Duclair

Geography

Duclair is a farming and light industrial town situated some 11 mi west of the centre of Rouen at the junction of the D43, D5 and the D982 roads. The river Austreberthe joins the Seine at Duclair. There is a ferry to Berville-sur-Seine on the south bank of the Seine.

Heraldry

Per fess 1: per pale I: Azure, a duck volant contourny both wings pointing down argent; II: Or, an apple tree fructed proper on a base vert; 2: Azure, 3 fish contourny argent.

Population

|1968 |2705 |1975 |2975 |1982 |3487 |1990 |3822 |1999 |4163 |2007 |4094 |2012 |4094 |2017 |4198

Cuisine

Duclair is known for its duck, which evolved from a crossbreeding of domestic and migratory wild ducks. Beginning in the 17th century, these ducks would be hunted for their tender and tasty flesh. As farmers would protect their ducks from the rainy and windy weather of Normandy, sometimes these ducks would suffocate to death. In the late 19th century, an innkeeper named Henri "Père" Denise realized that suffocated ducks with intact blood make for more tender meat, and began purchasing suffocated ducks at discounted prices. He is credited with the invention of a new dish called pressed duck (canard à la presse), which involves serving the duck in its own blood. Since then, this has been the specialty dish of the commune, albeit an elaborate and macabre one.[[File:Caneton Rouennaise à la Presse.jpg|thumb|A serving of canard à la presse.|left|219x219px]]

Places of interest

• The church of St. Denis, dating to the 12th century.
• Traces of a feudal castle.
• Remains of a 13th-century presbytery.
• The Château du Taillis, dating to medieval times.
• The 18th-century Château du Vaurouy.
• La Cour-du-Mont manor house with parts dating to the 13th century.
• A 17th-century chapel.

Notable people

• Musician Pierre Villette (1926–1998) was born here.

Twin towns

GER Ronnenberg, Germany

References

Bibliography

• Francis Aubert, Duclair, un regard sur le passé, Duclair, 2002
• Ariane Duclert, "Le Caneton à la rouennaise, spécialité de Duclair", Pays de Normandie
• Gilbert Fromager, Le Canton of Duclair à l'aube du XXe, Duclair, 1986

References

1. (2 December 2020). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires".
2. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/76222-duclair Commune de Duclair (76222)], INSEE
3. {{sandre
4. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-76222#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
5. Boyd, Carolyn. (2025-01-12). "Why France's most elaborate and macabre recipe is back on the menu".