Yèvre-le-Châtel ©A. Rue ADRT Loiret
Yèvre-le-Châtel ©A. Rue ADRT Loiret
Yèvre-le-Châtel ©A. Rue ADRT Loiret
Yèvre-le-Châtel ©A. Rue ADRT Loiret
The village of yèvre-le-châtel
Loiret's Pithiviers area is home to a genuine treasure, just a stone's throw from Paris: the village of Yèvre-le- Châtel.
As you cross the Beauce plains, you will be quite surprised to encounter a deep and verdant valley, through which, the Rimarde, an affluent of the River Essonne, runs. And within this verdant setting, nestles the village of Yèvre-le-Châtel.
It offers a medley of strength, with its castle and ramparts, and of charm with its fine properties built with local limestone. Its narrow floral streets that take you to the old well, in the village square, or to the Souville bridge that crosses the Rimarde.
Many an artist has already succumbed to the charms of this picturesque village, some of whom paid regular visits or even took up residence here. In a church, an art gallery or even in one of the village streets, you can encounter and admire their creations: paintings and sculptures of course, but also guardrails, sundial, gates, etc. So keep a watchful eye!
A postern leads to the castle's lower courtyard. Behind the ramparts, the imposing 13th century fortress forms a lozenge flanked with four protruding towers.
In the castle's upper courtyard, the square medieval plant beds boast some 150 different aromatic and medicinal species.
The Church of Saint Gault, a small and pretty Romanesque edifice, stands below the castle courtyard and, every season, hosts concerts and exhibitions.
A little further away, the romantic vestiges of the Church of Saint Lubin were a source of great admiration for Victor Hugo.
'LOIRE'S 'MOST BEAUTIFUL DETOURS' : Montargis et Beaugency
Visit Montargis, the 'Venice of Gâtinais'
In the Gâtinais area, located just an hour from Paris and Orléans, the town of Montargis is listed among France's 100 'Finest Detours'. Its speciality? A number of waterways meander their way through the town, lying at the crossroads between the Loing and the Briare canals. The unique character they proffer to the town has earned it the epithet of the 'Venice of Gâtinais'.
The bridge tour offers an hour-long stroll via some of the town's 131 bridges and footbridges. In particular, it takes you through the La Pêcherie pedestrian quarter which, as its name suggests, was once the fishermen's quarter. The day's catch was unloaded here before heading for Paris aboard well-boats. The area has preserved its bygone charm, thanks to its wash houses and mills, its half-timbered houses, its manors and... its café patios!
In the summer, you can discover the town aboard a horse-drawn carriage, over a river cruise... or
why not enjoy the originality of an aerial view from a hot-air balloon?
It is also the departure point of many tours of the surrounding area, across the national forest, along
the canals, around the lakes, through the floral villages... or even in quest of today's and yesterday's
heritage, in the former tanneries in Amilly, for example, which now house an impressive
contemporary art centre.
Beaugency,
one of the most beautiful stopovers in the Loire Valley, between Orléans and Blois.
Orléans' locals readily travel the required 25 km (16 miles) to enjoy a stroll through Beaugency, at the town-centre market on Saturdays, along the banks of the Loire on Sundays, or to attend an exhibition, a show, etc. In the summer, the river banks and docks are transformed into temporary beaches and the corn fields into mazes. The town's history and heritage awaits you all year long! Just follow your guide!
Ideally, come from the south, via the Pont du Diable (Devil';s bridge) if you want to enjoy the best views of the town, overlooked by its 11th century keep. Leave your car at the dockside and head up to the Logis de Dunois, commonly referred to as the 'Bastard of Orléans' and one of Joan of Arc's companions-in-arms.
At the foot of the Saint Firmin tower, Joan of Arc is there to remind us how she freed the town. Pay a visit to the town's stores, bakeries and tea rooms, or opt for an exhibition of works by local artists in the 11th century Church of St. Stephen, then admire the Renaissance facade of the Town Hall. The nearby Pouët Chaumont alley takes you down to Rû, a small river bordered with flowers, then back to the bridge.
So why wait any? Come and make it one of your favourite stopovers!
France boasts over 150 villages certified as the 'Most Beautiful Villages of France'.
Their common denominator is their desire to protect and to share their exceptional heritage without for as much becoming museum-villages or theme parks! You may even have heard some of their evocative names: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie or Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert?