Evreux, an ancient city
Évreux is the capital of the Eure department and the third largest city in Upper Normandy.
The Gallic tribe of the Aulerci Eburovices, who founded the city on the banks of the Iton River at the end of the 1st century BC, gave it its name. After the Roman conquest, Évreux became an important garrison town within Lugdunian Gaul.
Archaeological excavations at the Gallo-Roman site of Gisacum, located 6 km south of Évreux, have indeed unearthed numerous architectural remains. Spanning 250 hectares, this ancient city enjoyed considerable importance and influence.
The inhabitants fortified their city with strong ramparts during the barbarian invasions of the 3rd century AD.
However, despite these defences, Evreux fell victim to Vandal pillaging in the 5th century AD and suffered further devastation at the hands of Viking raiders in 892. You can admire the remains of these fortifications at the Évreux Museum.
A title passed from family to family!
The history of Évreux is closely linked to the lineage of the Counts of Évreux, descendants of the illegitimate son of Richard I, Duke of Normandy.
The title of Count of Évreux was initially passed down through various family branches before reverting to the French Crown in 1200. King Philip the Fair then bestowed it upon his brother Louis in 1307, and Philip the Tall elevated it to the rank of a peerage of France in 1317.
The influence of the Counts of Évreux increased considerably with the marriage of Philip of Évreux to Joan of Navarre in 1318, which allowed them to ascend to the throne of Navarre.
However, the title reverted once again to the French Crown in 1404 under Charles the Noble, then passed through various hands, notably those of Charles VI of France and Sir John Stuart, a Scotsman who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Guard.
After Stuart’s death, the title returned to the French Crown, and the Duke of Anjou inherited it in the 16th century. It was eventually bestowed upon Frédéric Maurice de la Tour d’Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon, in 1651, in gratitude for securing the return of the independent principality of Sedan to the French Crown. The House of Bouillon retained the title until the French Revolution.
Episcopal city
In the 4th century, Évreux became the seat of the Bishopric of Ébroicensis, founded by Saint Taurin, its first bishop. The Romanesque Church of Saint-Taurin, the repository of the saint’s relics, has undergone transformations and expansions over time.
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame d’Évreux, for its part, was consecrated in 1076 and rebuilt after being destroyed during the Norman uprising of 1119. It was damaged again during the conflicts between King Philip Augustus and Richard the Lionheart, but was systematically restored.
Thus, today, its harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic features makes it a superb illustration of the evolution of French religious architecture.
It indeed boats a central octagonal tower dating from the 15th century, and a Renaissance-style west facade with twin towers, and is adorned with magnificent stained-glass windows from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Episcopal Palace, built in the 15th century next to the cathedral, now houses the Évreux Museum.
The Tour de l’Horloge – Clock Tower, a 44-meter-high Gothic bell tower erected in the 1490s to replace an older clock tower, is a listed historical monument and can be visited. However, you must climb a 140-step staircase!
Additional facts
In the Middle Ages, the city was home to a significant Jewish community, with several centres of Jewish learning and numerous scholars from these centres mentioned in medieval Talmudic texts.
The inauguration of the Mantes-Lisieux railway line in 1855 led to the construction of the station.
Like many Norman cities, Évreux suffered extensive damage in the Second World War. The city centre was completely devastated, but was rebuilt after the war, respecting the traditional local architecture.
The nearby Évreux-Fauville air base, a former NATO air base used by the US Air Force in Europe from 1952 to 1967, has since been operated by the French Air Force.
Located an hour’s drive from Paris and halfway between the capital and the Normandy coast, Evreux is a city worth visiting.
Department of Eure
Coordinates: Lat 49.027013 – Long 1.151361
Photos Wikimedia Commons: Header and Pavillon Fleuri by Elgaard CC BY-SA 3.0 – Vestiges rampart by Urban Public domain – Tour de l’Horloge by Félix Potuit Domain public – Cathedrale Notre-Dame by Ytiemi CC BY-SA 3.0 – Renaissance facade by Parsifall CC BY-SA 4.0
