Established in the 5th century as the Roman settlement of “Brinnacu”, Bernay is a historic commune in the French department of Eure. It is renowned for its half-timbered buildings, Norman Romanesque abbey and rich history of cloth manufacturing. Since 2012, Bernay has been designated as one of France’s “Villes et Pays d'Art et d’Histoire”.
Things to do in Bernay
Occupying a 16th-century abbey house is the Municipal Museum of Bernay, which houses a fine art collection dating from antiquity to the 20th century. In addition to French, Italian and Dutch paintings, there are Rouen ceramics, furnishings and decorative arts on display. Nicolas Poussin and Tintoretto are among the artists represented in the collection.
A short walk from the Municipal Museum of Bernay is the Notre Dame de Bernay, an abbey church originally established in the 11th century by William of Volpiano. It is one of the earliest examples of Norman Romanesque architecture in the area and reflects the early evolution of the style. Today, the church hosts changing exhibitions and a tranquil garden.
Also of note is the Eglise Sainte-Croix, which was constructed between the 14th and 18th centuries. It boasts beautiful stained glass windows crafted in Evreux and a main altar topped with marble columns, as well as 16 statues of the apostles and evangelists. In addition to an organ built by Nicolas Baril in 1570, there is a choir organ purchased in 1913 from the Vatican.
Getting around Bernay
Bernay is around an hour’s drive from Rouen and just over two hours from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Bernay railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Bernay is compact enough to explore on foot.