Sommesnil () is a
commune in the
Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime () is a department of France in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the northern coast of France, at the mouth of the Seine, and includes the cities of Rouen and Le Havre. Until 1955 it was named Seine-InfĂ ...
department in the
Normandy
Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy.
Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...
region in northern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Geography
A very small
farming
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
village, in the
Durdent valley of the
Pays de Caux
The Pays de Caux (, , literally ''Land of Caux'') is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French '' département'' of Seine Maritime in Normandy. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cl ...
, situated some northeast of
Le Havre
Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...
, at the junction of the D105 and D106 roads.
Population
Places of interest
* The church of St. Firmin, dating from the nineteenth century.
* A seventeenth-century chateau. The chateau was built in 1620 by Louis XIII on the site of a medieval chateau as a base for hunting. Louis XIII built the two fine Medici gates which still exist in honour of his mother Marie de Medici
575-1642 She was the wife of Henry IV and Queen of France. The Chateau was later Inhabited by the family Bigot who were involved in the parliament at Rouen. Over the years it has been a home, a medical centre and used by the German and United States armies in WW2. It has original ceilings and panelled dining room, an original kitchen with fireplace, an impressive staircase and cour d'honneur with fine tapestries. The chateau has been undergoing a full restoration by the current owner.
* The chapel of Notre-Dame. This is a small Chapel much revered by the community of Sommesnil who hold an annual service and procession between the chapel and the church of St Firmin. The chapel was originally owned by the château of Sommesnil but was donated by the present owner of the chateau to the community of Sommesnil.
See also
*
References
Communes of Seine-Maritime
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