The lower valley of the Seine is one of the most beautiful and interesting river-stretches in Northern Europe.

It was the High Street of old Normandy, and feuda, barons and medieval monks have left their mark upon it.

From the castle of Tancarville to the abbey of Jumieges you can read the story of their doings; or when you stand in the Roman circus at Lillebonne, or enter the ancient cloister of M.Maeterlinck's modern residence at St.Wandrille, see plainly enough the writing of a still older legend, such as appeared, once, on the wall of a palace in Babylon.

On the left bank steep hills, originally wholly clothed with forest and still thickly wooded, run down to the river with few breaks in them, each break, however, being garrisoned by an ancient town.

Of these, Caudebec stands unrivalled.