The Seine runs through it
Mantes-la-Jolie, royal city
Mantes-la-Jolie has many surprises in store for those strolling along the banks of the Seine, who will be delighted to discover a pretty, bustling town centre. Here you'll find beautiful boutiques and traditional or exotic markets with a thousand aromas, and you can relax on the welcoming terraces of the many cafés and restaurants.
A little history
A holiday spot for several French kings, it was Henri IV who gave it its name, writing to his mistress Gabrielle d’Estrées, “Je suis à Mantes, ma jolie” (“I’m in Mantes, my pretty one”). Henri IV left his mark on the history of the town, where he established the government of France between 1590 and 1593. Since the High Middle Ages, the town has also been an active trading port, strategically located at the crossroads between Paris and Rouen. All that remains of the original castle are the surrounding walls. The masterpiece of Mantes-la-Jolie is undoubtedly the gothic collegiate church of Notre-Dame where the heart of Philippe Auguste, who died at the château, is said to have been laid to rest. From the top of its towers, the view over the Seine and the entire Vexin county is breathtaking.
Also to be seen in Mantes
The Musée de l’Hôtel Dieu: just a stone’s throw from the Collégiale Notre-Dame, this museum reveals the town’s medieval past, as well as the works of artist Maximilien Luce.
Also rue Baudin and its collection of 17th and 18th century town houses, rue Porte Chant-à-l’Oise, square Gabrielle d’Estrées and, in the lower town, two series of ramparts, Porte-au-Prêtre and the old Mantes bridge immortalised by Corot…
Finally, the Mantes la Jolie educational farm is located in the exceptional, protected environment of the Île l’Aumône. At the entrance to a 21-hectare ornithological park where the fauna, especially the birds, are protected, the farm offers an idyllic moment of connection with rural life.
Favourites
The walking trails along the banks of the Seine, a veritable paradise for romantic strolls, or for cyclists, with the Seine à vélo, an itinerary from Paris to the sea that crosses the city.
