A 4-day hiking route – no car needed!
Discover Rouen, an architectural gem and the capital of Normandy, then join the GR®2 to explore the banks of the Seine and their spectacular landscapes. Make the most of the peace and quiet and the fresh air to recharge your batteries, before reaching Vernon-Giverny station on the final leg of your journey.
The Seine Normande from station to station is a 98.3km, 4-day walking route through Normandy, accessible by train!
This itinerary takes you through the Seine valley between Rouen and Vernon-Giverny stations in four stages, following the GR®2 route, mainly along its Normandy variant on the river’s right bank.
Each stage of this walk begins and ends at a railway station. This makes it easy to return to your starting point and then come back to continue your journey. But you can also complete the whole route in 4 days!
To help you plan your walk between Rouen and Vernon-Giverny, download the stage guides for the route below, which include maps!
STAGE 1: Rouen – Les Authieux-sur-le-Port – Saint-Ouen (23.2 km)
During this first stage, covering 23.2 km, you’ll have the chance to explore Rouen, including the famous ‘Gros Horloge’, the cathedral and the historic city centre. You’ll also enjoy breathtaking views of the Seine from places such as the Côte Sainte-Catherine and the hillsides of Saint-Adrien.
STAGE 2: Les Authieux-sur-le-Port-Saint-Ouen – Val-de-Reuil (24.4 km)
During this second stage, you’ll follow the Côte des Deux Amants, which offers panoramic views of the Seine valley in Normandy. You’ll then cross the river at the Poses dam and its lock. Take a break at Léry-Poses Park, with its water sports and the ‘Biotropica’ wildlife gardens.
STAGE 3: Val-de-Reuil – Aubevoye (24.5 km)
On this third stage, you’ll alternate between walking along the banks of the Seine and along the hillsides overlooking the river. You’ll discover the village of Le Vaudreuil, the churches of Saint-Étienne and Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray, and the feudal motte at Venables. At the end of the route, you’ll catch sight of the Château de Gaillon, the earliest example of Renaissance architecture in France, which is open to visitors during the high season.
STAGE 4: Aubevoye – Vernon-Giverny (25.7 km)
To finish your walk, you’ll cross to the other side of the Seine at the Courcelles-sur-Seine bridge before crossing the river again at Vernon, where you can admire its famous Vieux-Moulin and the Château des Tourelles. On the second half of the route, you’ll discover a wooded path that takes you past the famous ‘Gargantua gravel pit’, the Church of Sainte-Geneviève and the Port-Mort dam.
Nearby, don’t miss the village of Giverny and Claude Monet’s famous house and gardens.
A leaflet on the ‘Gare à gare’ (Station to station) walk is available at all our tourist information offices.
Gr® is a registered trademark of the FFRandonnée; it refers to the routes designated as ‘GR®’, which are signposted with red-and-white markings. These routes have been created by the FFRandonnée. Unauthorised reproduction of these routes, or of the GR® trademark, constitutes an infringement of copyright and is liable to prosecution. Find all the GR® routes at www.mongr.fr