Pays de Bray
Encyclopedia
The Pays de Bray is a small (about 750 km²) natural region
of France
situated to the north-east of Rouen
, straddling the French départements of the Seine-Maritime
and Oise
(historically divided among the Provinces of Normandy
and Picardy
since 911, hence divided among the official regions of Haute-Normandie
and Picardie
). The landscape is of bocage
, a land use which arises from its clay
soil
; suited to the development of pasture
for the raising of dairy
cattle. It produces famous butter
s and cheese
s such as Neuchâtel
.
word braco > Old French Bray marsh, swamp or mud. It appears to be so named as the soil distinguishes it from the neighbouring Pays de Caux
; the one of sticky clay, the other on dry, firm chalk.
, the Pays de Bray is a relatively small eroded anticline
along the Bray fault, breaking through rocks on the fringe of the Parisian Basin. The latter forming the chalk
plateau
s around it. It is a small version of the Weald
of Kent
and Sussex
but reveals the beds more deeply; down to the Upper Jurassic
clay.
To the north is the Upper Cretaceous
plateau of Picardy
with the Pays de Caux
to the west and the Vexin
to the south-east. The erosion has exposed clay beds in an elliptically-shaped region which is called the buttonhole of the Pays de Bray. A "boutonnière" (buttonhole), in French geological language, is an eroded anticline. This is why the Pays de Bray's outline is shaped as a buttonhole, marked as it is with surrounding escarpment
s of 60 to 100 metres in height, making it a distinct physical and cultural entity.
The pays de Bray is rich in springs and several watercourses rise there; notably the Epte
and the Andelle
, tributaries of the Seine
. The Béthune
and the Eaulne
flow into the Arques
which enters the English Channel
at Dieppe
. Among the most notable springs are those of Forges-les-Eaux
("Forges-the-Waters") which gave it and its surroundings the renown of a spa
. As a result of its clay-rich soil, the traditional building style of the Pays de Bray is of cob (sometimes changed to brick since the 19th) and tile throughout, showing wattle and daub
structures.
and Start Point, Devon
. It is also part of the anticline which lies to the south of the Isle of Wight
. The chalk of that island's central ridge is cognate with that of the Pays de Bray's northern escarpment. The syncline to the north of the Isle of Wight underlies the Hampshire Basin
and rises in the next anticline to form Salisbury Plain
and the Wealden ridge of which the territory of Boulogne-sur-Mer
, the Boulonnais
is the equivalent feature in France
. The syncline of south Hampshire is represented by the bay and département of Somme
.
Fundamentally, the Bray fault dates from the late Carboniferous
and early Permian
but the effect in France
and England
, of its associated earth movements, has quietly continued so as to gently fold the overlying Jurassic
and Cretaceous
strata.
, Forges-les-Eaux
and Gournay-en-Bray
. It is primarily an agricultural region. Its "brand" products are its three AOC
, Neufchâtel cheese
, the cider spirit, Calvados
and Normandy pommeau
. The famous local speciality of fromage frais
called petit Suisse was launched from a farm near Gournay-en-Bray
; Charles Gervais set up his first factory at Ferrières-en-Bray
and his second one at Neufchâtel-en-Bray
(closed in 2009).
to Amiens
. The second was joining between gare de Paris-Saint-Lazare and Dieppe
via Pontoise
but is closed between Serqueux
(where it meets the first one) and Dieppe
Natural region
A Natural region is one which is distinguished by its natural features of geography and usually more important, geology. The natural ecology of the region is likely to be significant but one of these factors tends to influence the others....
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
situated to the north-east of Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, straddling the French départements of the Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime is a French department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is situated on the northern coast of France, at the mouth of the Seine, and includes the cities of Rouen and Le Havre...
and Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
(historically divided among the Provinces of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
since 911, hence divided among the official regions of Haute-Normandie
Haute-Normandie
Upper Normandy is one of the 27 regions of France. It was created in 1984 from two départements: Seine-Maritime and Eure, when Normandy was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy. This division continues to provoke controversy, and some continue to call for reuniting the two regions...
and Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
). The landscape is of bocage
Bocage
Bocage is a Norman word which has entered both the French and English languages. It may refer to a small forest, a decorative element of leaves, a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture, or a type of rubble-work, comparable with the English use of 'rustic' in relation to garden...
, a land use which arises from its clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
; suited to the development of pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
for the raising of dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
cattle. It produces famous butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
s and cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
s such as Neuchâtel
Neufchâtel (cheese)
French Neufchâtel is a soft, slightly crumbly, mould-ripened cheese made in the region of Normandy. One of the oldest cheeses in France, its production is believed to date back to the 6th century. It looks similar to Camembert, with a dry, white, edible rind, but the taste is saltier and sharper....
.
Etymology
Etymologically, the name of Bray comes from a GaulishGaulish language
The Gaulish language is an extinct Celtic language that was spoken by the Gauls, a people who inhabited the region known as Gaul from the Iron Age through the Roman period...
word braco > Old French Bray marsh, swamp or mud. It appears to be so named as the soil distinguishes it from the neighbouring Pays de Caux
Pays de Caux
The Pays de Caux is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French département of Seine Maritime in Haute-Normandie. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cliffs on the English Channel coast - its coastline is known as the Côte d'Albâtre...
; the one of sticky clay, the other on dry, firm chalk.
Geology
Viewed geologicallyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, the Pays de Bray is a relatively small eroded anticline
Anticline
In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is convex up and has its oldest beds at its core. The term is not to be confused with antiform, which is a purely descriptive term for any fold that is convex up. Therefore if age relationships In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is...
along the Bray fault, breaking through rocks on the fringe of the Parisian Basin. The latter forming the chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
s around it. It is a small version of the Weald
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
but reveals the beds more deeply; down to the Upper Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
clay.
To the north is the Upper Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
plateau of Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
with the Pays de Caux
Pays de Caux
The Pays de Caux is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French département of Seine Maritime in Haute-Normandie. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cliffs on the English Channel coast - its coastline is known as the Côte d'Albâtre...
to the west and the Vexin
Vexin
The Vexin is a historical county of northwestern France. It covers a verdant plateau on the right bank of the Seine comprising an area east-to-west between Pontoise and Romilly-sur-Andelle , and north-to-south between Auneuil and the Seine near Vernon...
to the south-east. The erosion has exposed clay beds in an elliptically-shaped region which is called the buttonhole of the Pays de Bray. A "boutonnière" (buttonhole), in French geological language, is an eroded anticline. This is why the Pays de Bray's outline is shaped as a buttonhole, marked as it is with surrounding escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
s of 60 to 100 metres in height, making it a distinct physical and cultural entity.
The pays de Bray is rich in springs and several watercourses rise there; notably the Epte
Epte
The Epte is a river in Seine-Maritime and Eure, in Normandy, France. It is a right tributary of the Seine.The river rises in Seine-Maritime in the Pays de Bray, near Forges-les-Eaux...
and the Andelle
Andelle
The Andelle is a river of Normandy, France, in length, flowing through the departments of Seine-Maritime and Eure.- Geography :The Andelle has its source in the Pays de Bray in the territory of the commune of Serqueux...
, tributaries of the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
. The Béthune
Béthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
and the Eaulne
Eaulne
The river Eaulne is one of the rivers that flow from the plateau of the eastern Pays de Caux in the Seine-Maritime département of Haute-Normandie in northern France. The Eaulne’s source is at Mortemer...
flow into the Arques
Arques River
The river Arques is a watercourse located in the Seine-Maritime département of the Haute-Normandie region of northern France. Only 6 kilometres in length, the river is formed by the confluence of three rivers at Arques-la-Bataille: The Eaulne, the Béthune and the Varenne which drain the pays de...
which enters the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
at Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
. Among the most notable springs are those of Forges-les-Eaux
Forges-les-Eaux
Forges-les-Eaux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming and spa town, with considerable light industry, situated by the banks of the rivers Andelle and Epte, in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe, at the junction...
("Forges-the-Waters") which gave it and its surroundings the renown of a spa
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
. As a result of its clay-rich soil, the traditional building style of the Pays de Bray is of cob (sometimes changed to brick since the 19th) and tile throughout, showing wattle and daub
Wattle and daub
Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw...
structures.
The cross-Channel geological structure
The Bray Fault is part of the Lizard front which is represented also in The LizardThe Lizard
The Lizard is a peninsula in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The most southerly point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at ....
and Start Point, Devon
Start Point, Devon
Start Point is a promontory in the South Hams district. It is one of the most southerly points in Devon, England, . It marks the southern limit of Start Bay, which extends northwards to the estuary of the River Dart....
. It is also part of the anticline which lies to the south of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. The chalk of that island's central ridge is cognate with that of the Pays de Bray's northern escarpment. The syncline to the north of the Isle of Wight underlies the Hampshire Basin
Hampshire Basin
The Hampshire Basin is a geological basin of Paleogene age in southern England, underlying parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, and Sussex...
and rises in the next anticline to form Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
and the Wealden ridge of which the territory of Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, the Boulonnais
Boulonnais (land area)
The Boulonnais is a coastal area of northern France, around Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. It has a curved belt of chalk downs which run into the sea at both ends, and geologically is the east end of the Weald-Artois Anticline.- Administration :...
is the equivalent feature in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The syncline of south Hampshire is represented by the bay and département of Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
.
Fundamentally, the Bray fault dates from the late Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
and early Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
but the effect in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, of its associated earth movements, has quietly continued so as to gently fold the overlying Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
and Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
strata.
Geography
The main towns of the Pays de Bray are Neufchâtel-en-BrayNeufchâtel-en-Bray
Neufchâtel-en-Bray is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small town of farming and associated light industry situated by the banks of the river Bethune in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D1, the...
, Forges-les-Eaux
Forges-les-Eaux
Forges-les-Eaux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming and spa town, with considerable light industry, situated by the banks of the rivers Andelle and Epte, in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe, at the junction...
and Gournay-en-Bray
Gournay-en-Bray
Gournay-en-Bray is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A town of farming and light industry situated in the Pays de Bray, some east of Rouen, at the junction of the N31, the D930 and the D915 roads...
. It is primarily an agricultural region. Its "brand" products are its three AOC
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
, Neufchâtel cheese
Neufchâtel (cheese)
French Neufchâtel is a soft, slightly crumbly, mould-ripened cheese made in the region of Normandy. One of the oldest cheeses in France, its production is believed to date back to the 6th century. It looks similar to Camembert, with a dry, white, edible rind, but the taste is saltier and sharper....
, the cider spirit, Calvados
Calvados (spirit)
Calvados is an apple brandy from the French région of Basse-Normandie or Lower Normandy.-History:Apple orchards and brewers are mentioned as far back as the 8th century by Charlemagne. The first known Norman distillation was carried out by "Lord" de Gouberville in 1554, and the guild for cider...
and Normandy pommeau
Pommeau
Pommeau is an alcoholic drink made in northern France by mixing apple juice with apple brandy .It is consumed as an apéritif, or as an accompaniment to melon or blue cheese...
. The famous local speciality of fromage frais
Fromage frais
Fromage frais is a dairy product, originating from north of France and south of Belgium. The name literally means "fresh cheese" in french .Fromage frais is a creamy soft cheese made with whole or skimmed milk and cream...
called petit Suisse was launched from a farm near Gournay-en-Bray
Gournay-en-Bray
Gournay-en-Bray is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A town of farming and light industry situated in the Pays de Bray, some east of Rouen, at the junction of the N31, the D930 and the D915 roads...
; Charles Gervais set up his first factory at Ferrières-en-Bray
Ferrières-en-Bray
Ferrières-en-Bray is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small town of farming and associated light industry situated by the banks of the river Auchy in the Pays de Bray, some east of Rouen, at the junction of the D21, the D928...
and his second one at Neufchâtel-en-Bray
Neufchâtel-en-Bray
Neufchâtel-en-Bray is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small town of farming and associated light industry situated by the banks of the river Bethune in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D1, the...
(closed in 2009).
Road
The Pays de Bray is served by several axial roads:- From south-east to northwest the "route départmentale" (D road) D 915 (former route nationale 15Route nationale 15The N 15 was a trunk road in France.-Route:The RN 15 links the A13 to Le Havre via Rouen and Yvetot.The RN 15 originates at junction 14 on the A13 autoroute in the Yvelines département near Bonnières-sur-Seine...
), the ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
-to-DieppeDieppe, Seine-MaritimeDieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
. - From north-east to south-west, the A28 autorouteA28 autorouteAutoroute 28 is an motorway linking Abbeville in Somme to Tours in Indre-et-Loire.The motorway starts at Abbeville splitting from the A16 and, after merging with the A13 near Rouen, ends at Tours, merging with the A10. The motorway between Rouen and Tours was added to the Schéma Directeur Routier...
(motorway or turnpike), joining AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
to RouenRouenRouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
and ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
. - From east to west, the route nationale 31Route nationale 31The Route nationale 31 is a motorway in northern France. It connects the town of Rouen to Reims, it is also the European Route 46.-Route:The road starts in the City of Rouen, the road starts heading east. The road heads through the Foret de Lyons passing the Hetre de la Bunodiere. The road then...
which joins ReimsReimsReims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
and RouenRouenRouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
by BeauvaisBeauvaisBeauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. - From east to west, the A29 autorouteA29 autorouteThe A29 is a motorway in Normandy, northern France. The road is also European Route 44.-Route:The road connects the port of Le Havre with the A26 autoroute at Saint-Quentin...
which joins Saint-QuentinSaint-Quentin, AisneSaint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
and CaenCaenCaen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
by AmiensAmiensAmiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
and Le HavreLe HavreLe Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
.
Rail
The rail network is reduced to two lines. The main one, electrified, joins Rouen-Rive-DroiteGare de Rouen Rue Verte
Rouen-Rive-Droite is a large station serving the city of Rouen, in northern France. The station is on Rue Verte in the north of the city. Services are mainly intercity but many services are local...
to Amiens
Gare d'Amiens
Gare d'Amiens is the main station for the Northern French city of Amiens.The station opened on 15 March 1847 when the line to Abbeville opened to passengers. The station building was subsequently replaced by the present structure following the allied bombardment and was built in 1955 by Auguste...
. The second was joining between gare de Paris-Saint-Lazare and Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe is the train station for the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime and was built by Chemins de Fer de Paris à Cherbourg on 28 July 1848. It used to have a direct connection with Paris-St. Lazare via Serqueux and Gisors, but this line was closed in 2006. Along with Dieppe-Port, it was a stop...
via Pontoise
Gare de Pontoise
Pontoise is the train station serving the city of Pontoise and the surrounding suburbs. The station is a large building situated on Place Charles de Gaulle itself at the bottom end of Rue Thiers...
but is closed between Serqueux
Serqueux, Seine-Maritime
Serqueux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A village situated at the source of the Epte river in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D 1314, D 13 and D 83 roads...
(where it meets the first one) and Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe is the train station for the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime and was built by Chemins de Fer de Paris à Cherbourg on 28 July 1848. It used to have a direct connection with Paris-St. Lazare via Serqueux and Gisors, but this line was closed in 2006. Along with Dieppe-Port, it was a stop...
Adjoining natural regions
- Pays de CauxPays de CauxThe Pays de Caux is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French département of Seine Maritime in Haute-Normandie. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cliffs on the English Channel coast - its coastline is known as the Côte d'Albâtre...
(to the west) - Vexin normand (to the south)
- Pays de Thelle (to the south-east)
- Beauvaisis (to the east)
- Petit-Caux (to the north)
External links
- Cultural & tourism association of the Normandy part of the Pays de Bray. The English version is not yet running.
- Site about Neufchâtel-en-Bray. The English version is not yet running.