Monuments to visit Eure-Et-Loir

The castle does not visit, but you can enjoy a pleasant stroll in its park, in the shadow of the many centuries-old trees that make it up. On your way you can meet deer, donkeys, peacocks, lower court animals… a playground for children makes it an ideal place for families. As for the castle, it is the site of a fortress built in the th century. In the th century, a castle of feudal type was substituted and destroyed under the French Revolution. A bourgeois house replaces it between 1822 and 1860. Eugene Mesquite made a large house Louis XIII, decorated with Renaissance motifs.

In the Beauce plain, it is easy to locate a monument 10 metres high! Between the turbines that are very numerous in this area of the south-east of the department, the Great mill of Ouarville has been required in the landscape since the th century. It still works, supplied by farmers in Beauce, and produces bakes to the local mills. During the visits, the mechanism of the wheels is explained, as well as that of the wings that can change their size in the light of the wind. And from the second floor of the mill, it is possible to take a look at the Beauce and, if time is discovered, to see the arrows of the cathedral.

The main vestige of the th century drouaise architecture, the belfry was built by Clément Métézeau, who also gave his name to the place behind the building. Located in the heart of Dreux, this monument is the old town hall. It dominates the Grand Street Maurice Viollette, the city's main shopping street. Today it is used during the Flambarts, a local feast celebrating the winter solstice. From the window of the belfry, the mayor makes a speech and declares the Flambarts open. " Coco balls ", candy made with meringue and coconut, are then launched symbolizing mistletoe balls. The belfry also has bells whose sound is heard several times in the day. These bells bear a frise depicting the VI Flambarts procession. Currently under renovation, the belfry visits are unfortunately forbidden.

It was in this house that the young Marcel Proust spent his vacation, and here is the first pages of the search for Lost Time, corresponding to the first part of The Side of Swann. From the kitchen where Françoise lazlo in the bedroom of the future writer, passing through Aunt Léonie's bedroom, which made him taste a champagne soaked in tea, one foot here the life of Marcel Proust remembering famous episodes of research. The interiors restored from furniture that belonged to the family invite us to apprehend his universe and to understand his inspiration. It's not in Chartres, you will tell me. But it's only 25 kilometers away, or about minutes by car, or even better, one hour by bicycle. For you know that from the rue de la Taye à Leonardo at the house of Marcel Proust in Illiers-Combray, the road is set for the bikes, provided you pass through the D 149: on the segment most frequented by cars, a bicycle track follows the road in parallel, and then it is road roads that will make you discover small villages and a typically beautiful panorama…

An impressive castle of Louis XV style which was built in its present form in the middle of the th century for the Marquis d'Aligre. The estate has been occupied since 1946 by the student orphans of Auteuil and hosts a private agricultural school. French and English gardens, carpets, etc. it will delight lovers of classical architecture who can also admire its square courtyard and get lost in the maze of gardens and alleys. This gigantic area is the culmination of the valley walk and fortified farms that runs through La Loupe township and connects 15 communes.

Just take a look against a glass window to discover a surprising place. A large vaulted hall, in the sandstone of the region, built in the early 30 th century, extended over metres long with two series of pillars, Les Presses were the wine cellar of Haute-Bruyères nuns who measured the products sold to the nearby market. In 1926, Les Presses are classified as a historic monument and are used to host cultural events.

Gabriel, Marquis de Laval, began building the castle in the th century. It was between 1728 and 1753 that Joseph Durey of Sauroy brought her current dimensions. In the th century, the «French» park was transformed into «romantic» park. This imposing castle is classified historic monument. The harmony of its brick roadside, the curvature of its skylights and its park interspersed with pieces of water and waterfalls invite to come and admire the exterior and the old kitchen.

Swann, Aunt Léonie, "François le Champi"… if you are an amateur of French literature in general and Marcel Proust in particular, these names necessarily tell you something. And the spirit of these characters of the novel undoubtedly floats in the house of Illiers-Combray in which young Marcel Proust went through his vacation, his uncle and his aunt Jules and Elisabeth Amiot, and that it is possible to visit. The discovery begins with the garden, by the Orangerie then it is the visit of the house: kitchen, dining room, rooms, music room with piano… On the second floor, the attic of the house is devoted to a collection of black and white portraits of Paul Nadar, son of the Grand Nadar, representing all the personalities of the th century, most of whom were used to the Salon salon. Some probably inspired the characters of the Lost time Search. Finally, it should be noted that the "Tante Maison House" recently received the label of the Maison des Illustres.

Surrounded by walls, it was built in 1665 on Vauban's plans. There is then a large body of houses with ditches and railings that have recently been restored. In the summer, the Summer Vauban gathered, in this place now dedicated to culture, local talents. In the program, concerts, conferences, exhibitions and different animations.

The castle of Goury became the acquisition of a state councillor and hotel master of the king circa 1650. The whole is set around a large rectangle surrounded by buildings with four pavilions at each angle. Dry moat are partially filled. During the battle of Loigny against the Prussian army in 1870, the castle took many injured and wounded.

Set in a beautiful French-style park, this th century beauceronne mansion evokes the Chauffeurs drivers'band which fought in the aftermath of the Revolution by committing terrible atrocities in Beauce. In 1798, many of these arrested bandits were driven to the domain of Villeprévost. This is where Armand François Fougeron, a peace judge of Orgères and owner of the estate, heard them. Some were guillotined or imprisoned. The park, the cellars, the large lounge, the chapel and the colombier visit. In the latter: the heads of the bandits's band Bandits in plaster moulding remind us of this sad period. In the park, the horizontal solar dial on the base built by Dr. Lescarbeau, an astronomy enthusiast, deserves a detour. The latter would have discovered the planet Vulcain.

Today, there is not much of the giant wind that took place between 1955 and 1966 on the edge of the RD 148, two kilometres from Nogent, towards La Place: only 5 blocks of concrete frozen in a field. These are the only remnants of a wind turbine designed for E.D.F. in the 1950 s to explore the energy sources of the future. This renewable energy research programme has been abandoned in favour of the massive development of nuclear energy. The whole thing was truly monumental: 3 feet fixed on concrete concrete of 150 tonnes each supported a service platform 16 meters above the ground. There was a column on which the propeller axis was set, 31 metres above the ground.

Strong house defending the village of La Gadelière during the Hundred Years War, near the valley of Avre, natural border between the Duchy of Normandy and the Thymerais, allied to the Kingdom of France. Visit of the church and bread oven of La Gadelière castle.

In 1624, Maximilian of Béthune, duke of Sully, became seigneur de Nogent. Before he dies, he wishes to be buried in the chapel of the Hotel-Dieu. Protestant, there was no access to his request. His grave therefore took place in the rotunda near the church. It was Alois Boudin who executed the statue the representative.

It is a little the "lighthouse" of the Beauce. The stone tower-mill of Frouville-Pensier can be seen from afar when one walks in the south of the Eure-et-Loir and crosses the plain of the Beauce, which straddles several departments. Several mills exist in this part of the department. Built in the 13th century, the mill is distinguished by the long wooden beam that allows the propellers to turn and face the wind so that they start moving. The association for the safeguarding of the Frouville-Pensier mill gives tours of the building.

The brick fortress of Villebon is attached to the name of Sully, the minister of King Henri IV, well known in Eure and Loir since he was sacred in Chartres. The great man's bedroom has recently been renovated and can be visited. Other personalities close to the court of the King of France went to Villebon in which one between a drawbridge bridge passes over the water moat. A private castle and still inhabited, it is surrounded by an impressive garden. Finally, Villebon castle is present in the literature since it would have inspired Guermantes castle in the Search for Lost time by Marcel Proust, whose memory is also present in Illiers-Combray.

At a time when the Beauce river has electricity generators, there are still some specimens of a more ancient model from the beginning of the th century. The Bolée wind turbine was built in 1902 by the Lebert company of Le Mans. With a 15-metre tower with a 5-metre diameter wheel, it often attracts the eyes of motorists.