Municipality of Seine-Maritime, around thirty kilometers from Rouen, Le Trait is located on the right bank of the Seine, on the edges of the Trait-Maulévrier national forest. It is an integral part of the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Natural Park.
Equipped with a strategic waterway since Antiquity, the Norman city has become over the centuries an industrial and prosperous city. Formerly a rural village and former post house in the 16th century, it became famous in the 20th century with its famous ambassador ships. The shipyards closed their doors definitively in 1972.
Today, Le Trait continues to seduce with the richness of its architectural heritage, but also with its industrial and working history of which many testimonies remain.
Built on the site of a building that once housed Polish shipyard workers, the Saint-Eloi chapel dates from 1932 and was placed under the protection of the patron saint of metalworkers. Placed on the edge of the Voie Verte, it has an elongated plan with a flat-bottomed bedside table. Buttresses are also visible, as are arched bays. Originally in the neo-Norman style, its false half-timberings were masked by a uniform coating during its restoration.
When passing through the Norman city, don't forget to visit the Saint-Nicolas church which rests on 12th century foundations. It is decorated with a double nave with a framework in the hull of an overturned ship at the beginning of the 16th century. But it was only during the second half of the 19th century that its bell tower was built. Inside, you can discover an entombment and 16th century English alabasters, as well as listed statues. The cemetery reveals four-century-old yew trees.
Unique testimony to the working-class past of Le Trait, the garden city extends over several kilometers. This mushroom city, labeled 20th Century Heritage, is inspired by the English model of garden cities. The organization of its quarters once reproduced the internal hierarchy of the shipyard company.
Lovers of hiking and outdoor living will appreciate the numerous spaces to discover, such as the marshes, classified Natura 2000, the developed banks of the Seine or the Trait-Maulévrier national forest. A place of relaxation popular with locals, Guérillon Park has a pond, banks with pedestrian access, a bowling alley and even a playground for the youngest.
In June, it's time for the Estivales Saint-Jean with a program of concerts and activities for the whole family.
The town celebrates the national holiday every July 14 with fireworks.
At the beginning of September, time for the Motorcycle Festival with concerts, night parade and other activities for two-wheel enthusiasts.
A Christmas market is offered every year in December.
