Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville is a commune in Seine-Maritime, in the Normandy region, 10 km north-west of Rouen.
The locality which was once simply called Bondeville occupies an area of 6 km² which is still very green on its lateral parts.
Its history begins around 1150 when a priory of nuns attached to the order of Citeaux was established. Dedicated to Saint Denis, protected by the kings of France and England as well as by the Pope who granted him indulgences, the monastery had around thirty nuns in the 13th century.
While a small village developed in the immediate vicinity of the priory, the Grand Master of France Antoine de Chabannes stationed there in 1472 before leaving the premises, learning that Charles the Bold intended precisely to gather his troops in Bondeville before d 'attack Rouen!
Having become a royal abbey in 1657, the site was however the victim of a fire in 1778 and it was purely and simply suppressed in 1790. In the meantime, a fabric factory ("Indian" type fabrics because of color red thanks to madder) has established itself.
This textile activity has lasted for a long time and a museum is now dedicated to it at Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville which has around 7,200 inhabitants thanks to the growth of the Rouen metropolitan area. The city's leisure offer reflects its dynamism.
In terms of heritage, if nothing remains of the old abbey that gave birth to the town, we can however visit with interest the Church of Our Lady. It was built at the end of the 19th century to replace a church that had become obsolete and too far from the center of the village. Neo-Romanesque style, the building notably has a door with a right lintel surmounted by a semicircular arch, a motif taken on either side of the door and drawing two large niches.
The other major site of Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville is the former Vallois rope factory, located on the route de Dieppe. The factory dates from the beginning of the 19th century and was first a spinning mill (then owned by Rondeau) then became a mechanical rope factory whose production was ensured by English and French machines. They were then actuated by a water wheel. The rope factory operated until the 1970s. The site was then threatened by a real estate project. The descendants of the founder, associations and communities are mobilized: thus, in 1975, the building and the wheel are listed in the supplementary inventory of Historical Monuments then in 1984, most machines are classified as objects. Finally, in 1989, the region that owned the building decided to create an industrial archaeological museum there, also serving as a place of memory. It was inaugurated in 1994. You can still see the old buildings there, as well as all the machines, driven by the paddle wheel. The visit traces the history of the factory and highlights the know-how of the rope workers. The daily life of employees in their professional environment and that of their families, in the municipality, is also evoked through documents and objects.
Temporary exhibitions present other aspects of local history, and outside, a garden of dye plants (intended to dye fabrics) and fiber plants has been set up and is freely accessible. In addition, workshops and activities are regularly offered, particularly for young audiences. Open to the public every day from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. except January 1, May 1, November 11 and December 25. Free entry. Information on +33 2 35 74 35 35.
On the cultural side again, the Mathilde-de-Rouvres library regularly organizes events, workshops, meetings and exhibitions. Information on +33 2 32 82 51 60.
For colorful and fragrant walks, head to the rose garden in the town hall park, which has become a veritable conservatory dedicated to sarmentose roses and more particularly to roses born from the crossing of "Rosa Wichuraiana" with d ' other varieties. Free access.
For athletes, the inter-municipal swimming pool can combine sport and relaxation (information on +33 2 35 74 52 00). A city stadium, a basketball court and a skate park are also accessible at Place Carnot. In addition, on this same pole, it is also possible to book a tennis court (indoor or outdoor) with the local club (contact +33 2 35 74 42 88).
Finally, football fields and playgrounds are open to the public on the "Longs vallons" plain and a city-stadium is still available on rue de la Liberté.
As for hiking enthusiasts, the wooded areas to the west of the town, or to the east, towards Mont-Saint-Aignan, turn out to be pleasant itineraries, larger loops that can lead south towards Rouen and the loops of the Seine. Maps and information on +33 2 32 08 32 40.
