Pont de l'Arche
(Part 2)
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In the ninth century, Pont de l’Arche was as a critical chokepoint to control the Eure and Seine rivers which converge at this small Norman community. In those days, Vikings navigated their ships along the riverbanks of the Seine River leading to south (Rouen, Paris). Pont de l'Arche featured at one time a bridge with 22 arches and portcullises (entries) with two fortified castles on each bank.
No doubt, walking through Pont de l’Arche is like strolling through the Middle Ages and the times of the Renaissance. The very narrow alleyways invite you to discover.
For anyone interested in history and architecture, Pont de l’Arche has retained a lot of its heritage which includes the town’s wood-paned houses, its 13th century ramparts and a 15th century church which overlooks the ancient fortified city and the Seine. Built in the style called “Flamboyant Gothic,” its architecture reflects movement and fluidity with flame-like elements enhanced with intricate stone carved decorations. Its stained glass windows, stalls, and the façade of the building make it a must-see place.
Maurice Delamare, my great-grandfather, served two terms as Mayor for Pont de l’Arche. His first tenure was before World War I erupted and the second a few years after the Armistice in 1918. The City Hall (Hotel de Ville) was his home and is located on a main street bearing his name.
In the 1750’s, Pont de l’Arche became a thriving center for the manufacture of widely sought hand-made slippers and shoes. The MARCO factory located in Pont de l'Arche produced the quality footwear until it finally closed its doors in 2021.
We are the ancestors of the future and
what we do now will have an impact.
Linda Hogan; author
Normandy is so much more than just the D-Day beaches. Its spacious rolling hills are grazing lands for foraging cows which provide, I believe, the highest quality butter in the world. It is the land of time-honored quality cheeses such as the Camembert, the Pont l’Eveque and Neufchatel.
If you don't know history, then you don't know anything.
You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.
Michael Crichton, author
This is a very small section of the "Tapisserie de Bayeux" hand stitched by my mother. The Bayeux tapestry displayed at its museum (about an hour away) is an embroidered cloth with 58 hand stitched scenes. It shows over 600 human figures, nearly a thousand animals/plants as well three dozen buildings and fortifications. It also serves as record of the first time Halley's Comet was recorded in European history.
Just to the south of Pont de l'Arche is the Forêt de Bord-Louvier which once belonged to the Dukes of Normandy. The national park is over 4000 hectares or more than over 11,000 acres of foliage and fauna. It has 8 marked trails, the longest one being about 10 miles, botanical trails and many ponds.
Next time - Almost fifty percent of the city was destroyed by Allied bombings during World War II yet the the heart of a heroic and chivalrous warrior king remains in Rouen. It is also the city where a young maiden was burnt at the stake for defeating the English.
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