : Abbaye Saint Germer de Fly (Saint-Germer-de-Fly) - religious monument (23km) : Forges-les-Eaux - recommended detour (25km) : Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais de Gisors (Gisors) - religious monument (26km) : Domaine du château d'Ambleville - remarkable garden (32km) : Les jardins du château de Saint-Just - remarkable garden (32km) : Montville - ville fleurie 4* (33km) :

French version: see Lyons-la-Foret (Francais)