The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Pithiviers

A huge magnifying glass on a plane tree

Nestled on the edge of the Orléans forest, the Château de Chamerolles is a magnificent Renaissance castle which retains its medieval heritage. It was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII and Governor of Orléans. He wanted to make the old medieval building into a real pleasure castle responding to the architectural fashion of the time. With its polychrome brick decor and its open gallery, the Château de Chamerolles is inspired by the Louis XII wing of the royal Château de Blois. It retains its moat and its layout of corner towers from the medieval period. During the wars of religion, Lancelot's grandson, Lancelot II, transformed the castle of Chamerolles into a center of Protestantism. From this period remains the chapel whose painted tables of laws are the oldest in France. Chamerolles remained in the du Lac family until the end of the 17th century. In 1672, the castle belonged to Jacques Saumery, brother-in-law of Colbert. A century later, the castle passed into the hands of the Lambert family and in 1924, into those of Gaston Jessé-Curély. Occupied, ransacked, stripped during the Second World War, the Château de Chamerolles was put up for sale in 1970. In 1976, the city of Paris found itself in charge of Chamerolles. Abandoned, the Château de Chamerolles fell into ruins. In 1987, it became the property of the Loiret Departmental Council which then undertook an ambitious restoration program. The five years of work allow us to discover a transitional architecture, between the medieval heritage and the innovations of the Renaissance. Today, the Château de Chamerolles is dedicated to the history of perfumery and offers a historical and heritage showcase to the Cosmetic Valley, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Chamerolles offers a visual and olfactory journey, in pieces reconstructed from the 16th century to the 18th century, allowing you to discover the history of toiletry and perfume. The castle is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac, after a trip to Italy. A garden where it is beautiful to stroll in the summer.

Beautiful stretch of water to take a break. Leisure center in fine weather, you will find a beach, a picnic area, toilets and a café (open from April to October on weekends and during the week during school holidays).

The castle was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot I du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII. It is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac.

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 easily be replaced by a watercourse - natural or artificial - in order, for example, to grind grains into grain. There are essentially two different ways to drive water mills: either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the water flow is guided above the wheel and falls onto the blades, with this design there is greater efficiency due to natural gravity.

Very old cemetery in which we find a certain number of historical remains, notably a Renaissance door, a gallery dating from the 12th or 13th century and the Saint-Lazare chapel which we discover from the street, built in bricks at the beginning of the 16th century (period during which the town of Boiscommun was fortified with brick ramparts).

Beautiful peaceful pond, perfect for a break while hiking

Fountain whose origin is today unknown. She takes the name of Radegonde, the wife of Clotaire I (son of Clovis) and therefore queen of Franks, who, it seems, created this source with a kick of her heel.