Mantes-la-Jolie, Royal Town

With its lovely town centre full of busy shops Mantes-la-Jolie has wonderful surprises in store for those enjoying a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Seine. Visitors can find lovely boutiques and traditional or exotic markets with a thousand different aromas and relax in the many welcoming cafés and restaurants.

Mantes was a favourite place for several French kings and it was Henri IV who gave it its name when he wrote to his mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées, “Je suis à Mantes, ma jolie”. The king left his mark on the history of the town, which he made it the seat of government between 1590 and 1593. From early medieval times the town was also a very busy trading port thanks to its situation on a strategic crossroads between Paris and Rouen. Of the castle from that period only the outer walls have survived. Mantes-la-Jolie’s masterpiece is without doubt the Gothic collegiate church of Notre-Dame in which is said to be the heart of king Philippe Auguste, who died in the castle. From the top of the church towers, the unrestricted views of the Seine and the whole Vexin region are breathtaking.

Other sights: the Hôtel Dieu museum, the rue Baudin and its XVIIth and XVIIIth century town mansions, the rue Porte Chant-à-l’Oise, the square Gabrielle d’Estrées and, in the lower town, two stretches of town wall, the Porte-au-Prêtre and the old bridge immortalised by Corot. 

Top tip: the walking trails along the banks of the Seine, a paradise for romantic strolls.

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