The best walks and hikes around Gurcy-Le-Châtel

A tour through history

It was founded in 1118 and is now in ruins. It was Étienne Harding who entrusted Artaud, a fellow student of Saint Bernard, accompanied by a dozen men, with the creation of the abbey. The construction of the abbey began around 1170 and ended around 1200. This establishment prospered quickly thanks to the support of Thibaut IV of Champagne and his mother, Adèle de Blois. Preuilly Abbey In 1127, the monks of Preuilly in turn founded the abbey of Vauluisant. Preuilly is also at the origin of the founding of Barbeau Abbey. The convent buildings and the church were declared “national property” and put up for auction on April 28, 1791 in several lots. The demolition continued until Doctor Henri-Marie Husson bought, from 1829 to 1842, the various lots of the former dismantled monastery, thus restoring it to its former unity. His son acquired the last room, the abbey dwelling, in 1866. The demolitions were stopped. Preuilly Abbey Around 1860, a chapel was built in the abbot's chapel, the church sacristy and the armarium.

Nangis is mentioned in 1157 in a bull from Pope Adrian IV under the name Nangiacus. Nant is a Gallic name meaning “valley”, Nangis dominates two valleys. In the Middle Ages, two strongholds, which could compete, shared the land of Nangis-en-Brie: the Châtel/Chastel de Nangis, and the Motte de Beauvoir or Beauvais (this second castle is the origin of the Town Hall, right in the center, close to the church; curiously, there is also Beauvoir about ten km to the NW). La Motte-Beauvais eventually won, and its power was dominant, shaping the development of the city. Works dealing with the issue often mix these two lordships. In 1507, the lordship of Beauvais-Nangis fell to the Brichanteau family through the marriage of Louis de Brichanteau with Marie de Veres, lady of Nangis (which she had inherited from her father Jean de Veres d'Amilly. In November 1612, Admiral Antoine de Brichanteau obtained letters relating to the union and erection of his lands into a marquisate, under the name of Marquisate of Nangis. For the stronghold of Châtel, we find an entire family known as Chastel/Châtel-lez-Nangis until 1471, followed by the Louviers who acquired it in stages from 1457 to 1476 and even beyond. Thus, Charles Louvier(s), lord of Chastelet, was lord of Châtel-Nangis, advisor to the Parliament of Paris, owner in Paris of Île-Louviers; he was the son of Nicolas Louvier, alderman of Paris, provost of merchants, ennobled by letters patent of Louis XI. The Raguiers inherited the fief (Antoine II Raguier, † 1532, marrying Jeanne de Louviers in 1506; Posterity, with possession of the Châtel de Nangis until the end of the 17th century); finally the Brichanteaus acquired this land to unite all of Nangis. Nangis was established as a town in 1544 by François I.

Medieval village near Provins. Recognized for its authenticity, the village of Donnemarie Dontilly is a village (or an association of two ancient cities) with numerous vestiges dating from the Middle Ages.

Magnificent 13th century church with a portal from the same period, which was part of a commandery of the Hospitaller Order of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem (the current Order of Malta).

Superb 13th century church. And very nice bikers