The Seine axis attracts more and more tourists from all over the world. From Paris to Honfleur, the number of cruise ships is multiplying. Wanting to benefit from this economic windfall, the municipalities are trying to attract cruise passengers with tourist arguments. This is the case of Andelys, in the Eure. The river and medieval city, famous for its Château-Gaillard, now sees larger and larger ships dock almost every day and this does not only make people happy.
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When you walk along the right bank of the Petit-Andely, you have the impression of having fallen into a postcard. The beautiful houses follow one another. On weekdays many are closed during this period, but should come back to life with the summer season. On Wednesday, May 24, under a bright sun, three cruise ships are docked. The engines run smoothly to maintain flows on board. A few cruise passengers cross the footbridge with walking shoes and backpacks ready to climb the path that will lift them to the medieval ruins. Others have only a few hundred meters to get to one of the small restaurants that line the docks, to the delight of restaurateurs.
For the inhabitants who live a few meters from the edge of the Seine, the bucolic image is however somewhat spoiled. "The noise from the engines is too high," says a local resident. According to him, the standard of 30 decibels maximum allowed is exceeded. "In addition," he says, "it's not good for the environment, because it smells like diesel and they stir the bottom of the water. When they arrive or leave, with the engines at full power, it makes vibrations on the floor and walls. I have lived here for several decades and I hope that Les Andelys will not become like Etretat suffocated by a crowd of tourists all year round," worries an Andelysienne.
Les Andelys (Eure), from the cliffs along the meanders of the Seine. LP/Olivier Boitet
A walker with his dog denounces for his part the non-respect of schedules: "The boats must park between 8am and 20pm. Some arrive before and wake up the residents and others stay later with all the inconveniences including the noise of passengers and crew who make fun of the people here! A hundred meters away, Anne says she is "no more embarrassed than that, even if, she agrees, we see many more people passing in front of our house, looking at our garden or even photographing the house".
"How far is this going to go? Asks. I find the boats bigger and bigger. That will eventually be a problem. For motor noise, why not install electrical terminals? ». This will soon be the case as technicians from Bouygues Énergies are working to install two high-power charging stations that will be in working order for the 2024 season.
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For Sophie, a young communications consultant, ex-Parisian and Andelysienne for 10 years "there are many elderly people who do not support much". "It brings life and dynamism to the municipality and, of course, turnover for traders," she says. Moreover, I would rather denounce the fact that the marina is not desensitized. The town hall could have it cleaned to also attract boaters from Paris or downstream. It would also lead to taxes. They could also rehabilitate the old hospital into a Nicolas Poussin museum. This would be an additional tourist attraction. »
"River tourism is essential," says Frédéric Duché, mayor of Les Andelys and president of Seine Normandie Agglomération (SNA) among our colleagues in Paris Normandie. In 2022 with 1022 stopovers in the community of communes, including 463 in Les Andelys and 559 in Vernon, the SNA received 300,000 euros in wharf taxes. In 2023, the community plans for 1160 berths.
