Spending the day in Pontoise?
This city retains traces of a Neolithic past (3000 BC), Gallo-Roman (Jules César road linking Lutèce to Rouen), medieval, renaissance, revolutionary, empire and impressionist.
It will please history and art enthusiasts as well as hikers, pedestrians or cyclists, who will stroll along banks adorned with centuries-old trees.
Families will appreciate the charm of the river escapades and the festive evenings of the guinguette.
To discover
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The city's coat of arms proudly and clearly displays its colors: golden fleur-de-lys, azure blue of a bridge with five silver arches.
From the city ramparts, the panoramic view of the Oise and its bridge brings a breath of summer serenity.
Camille Pissarro has often immortalized this bridge.
A replica of a canvas now in Japan, at the Yamagata Museum, can be seen near the Tourist Office.
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Majestic religious architecture
Saint-Maclou cathedral in Pontoise.
Adobe Stock / PackShot
The exit from the station is
at Place du Général de Gaulle
.
Two solutions: turn right on rue Séré-Depoin heading (400m) towards the tourist office located on the banks of the
Oise
to pick up maps and brochures.
The building is new, modern and the staff is particularly welcoming.
Another possibility is to go and admire the
Saint-Maclou cathedral
, clearly visible (400m) at the top of a fairly steep hill and a monumental staircase.
Built around 1145, it has been redesigned and mixes Romanesque and Gothic styles.
From there, go down the cobbled rue du Grand Godet towards
the Notre-Dame church
(1177).
It also revamped Renaissance.
Do not miss the statue (2m) of the miraculous Virgin nor the stained glass windows which date from the beginning of 1900. Outside, under the tall trees, the fountain of the Virgin once supplied the tanners.
Five hundred meters further, go see the
tower of the Fountain of Love
in the eponymous street.
A legend says that a young aristocrat met a squire there in secret.
An idyll broken by the father of the girl who killed the suitor.
Visits:
cathedral open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., church from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Bucolic break at the Carmel Church
The pretty paved courtyard of the Carmel church in Pontoise.
Martine Carret / Le Figaro
Our favourite, for sure.
A heavy oak door marks the entrance to a small paved courtyard.
The
Carmel Church
there was consecrated on April 12, 1610 and can be visited.
It is a Carmelite at the reception who provides the keys to the church.
Inside, several paintings dating from the 17th century, and the more recent one (18th century) of
The Transverberation of Saint Teresa of Avila
.
High up, on the side aisle, are displayed in a transparent urn the relics of Marie de l'Incarnation, the first officially recognized French stigmatized.
Twelve Carmelites still live here, garden and cloister remain private.
The vegetable garden and orchard, including hundred-year-old trees, provided the nuns with enough to live on.
At 91, Sister Marie-Jeanne de Jésus prepares apple jam with orange, blackcurrant jelly, lemon marmalade, rhubarb jam with vanilla.
The pots are on sale (€5) at reception, as well as infusions of verbena harvested in the orchard.
Visits:
entrance at 55, rue Pierre Butin.
Morning service (8 a.m. Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. Sunday) by prior registration (tel: 01 30 32 35 21).
Doors open after mass and until 4:45 p.m.
carmelpontoise.fr
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Limestone quarries
The Cave des Moineaux and its ribbed vaults, in Pontoise.
City of Pontoise / Press photo
A real Swiss cheese, the historic heart of the old town is dotted with underground passages.
The cellars of the dwellings are vaulted and particularly beautiful.
While some can only be visited during European Heritage Days, there is on the other hand a network of underground passages accessible all year round, in particular the famous
Cave des Moineaux
and its ribbed vaults.
This old network of quarries dug between the 12th and 15th centuries is truly spectacular.
The guided tour (2 hours) organized by the tourist office also leads to the casemates and firing points of the old castle.
Visits:
during the summer, Sunday and Wednesday, 2.30 p.m.
Sessions on July 14 and August 15.
€7 (adult), €5 (7-12 years old on presentation of proof or student with Pass Campus).
Guided tours by reservation here.
Our advice:
bring good shoes and a sweater (12°C).
To finish: impressionist walk or cruise
Pontoise bridge
, painted by Camille Pissarro.
Martine Carret / Le Figaro
For cyclists, hikers or simply strollers, the banks of the Oise towards Auvers (6km) smell like holidays.
Head, leaving the Oise on your right hand, towards
the Hermitage district
and its intricate streets celebrated by Pissarro who lived at 26 and 38 rue de l'Hermitage and 21, quai Eugène Turpin.
Go up rue Jean-Paul Soutumier towards the
Camille-Pissarro Museum
, which houses two of his paintings:
Wheelbarrow in an orchard
(deposit of the Musée d'Orsay),
Barge on the Seine
and several drawings and engravings by this painter but also by his contemporaries.
Visits:
Wednesday to Sunday except public holidays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Temporary collection until August 21: Jean-François Auburtin.
Full price: €5, reduced price, €4, free < 12 years old.
All summer long, every day (except Mondays), various themed or unguided cruises, guided or not, some lively and festive ones are organized according to a specific schedule.
Direction Auvers or Éragny.
Adult prices vary: €25 (2h, theme), €9 (without commentary), family (2 adults, 2 children) from €24 to €62.
Find out more:
from the Intermunicipal Tourist Office,
And also:
for children, an educational farm has been set up at the Château de Marcouville, 2, rue des Pâtis.
Saturday and Sunday, 2-6 p.m.
Practical notebook
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO TAKE LUNCH ?
The Shard of the Rock
In the extension of the ramparts, terrace or room with exposed stones.
Fresh seasonal produce, cuisine by Mélanie and Alexandre, seats 44, reservation strongly recommended on 01 34 43 14 05. Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday.
30, rue de la Roche.
AND FOR DINNER?
Evenings at the Guinguette, located opposite the Tourist Office.
Thursday and Friday, 6 p.m.-10.30 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Menus concocted with products from Vexin producers.
ASK ABOUT
Intercommunal tourist office, Place de la Piscine.
Such.
: 01 34 41 70 60. Registration for guided tours and cruises.
Audioguide on loan (6€), or for download.
GO
From Saint-Lazare station, Line J, 40 minutes.
From Gare du Nord: line H, 59 minutes.
From Porte Maillot, RER C, 1H10.
From La Défense, RER A, direction Cergy.
Cergy Préfecture stop (27 minutes).
Take bus no. 45 (5 minutes), Pontoise Gare stop.