Attractions and Places To See around Les Autels-Villevillon - Top 11

Magnificent ceiling with the possibility of lighting it up

Built on an old feudal motte, which is still visible and was completely destroyed during the Hundred Years' War, it was replaced in the second half of the 15th century by the castle, the remains of which can still be seen today. The Saint-François Tower remains as it was, with its Grisons base and rows of white stone. Halfway up the circle is the Cord of Saint Francis of Assisi, with its coils and knots. A Renaissance building was added in the 16th century, and new buildings were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Saint-Martin church of La Croix-du-Perche, composed of a single nave without aisles, dates from the 12th century. At this date, the church is the chapel of a priory founded around 1250 by the Abbey of the Holy Trinity of Tiron. The church only became a parish when the monks left, towards the end of the 16th century. The monument is remarkable for its 16th century framework, entirely decorated with paintings dated 1537. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1934.

Frazé Castle is distinguished above all by its French-style exteriors. Unfortunately, their tour is only open to groups by reservation.

Built in the 12th century, it is made of flint and cut stone. It originally had small narrow windows, slightly projecting buttresses, and a rounded apse. After the Hundred Years' War the need was felt to open two contiguous chapels on the epistle side. One of them is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, it was the seigniorial chapel. In the 17th century the separation of the two chapels was removed. As an extension, the sacristy was built in the 18th century. On the southern part of the building we can notice the location of a small blocked door. According to tradition, it was “the door of the dead” giving access to the cemetery which adjoined the church until 1879. On the west side, two white bands called “liters” indicate that 2 personalities are buried inside the church. Between the chapel and the choir there is a statue of Saint Maur in polychrome wood. The Saint is invoked against rheumatism, sciatica, gout.

This 13th, 15th and 16th century church does not have a transept. It has a central shingled nave with aisles. The choir ends with a polygonal apse. The apse is decorated with glass roofs dating from 1541 representing various scenes from the Passion. These 16th century stained glass windows (bays 1 to 4) have been partially classified as historic monuments since 1908. Bays 1 and 2 were restored in the 17th century thanks to the Bourbon-Conti family, lords of Bazoche-Gouet from 1676 in 1719, the 4 in the 19th century, then in 1974, by Michel Petit, master glassmaker whose workshop is located in Thivars in Eure-et-Loir. Outside the choir, the stained glass windows are from the 19th century, made by two renowned master glassmakers, the Lorin workshops in Chartres and the Carmel stained glass factory in Le Mans, the first in a neo-Romanesque style, the second approaching the neo-Romanesque style. Gothic.

The robust grison pillars of the church of Chapelle-Guillaume reveal its distant roots in the beautiful country of Perche-Gouët, and even if it is often difficult to fix with precision the date of construction of a church, at least It seems obvious to her that she has been watching over the small village that surrounds her for many centuries – probably not far from ten… It owes her name to Guillaume Gouët. In any case, the last two hundred years have given it many alterations and restorations. Thus the bell tower that a hurricane had brought down was rebuilt in 1827, while the capital which adorned the entrance disappeared a few decades later, serving as a narthex, or more simply as a “caquetoire”. Everything here announces the joy of welcome and the simple peace that a place of prayer requires. The interior is distinguished by the great care taken in maintaining the warm furnishings: painted vault, gallery, benches, paneling, statues and choir woodwork. The altarpiece is illustrated by a pretty painting of the Annunciation. A great harmony emerges from the whole and invites prayer. There was also not far from there near the church a Notre-Dame priory dependent on Marmoutier, where Saint Martin resided.

The castle was built in the 15th century and has undergone several renovations over the years, including the addition of a chapel in the 16th century and a new wing in the 18th century. It is now open to visitors and offers guided tours.