Lyons-la-Forêt
Timbered Houses and Beech-Forest Walks
Explore the Town ↓
Life in Lyons-la-Forêt
Half-timbered houses gather around the old market hall, with beech forest beyond the village. Lyons-la-Forêt is an intimate choice for quiet weekends and a Normandy second home.
Lyons-la-Forêt is officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, with pink-brick and half-timbered houses around a 17th-century covered market. A royal forest rings the village, and Paris is about an hour and a half away.
This small Normandy village sits in seismic zone 1, France’s lowest band, with low clay exposure in the village center. Worth checking: former underground quarries and ground conditions across the wider municipality.
It is a village of about 760 residents, with fewer services than a town. It suits a quieter second-home rhythm, and rental demand comes mainly at weekends and holidays.
- Rouen, with direct trains to Paris, is about 40 minutes away.
- Paris is about 1 hr 30 min by road.
- The village sits deliberately off the main roads, which is the point.
- Region / Dept
- Normandy · Eure (27) · canton of Romilly-sur-Andelle, in the Lyons forest
- Population
- About 760 in the commune (INSEE 2023) · a high share of second homes, about 21 percent of the housing stock, a classified tourist village since 1929
- Setting
- On the river Lieure at the center of the Forêt de Lyons, a roughly 11,000-hectare former royal forest
- Inside the Full Atlas
- 25 pages on Lyons-la-Forêt, within the 210-page France Atlas.
Lyons-la-Forêt & Its Surroundings
Wander the streets, waterways and neighboring towns before you go.
The pin marks the town center. The live map needs an internet connection.
A Closer Look at Lyons-la-Forêt
Look Beyond the View
Fall for the view, then choose with clear eyes. The full Atlas explains the natural risks checked for this town and where a property deserves a closer look.
- See which natural hazards the research covers
- Tell town-wide conditions apart from one address
- Take the right questions to a local specialist
Picture the Journey
The town you love should be easy to reach, again and again. The full Atlas lays out how you get here, from the arrival point to the final stretch.
- Compare the main ways to get here
- Plan for repeat visits and everyday trips
- Weigh the trade-offs before you pick a base
Find Your Reasons to Stay
The places you remember mix scenery, streets and local life. The town chapter takes you past the first impression to the character underneath.
- Explore the setting, landmarks and local culture
- Discover what makes this town its own
- Picture the pleasures of a longer stay
Renting It While You’re Away
Thinking of renting your home out while you’re away? The Atlas sets the rental questions and local context right beside the place itself.
- Learn which rules and permits to check
- Gauge likely visitors and seasonal demand
- Weigh the practical limits on renting it out
Imagine an Ordinary Week
The view draws you in. Everyday life helps you decide. The full chapter covers the services and practical details of living here beyond a vacation.
- Check healthcare and everyday services
- Picture the shops, connections and daily routines
- See what life is like outside the busy season
Lyons-la-Forêt and Around, in 7 Pictures
Images from the Atlas, each with its own source and edit notes.
Summary of the France Atlas, edition of 24 September 2026. The town order is our editorial ranking. About the Dossier.