Why Bernay?

In a nutshell: 1,000 years of history all squished into a tiny, walkable town just an hour and a half from Paris by train. What Bernay offers is a trip back in time. You’ll step off the train into a vintage postcard come to life, a verdant haven of tranquility, a breath of fresh air… Literally.

You’ll see a Renaissance building, complete with fantastical creatures carved into the beams of the timber frames right next to another building with Art Deco wrought iron trimmings and up the street from an Art Nouveau gate. There’s even a mid-century monstrosity that I have yet to research (more soon)… The Bernay Abbey, founded by William the Conqueror’s grandmother, Judith de Bretagne (the location of whose remains remain a mystery, although it’s not unlikely that they’re here), is one of the first examples of Romanesque architecture in Normandy and one of France’s oldest churches.

Several good to very good restaurants, a few bars, an excellent open-air market with over 200 vendors, shopping of the mom ‘n’ pop variety, but also some bigger brands.

Lots of natural beauty, including two different rivers, miles of walking paths, and clean air! Normandy was the only place in France to make the NYT’s annual list of places to go in 2022.

Also, Edith Piaf lived in Bernay for a time as a girl, at her grandmother’s brothel, which you can walk to.

The quaintness, slow pace of life, and small size of Bernay make it perfect for a romantic weekend away from Paris, a refreshing and stress-free family getaway, or an escapade entre amis .

I lived in Paris for almost a decade, so I know you need it. 😉

I’ll write about all this and more here.