We have just gone through Rouen in the last few weeks and this is our route. From the free A28 the road becomes dual carriage just before the city and then goes through a tunnel. Leave this in the inside lane and in just under a mile take sign to Vernon.this slip roud goes to traffic lights - you need to be in middle lane and turn left across dual carriage way. You need to be inside hand lane for next set of traffic lights. Go straight on and bear light onto D6015 signed Vernon. Seine will be on your right and will take you to Pont-de-larche and on towards LeMans. We were in a motorhome but hope this helps.
Just shows there are a lot of 'best routes through Rouen' - everyone has their favourite.
We stick to the 'avoid Rouen by keeping east' and head for Vernon/Cergy Pontoise at the bottom of the tunnel, then left of the church, fork right to Evreux,and keep following the signs to Evreux. For those wanting to continue on the A13 heading west you can pick up the motorway near Val de Reuil, or for those heading south you carry on down the N154 to Evreux/Dreux/Chartres/Orleans and then the A20 or the A71 at Vierzon.
I don't know what went wrong but, somehow, whilst crossing Rouen from north to south, we ended up travelling along the river in the left-hand lane which takes you through the cursèd underpass tunnels. The first one we encounterered had 2.4m headroom (sic) as did the next and the next and the next.... just 1.85m! Having gone under the 'bar' before realising this, and uncertain as to whether I had scraped it or not, I was obliged to stop on the ramp as I was not sure that I would get through with the (borrowed)roof box on. Reversing out with a trailer on the back was not an option (It was rush hour!!) so I was left with the option of either 'going for it', but the headshaking of the highly-amused drivers in the adjacent lane suggested otherwise, or getting out and removing the roofbox on to the top of the trailer and refitting it on the other side.
OH was sitting in the passenger seat in a state of shock when a very nice French driver gave a toot, pulled up alongside and said, in very good English, that we ought to get through, just, and that he would drive through with us 'just in case'. It turned out that there was a God after all, and we made it with millimetres to spare.
I would not wish to repeat this again!
Moral:
1. Check your headroom before leaving home.
2. Switch off your satnav when anywhere near Rouen.
3. Revert to 'navigator and map' mode.
4. Don't borrow a roofbox.
5. Find another way to cross the Seine.
We nearly got stuck, with our caravan, in a low underpass leading to a supermarket at La Charite sur Loire. There was no signpost to stay there was a low underpass at the roundabout at the bottom of the road.
We were helped out by 'Postman Patrice' who parked his Poste van across the lane leading to the tunnel about fifty yards behind us at the roundabout, stopped the traffic, then made someone else take over 'stopping' duties whilst he helped us reverse down the fifty metres of road! A real gentleman.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 14/3/2015
Heading south, we use a different route, which is alongside the Seine on the eastern side, towards Pont de l'Arche. That's a good one for anyone heading towards Evreux and onwards to the Languedoc or the Dordogne, but could be useful too those heading west too as you can rejoin the A13 just south of Pont de l'Arche.
If you (or anyone else) wants details then email me on valdaathome at gmail.com
Val
Is your route a more direct one to the campsite at Pont de l'Arche as we are considering it as a stopover?
Best wishes
Yes that route passes campsite, or before you get there, there is another municipal on that route signposted right just before you get to SuperU supermkt at Igoville.
We came back through Rouen from Chartres to Calais the other day, not having done this for a few years. We switched off the satnav and took a deep breath...
And just followed firstly a green sign to Calais, which took us on a route we recognised, then eventually over a bridge, from where we looked down on the left to the Cathedral. Now I'm sure we've never done that section before. Then we picked up the bit we recognised again.
D'you think they've at last re signed a good route?
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 19/3/2015
Just shows there are a lot of 'best routes through Rouen' - everyone has their favourite.
We stick to the 'avoid Rouen by keeping east' and head for Vernon/Cergy Pontoise at the bottom of the tunnel, then left of the church, fork right to Evreux,and keep following the signs to Evreux. For those wanting to continue on the A13 heading west you can pick up the motorway near Val de Reuil, or for those heading south you carry on down the N154 to Evreux/Dreux/Chartres/Orleans and then the A20 or the A71 at Vierzon.
Is that the route you had pictures of a couple of years ago when the bridge was closed. If so, it's definitely the best one. Much nicer than driving through that horrible industrial area on the other side of the river with all those traffic lights.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Best route through or around Rouen?
