The best gravel rides around Bailleau-L'Évêque

Walking along the canal, surrounded by dense vegetation, is a unique pleasure.

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.

One of the most beautiful castles in the area!

Situated on the banks of the Eure River, the village of Maintenon boasts a peaceful atmosphere and rich heritage. Dominated by its Renaissance castle and famous for its unfinished aqueduct designed by Vauban, the town invites you to stroll. The ancient streets, the banks of the Eure River, and the Louis XIV Canal provide an ideal setting for a break in the footsteps of history.

Beautiful green space in the middle of the city. Sometimes flooded in winter.

Easy and very beautiful hike following the river and pond; however, be careful at the roundabout on the way back to Lucé.

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention that dates back to pre-Christian times. Thanks to such a construction, human or animal muscle power could be easily replaced by a watercourse - natural or artificially created - in order to grind grain into corn, for example. There are essentially two different ways of driving watermills: either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the water is guided above the wheel and falls onto the blades; this type of construction is more efficient due to natural gravity.