The best road cycling routes around Amilly

According to tradition, the church choir covers the remains of an older building, possibly dating back to the 6th century, which was built to house the saint's body. According to current knowledge, the commune of Saint-Piat (Sanctus Piatus in Latin) officially appeared in 1087, mentioned in a charter of the Nottonville Priory (Eure-et-Loir), on which it depended. The current building was rebuilt during the time of Francis I, as suggested by the date 1535 engraved on two buttresses of the apse and the date 1542 engraved on a piece of wood from the vault. This is according to a study by the SAEL (Eure-et-Loir Archaeological Society). The three-sided apses, the dripstone towers (horizontal members projecting from a wall), and the sculpted roof structures are a testament to the importance of the reconstructions carried out in the department during the 16th century. The church of Saint-Piat is one of them. While the church has not been officially recognized, it nevertheless contains objects that have attracted attention both for their antiquity and quality, but not always for good reason. Their artistic value, far from attracting only religious or aesthetic interest, has also aroused a covetousness that, unfortunately, remains for some of them. Fortunately, those still in place are carefully cared for and offer the curious a story to discover, a beauty to slowly ponder as they progress toward the choir.

Many centuries ago, our ancestors discovered the possibility of harnessing the power of the elements—which, while helpful and useful on the one hand, could also be a threat as untamed forces of nature—for various purposes, thus eliminating the need for human or animal muscle power. Mills like these are a good example of the human engineering skills of earlier generations: The heavy millstones used to grind grain or press oil, for example, could be powered by wind or—as in this case—water.

superb car-free road

Unfortunately, the church was not accessible when I visited (mid-September 2024). You could only look in through a gate and the dance of death depictions on the left side were not really visible. In front of them were transparencies with skeleton drawings. Maybe those were the depictions...

Bench, greenery, river and shade for a bite to eat or a break.

A modest place of worship, built in the middle of a tiny village, the Favril church was there as early as 1250. Under the reign of Saint Louis, Saint-Pierre du Favril was already there. This is confirmed by a register of the diocese of Chartres, drawn up in 1250, which mentions a parish church dedicated to Saint-Pierre au Favril (Faverilium). The text adds that there was a priest and 56 parishioners.

This church has Saint Martin as patron or rather protector, chosen for his holiness, example of charity, faith and mercy. This charity he showed by offering half of his coat to a shivering poor man to warm him. His radiant faith as a hermit and monk, founder in Ligugé in 460 of the first monastic community in Gaul...

The Fondation d'Aligre et Marie-Thérèse establishment, which is in fact an "Accommodation Establishment for Dependent Elderly People", has the possibility of offering pleasant accommodation for 144 elderly people. It is also an archaeological site, where some sculptures of ancient objects have been recovered.