Things to do in Evreux
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Evreux
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best months. Gardens open and in flower, terraces out, and the big June and October weekends fall here.
Worst months. Short wet days, Monet closed, and most gardens and Gisacum shut or on minimal hours.
Warm and long, with treetops and river activities running, but some independent restaurants close in August.
Giverny opens at the start of April, with spring gardens coming into flower.
What's on
- Rock in Évreux last weekend of June
The town's big popular music festival at the Hippodrome, filling every decent room in town.
- Fêtes Normandes first weekend of October
Norman produce, cider, crafts and street life in the centre, the best autumn weekend in Evreux.
- Festival d'Orgue et de Musique Sacrée in May
Organ and sacred music programming that puts the cathedral organ and acoustics to work.
- Hippodrome d'Évreux-Navarre race days 1 and 8 May
Proper provincial race days at the Navarre racecourse, a very French afternoon out.
- Hippodrome d'Évreux-Navarre race meeting and Harley gathering mid September
A September race meeting with a Harley and Customs gathering attached.
- L'Ébroïcienne last weekend of September
The town foot race, with a sporty full town and centre road closures on race morning.
- Foire Saint-Nicolas first week of December
The traditional Saint Nicholas fair that opens the Christmas season in Evreux.
Best things to do in Evreux
Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Évreux
A major Gothic cathedral in a small town, famed for its choir glass and the warm yellow tone named for Evreux.
Musée d'Art, Histoire et Archéologie d'Évreux
The former bishop palace museum, strongest in its basement Gallo-Roman rooms and the bronze Jupiter from Gisacum.
Église Saint-Taurin
A layered abbey church west of the centre, holding the 13th century goldsmith shrine of Saint Taurin.
Tour de l'Horloge
The 15th century belfry facing the town hall, the civic landmark that orients you in the old centre.
Promenade de l'Iton et des Remparts
A free walk along the Iton arms and the old ramparts, past bridges and washhouses by the cathedral quarter.
Jardin des Plantes d'Évreux
The town botanical garden, a free green pause of greenhouses, lawns and shade in the centre.
Chocolatrium Manufacture Cluizel
The Cluizel chocolate factory visit at Damville, small as a museum and strong on tasting and the factory shop.
Le Manège de Tilly
A dinner theatre and cabaret with equestrian numbers and live music, Evreux's one distinctive night out.
Where to stay in Evreux
Centre-ville and Cité Épiscopale
first trip, walkable base
Cathedral, museum, restaurants and the Iton banks on foot, with the station a short walk away.
Saint-Taurin and Clos au Duc
quiet, boutique stays
Calmer streets west across the Iton, a short walk from the centre, with garden properties.
Palais des Congrès, southeast centre edge
top standard and parking
Home to the town's four star hotel, somewhat walkable to the cathedral with free parking.
Southwest stopover belt
one night motorway breaks
Cheaper chain style stays with parking, but a long walk from the centre and its restaurants.
Think twice about
- La Madeleine
The district most often named in local reporting for above average crime, incivilities and insecurity. No visitor sights or hotels are there.
- Nétreville
Named in the same sources for degradations, tensions and persistent social problems, and under urban renewal. Choose the centre as a base instead.
- Ring-road retail fringe
The N13 and Cambolle style retail strips are soulless and unwalkable at night. Fine for a motorway night, poor for a leisure trip.
Best restaurants in Evreux
La Vieille Gabelle
Evreux's most complete dining room, polished French cooking with a particular strength in fish.
Ô Saveurs
A small seasonal restaurant with a garden, the dinner Evreux food people recommend to each other.
Le Petit Bruit de l'Œuf Dur
The beloved traditional bistro, classic dishes done properly and a huge wine list at resident prices.
Restaurant la Baraka
The town's highest rated dining room, Moroccan couscous and tagines served by an exceptional host.
Planète Mars
A destination pizzeria making dough daily and naming its local suppliers, on the main square.
Le Maharajah
A well rated Indian restaurant open seven days, strategically useful in a town of early closures.
La Petite Gabelle
An all day brasserie and bar with a terrace by the tourist office, for casual lunches and group evenings.
London Pub
The town's beloved pub, absorbing groups, late arrivals and mixed appetites without fuss.
Outdoor things to do in Evreux
Garden Golf d'Évreux
A welcoming 18 hole course and pitch and putt five minutes from the centre, ideal for mixed ability groups.
Voie Verte Évreux - Le Neubourg
A flat, car free greenway west to Le Neubourg, about 21 km one way and easy enough for children.
Arbr'en Ciel Évreux
Treetop courses with over 80 obstacles in the Chateau de Trangis park, five minutes from the centre.
Fondation Claude Monet
Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, about 30 minutes away and best entered near opening with a timed ticket.
Gisacum
A free, peaceful Gallo-Roman sanctuary town site, with baths, an interpretation centre and a big quiet landscape.
Château Gaillard
Richard the Lionheart's cliff fortress above a Seine bend, the finest viewpoint walk near Evreux.
Domaine d'Harcourt
A moated medieval castle inside one of France's oldest arboretums, with labelled trees and huge lawns.
Parc et Jardins du Château d'Acquigny
A remarkable 16 hectare water garden with an orangery and island kitchen garden, open weekend afternoons.
Best hotels in Evreux
Best Western Plus Évreux Palais des Congrès
The top hotel in town, a modern four star with restaurant, bar, fitness room and free parking.
Le Manoir de Joséphine
A small manor with individually decorated rooms and a private garden with a small lake.
Hôtel de Normandie
A classic small Logis hotel near the cathedral, with its own restaurant, bar, garden and parking.
Greet Hotel Évreux Centre - Route de Normandie by Accor
An Accor greet hotel near the cathedral with restaurant, fitness and tennis, at good value.
Comfort Hotel Évreux
A reliable budget stopover hotel with free parking and a defended breakfast buffet, outside the centre.
Hôtel de l'Orme
The budget pick that keeps the centre location, a short walk from the cathedral.
Is Evreux expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €55 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €110 a person |
| Splurge | €210 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Chocolatrium Manufacture Cluizel: a few days ahead
- Le Manège de Tilly: a few days ahead
- Cellules Grises Live Escape Game: a few days ahead
- Garden Golf d'Évreux: a few days ahead
- Arbr'en Ciel Évreux: a few days ahead
- Fondation Claude Monet: weeks ahead
- Château du Champ de Bataille: a few days ahead
- La Vieille Gabelle: a few days ahead
- Buy timed Fondation Monet tickets online in advance in season, and go near opening time.
- Reserve La Vieille Gabelle, O Saveurs and Le Manoir de Josephine when you reserve the hotel.
- Check same week hours for Acquigny, Champ de Bataille, Harcourt, Gisacum and the Chocolatrium before driving out.
- In mid August, confirm independent restaurants are open that week before relying on them.
Is Evreux safe?
- The centre a visitor uses raises no special issue beyond ordinary awareness and hiding valuables in parked cars.
- Streets are quiet and under lit late at night because the town sleeps early, not because it is dangerous.
- Do not base in La Madeleine or Netreville. Book in the centre and the question never arises.
Evreux travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Basing on the ring road to save a little money, then needing a taxi for every dinner.
- Treating the Chocolatrium as a headline sight. The chocolate is excellent and the museum is small.
- Expecting furnished chateau interiors at Harcourt or Acquigny. Both are gardens and grounds visits.
- Arriving on Sunday or Monday without a plan, when museums and small restaurants close in overlapping patterns.
Getting around Evreux: public transport and more
- Trains from Paris Saint-Lazare take roughly an hour, and the centre is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Evreux-Normandie station.
- Inside Evreux, walk. The cathedral circuit is compact and flat except the Saint-Michel climb.
- A car is needed for Giverny, Chateau Gaillard, Harcourt, Acquigny and Gisacum. Car free fallbacks are thin buses via Vernon.
- Hire bikes in town the day before a Voie Verte ride, as there is no trailhead rental.
Who Evreux suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Evreux your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App Store