A hiker's paradise just a few kilometers from your campsite, the Brotonne forest lies in a meander of the Seine, west of Rouen, and is part of the Parc Régional des Boucles de Seine Normande.
From the outskirts of Rouen to the Marais Vernier, this vast 7,200-hectare forest offers a haven of peace for numerous species and a protected natural area. In addition to oaks, hornbeams and Scots pines, the forest is home to 90 other species. But it's the beech that mainly covers the estate, making it the largest beech forest in France. The forest is criss-crossed by numerous footpaths, offering hikers a wide variety of routes.
The regional park is also home to the Hauville mill-tower and the La Haye-de-Routot communal bread oven: two remarkable buildings.
The forest's presence has been attested since Roman times, and it was later the site of a battle between Childebert and Clotaire in 537, before becoming the inhabitants' refuge from Viking attacks against Charlemagne's empire.
Owned by the Dukes of Normandy, the Bretonne forest was returned to the royal domain under Charles VIII, saving it from fatal clearing. The estate was subsequently abandoned by the kings, and the forest became an area for timber production.
The forest is important to the locals, who keep certain traditions alive, such as the May 1st mass held in the Saint-Maur chapel. Hunting parties are still held here twice a week, and the forest is alive with the cries of hounds and the sound of hunting horns.
Last but not least, the vat oak, a 400-year-old tree, is the object of special veneration and is called the king of the Bretonne forest.