Évreux is a commune in and the capital of the department of Eure, in the French region of Normandy.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Normandy |
| Department | Eure |
| Canton | Évreux-1, 2 and 3 |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Guy Lefrand |
| Area1 | 26.45 km2 (10.21 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 47,733 |
| Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Transport
The train station Gare d’Évreux-Normandie is on the railway line from Gare Saint-Lazare to Cherbourg, it is served by regular Intercity and regional rail services to both Paris and Normandy. There used to be two stations in Évreux, only one of which remains open to this day. The second station (Évreux-Nord) served the line from Évreux to Rouen.
Sights
Évreux is situated in the pleasant valley of the Iton, arms of which traverse the town; on the south, the ground slopes up toward the public gardens and the railway station. It is the seat of a bishop, and its cathedral is one of the largest and finest in France.
The architecture of the present edifice shows this history, with its blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. As did many towns in the regions of Nord and Normandy, Évreux and its cathedral suffered greatly from Second World War.
- Évreux Cathedral
- Hôtel de ville
- Église Saint-Taurin
Forests
The city of Evreux is above all rich in its wooded areas.
These forest areas are largely dominated by acidiphile oak, a stand characterized by the dominance of Sessile oak, Scots pine and Laricio pine. Many other tree species are also present, among which, in particular, red oak, beech, charm, ash or birch.
The silvicultural exploitation of these massifs makes it possible to produce fuelwood, industrial wood and timber. But the objective of wood production is secondary, since forests are first and foremost spaces for welcoming the public and preserving natural environments and landscapes.
The communal forest areas of Évreux play a main role in welcoming the public. Wood production is secondary.
Culture and Heritage
Places and monuments
Despite the destruction of World War II , there are still some notable monuments; ten of them are classified or listed as Historic Monuments :
- Listed monuments classified MH :
- Clock Tower (belfry),
- Évreux Museum (former episcopal palace)The archaeological room presents the discoveries of the region, from Prehistory to the Gallo-Roman period . The bronze statue of Jupiter Stator, from the Gisacum site , is one of the most beautiful pieces in the collection.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral , of composite and rather late Gothic style, classified since 1862. Notre-Dame Cathedral, chevet.
- Saint-Taurin Church , with the reliquary of Saint Taurin which is one of the masterpieces of medieval goldsmithing in France,
- Remains of the walls of the iv th century,
- Former Capuchin convent , now a high school,
- The monuments registered in the supplementary inventory:
- Other buildings:
- City Hall,
- Fountain of the town hall ,
- Palais de Justice, former Eudist chapel (1682-1714). Nowadays, seat of the tribunal de grande instance .
- Botanical garden, adjacent to the Capuchin convent
- Eiffel Bridge , bridge built for the Western Railway Company. The contemporary Eiffel Bridge corresponds to a roadway that spans the railway tracks between Pierre-Sémard and de la Resistance streets.
- Trangis Castle .
- Old church St. Michael of Evreux,
- Church of Saint-Michel d’Évreux,
- Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours de la Madeleine
- Small Castle of Navarre .
- The convent of Providence
Cultural heritage
- The Maison des Arts Solange-Baudoux organizes expression workshops in the field of plastic arts and contemporary art exhibitions.
- Municipal theater: holds, jointly with the Louviers theater , the national stage label .
- Rolland-Plaisance media library,
- Municipal library,
- Departmental archives ,
- Free Society of Agriculture, Sciences, Arts and Letters of the Eure
- Gaumont-Pathé Cinema (ex-Ciné Zénith)
- Three concert halls, including the Abordage , the Cadran and the Kubb Club .
Natural heritage
Classified sites
- For the record: the garden of the Bishop’s Palace, chestnut trees and hornbeams were all felled in January 2016; two years later, the ground is still vague; preventive archaeological excavations were carried out there, the garden constituting an ancient site.
- Boulevard Chambaudoin (part) and allée des Soupirs with their trees; site denatured with the damage of the 1939-1945 war;
- Place Saint-Taurin with its trees.
Teaching music, dance and drama
The town has historically had a music school , obeying the rules of organization and operation of conservatories with departmental influence. It is the former Capuchin convent that houses this entity independent of the municipality.
Since 2015, there has been a riding school in the former barracks of the Seventh Chasseurs, commonly known as Tilly in the Saint-Léger district, near the former Benedictine abbey destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793.
Cultural events and festivities
Several events take place in Évreux each year, most often in the square in front of the town hall or along the banks of the Iton :
- June 21: music festival;
- The apple festival;
- Booksellers;
- June: feast of fraternity;
- Every summer, the sport and culture village takes place on the Bel-Ébat meadow ;
Since 2017, the city has hosted the “Rock in Évreux” festival, succeeding Rock in all its forms .
The town’s racecourse is also built on the site of the old Navarre castle .
