Things to see and do Central

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.

A motor and industrial heritage bringing together everything that is rolling on is presented in this museum. Enthusiasts discover motor vehicles in all their forms of body from 1910 to 1965, the cycles from 1885 to 1940 and the old garage area that will seduce more than one mechanical lover. 30 vehicles are exposed, the oldest dating from the late th century. You will also see motorcycles, bikes and toys, for the pleasure of children and the greatest!

It is one of the few remains of the old Châteauroux. Encircling a paved alleyway that preserved its ancient charm, the door Saint Martin deserves the detour through its romantic spect. Preferably look on the side of Rue Descente-de-Ville. It is likely to represent the coat of arms of the city with its arcade in the full shredder and its tower. Restored in the sixteenth century, this door served as a prison until 1742.

In the twelfth century, it is one of the most important squares in Aquitaine, with a dungeon and two wings of buildings joining in square brackets. In 1778 Claude Dupin, George Sand's grandfather who was a tax collector, was located at Raoul Castle. Raoul Castle, which became a hotel of the prefecture under the Consulate, serves as a residence to the prefects until 1826. Starting in 1821, a new prefecture hotel was built next to the old castle. In 1880 the restoration of Raoul Castle was begun under the direction of the architect Dauvergne. It is now the property of the General Council, but its proximity to the hotel of the prefecture prevents visits. It is only occasionally open for exhibitions and for heritage days in September. Take it through the rue de l 'Indre, it overlooks the river impressively.

Built in the th century, it is located in Duperthuis street. His tower tower gives him the appearance of an old castle of fairy tales.

3 kilometers north of Prissac, the Château-Giron Castle is a beautiful manor house surrounded by a vast meadow. He belonged to Alain Giron, a companion of Joan of Arc. With two squares and two round towers, this harmonious xve century castle is reflected in a pond. It's a private stay that doesn't visit. In the park visible from the road, note a more recent chapel. In the church of the village, the castle is reproduced in the background on the stained glass of Saint-Louis.

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…

The archbishops of Bourges are located on the south side of the cathedral from the th century. In the th century Bishop Phélypeaux de La Vrillière decided to make it a great palace. From the ambitious project led by the architect Pierre Bullet, only the south wing and the garden are made. To see this imposing building, the pavilion of La Vrillière, one can only imagine the prosperity of the archdiocese at that time. Inside, the rotating staircase hanging on the arch is adorned with statues and bas-reliefs representing the four evangelists. Following the separation of the Church and the State, this palace was ceded free of charge to the city of Bourges in 1909, which installed its municipal services and the library the following year. Since the construction of the new town hall (adjacent) in 1992, the old archiepiscopal palace still houses some municipal services, the Municipal Council Hall, the hall of honour, the weddings hall and the Best Workers'Museum in France.

This romanesque church of the eleventh century was built from stone from an older building. This characteristic gives the church a unique and rather original look. Treasure of Romanesque art, the church opens in the west by a belfry-doorway from square shape, it is one of the major singularities of the building. The other glory of Saint-Genest, its wall paintings date from the 12c, the 13th and 14th centuries. Le Christ in Majesty is undoubtedly a single work. The priory of Saint-Genest houses the town hall Lavardin today.

The belltower-porch which dates back to the 11th century is the oldest part of this church, part of which was knocked down by a hurricane in the 13th century. Originally romanesque basilica, Saint-Julien is then rebuilt in the Gothic style. The two small chapels on either side of the chancel date from the 16th century. After the Revolution, Saint-Julien is abandoned and fall in ruins. It will be restored in the 19th century under the leadership of Prosper Mérimée, inspector of Historical Monuments. In 1859, you will find its primary purpose. If it is sinking so compared to the adjacent streets, it is because it was built before the walls of the Loire are raised, due to the risk of flood. During the Second World War, in an extremely exposed area however, the church has miraculously escaped the bombing in which destroyed the district mainly.

Today, concerts are often organised in this pretty building.

One of the great pride of Bruère-Allichamps is undoubtedly to be the geographical center of France since 1797. A witness to this exceptional geographical situation, a large stone monument overfitted with the tricolor flag is set in the crossroads of the commune. It was the Duke of Béthune-Charost who had him installed in 1799. The exact situation in central France is, of course, the subject of scientific quarrels. Some believe that Bruère-Allichamps has not usurped its title, others are looking for Saulzais-le-Potier, about twenty kilometers south. Some ensure that the center of France is located in Saint-Amand Montrond, rue des Sighirs very exactly. The good news is that it is possible to visit these three places in half a day, since Saint-Amand is between Bruère and Saulzais. Not sure it helps to get an idea, but at least we'll be sure you've been in the center of France!

If you have the opportunity to walk in Dreux, you will surely be able to take advantage of the main shopping street in this city. Located in the heart of Dreux, the Grand Rue Maurice Viollette is composed of more than 40 shops. In addition to the shops, you can also admire one of the major monuments of Dreux: the belfry. Dating back to the th century, this former City Hall overlooks the Grand Street and marks the beginning. You will also find the old Hotel Dieu, with its chapel and its «Tour des enfants found», now converted into an exhibition room. These two buildings are part of the symbols of drouaise architecture.

Like most of the houses on Grande-Rue in the upper town, the house of the Friends of the White dates from the 15th century. It is a small museum of art and popular traditions that evokes daily life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There is the reconstruction of a Berry interior, the craftsmanship of the clog and shoemakers, the washers, the apothecary, the school of Jules Ferry, the bicycles in memory of the Dilecta bicycle factory. There is also a new exhibition featuring the Blançois cycle industry and the Dilecta professional sports team. Passionate volunteers take visitors on a tour of the museum.

To discover Gargilesse, a village classified in the category of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, it is necessary to put its steps in those of George Sand who describes the most beautiful aspects in his book Promenade around a village and in his Journal de Gargilesse. In the summer, the tourist office is open all over the village, between the Ferme du Château and the church, in the pigeon house. The rest of the year, it is located in the postal agency.

A little secret in Touraine to explore during your stroll on rue Colbert! Look for the sign indicating "Passage du Coeur Navré": unfortunately, this alley is not the cleanest in the city, but it is the narrowest. Legend has it that those condemned to death used this passage to reach the scaffold on the Place Foire-le-Roi. One shudders! But in the middle of the day, it is a curiosity not to be missed to contemplate the vaults, the roof, the old stones and to plunge into the heart of the history which reminds that of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.

Near the archeological museum you will find a well-preserved Gallo-Roman theater, the Théâtre du Virou. The building was built twice: in the first century first, then in the middle of the iie century, to create a larger space. We can still sit in the stands and admire the scene downstairs. In summer, performances are organized at the Festival des Mille-Aires. Costumed and masked troops like Gallo-Roman times replay pieces of ancient authors (Sophocles, Plaute). Access to the theater is only a guided tour with the visit of the museum of Argentomagus.

Dating back to 1869, the hall, covered, is the old grain hall. Central point of La Ferté-Saint-Aubain, the square of the hall is now paved. This gives a stamp at this place of crossing individuals and favours meetings and animations, commercial, festive or cultural like its Festiv'Halle. To point out that this is where the open air market is taking place on Thursday. there is a parking lot, an important element in this city of La Ferté crossed by the national.

Located at the exit of Auneau, direction Orsonville. The site was discovered by chance by hunters in 1978 who introduced a skeleton. From there, the excavation site began to reveal a human occupation from 9 000 to 2 500 BC. Workshops for the exploitation of the Fontainebleau sandstone, the housing remains and necropolis of the Mesolithic in Chasséen live on a plot of 1 ha.

The aqueduct of Maintenon is the last stretch of the gigantic canal Louis XIV wanted to build to divert the waters from the Eure to the fountains of Versailles. The remains still visible in the department, from Pontgouin and until this crossing of the valley of the Eure give an idea of the impressive size of this construction which will finally never be put into service. The aqueduct is about 30 metres high and surges over water over 950 metres.

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.

A few steps from the railway, on the road to Rémalard. 14,30 meters of circumference at the foot. This large oak would have replaced a millénaire oak. He has a legend. He was reportedly planted by a knight of Montireau, a pledge of fidelity to his fiancée. A virgin's statuette would have been filed in a hollow. The revolutionaries would have removed him from his cavity, a fungus would have pushed it and would have taken the form of the virgin.

On the megalithic site, three dolmens and two menhirs remind us that the site was the necropolis of the first inhabitants of the valley. If you have the soul of an archaeologist, you can register for the excavations that are taking place in the summer, contact Dominique Jagu.

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.

Built in the th century, it houses a magnificent white marble sarcophagus that has contained the body of the local martyr. It also has a th century portal of finely carved wood, classified as historic Monument, as well as a remarkable structure by the sculptures that adorn the beams. At the end of one of them, above the chair, may recognize the profile of François I.

The Illiers-Combray Tourist Office is an essential information point for visitors to the town. The site also offers information on the surrounding villages, must-see castles, cycling and hiking routes. Visitors can also find information on current events and exhibitions in the region. For those wishing to stay in Illiers-Combray, the site also offers information on accommodation and restaurants in the area.

It was extensively restructured in the th century. The bell tower, previously in the centre of the roof, was rebuilt in the th century. At that time, the eleven windows were enlarged. Near the Meuvette, in the north-east of the village, lies the ruins of a former castle destroyed in 1793.

It dates back to the th and th centuries. Above the porch on the facade of the church, a wooden sculpture depicting Saint Martin on horseback, restored in 1981, deserves a visit. Close to the church, a small polygonal building guides the St. Martin source. His very famous water was served at the table of the Marquis de Laborde.

It probably dates back to the end of the th century, but the current building is much more recent. The portal dates back to 1770 and the collateral of 1556. There was a rich statuary of the first half of the th century and two th and th-century stained glass windows and a th-century carved wooden balustrade offered by Duke Louis de Saint-Simon.

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.