Duclair is a farming and light industrial town situated some 11 miles (18km) 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.[4] There is a ferry to Berville-sur-Seine on the south bank of the Seine.
Heraldry
Arms of Duclair
The arms of Duclair are blazoned: 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.
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 flesh, which was regarded as tender and tasty. 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.[6]
