The best traffic-free bike rides around Thimert-Gâtelles

The Saint-Eloi Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Crécy-Couvé is currently being restored. The spire of its bell tower, which was leaning dangerously, has been dismantled and is currently stored in the church awaiting restoration.

The Church of Saint-Éloi-Saint-Jean-Baptiste is believed to have originally been the chapel of the Château de Couvé, the first known mention of which dates back to 1215. This château belonged to the Abbey of Saint Père de Chartres. The layout of this chapel is currently unknown. Observing the architectural features of the current church allows us to place its construction between the 15th and 16th centuries. Improvement and modernization work were undertaken in the second half of the 18th century when Louis XV offered the Crécy estate to the Marquise de Pompadour: enlargement of the medieval windows, construction of an altarpiece forming a sacristy, a choir enclosure, and a gallery that could replace an older structure providing access to the attic. During this work, it is assumed that some of the bell tower's supports were removed to free up the nave and harmonize the interior spaces. After a prosperous period, the 19th and 20th centuries saw a slow deterioration of the building, despite some maintenance work being carried out on the roofs and other parts of the church that required it. It was only in 1901 that major work was undertaken, with the repair of the bell tower roof. This was followed in 1925 by work to consolidate the bell tower structures and repair the roofs of the western part of the nave. The bell tower and spire are tilting significantly to the south, linked to a failure of the old supports and the deterioration of the supporting structures, requiring urgent safety and restoration work.

The church dating from the 12th and 17th centuries is located in its parish enclosure occupied by the cemetery. It is made up of a nave and an aisle. To the west, the Renaissance entrance portal dating from the 1st quarter of the 16th century is in the shape of a basket handle and the two wooden leaves are each composed of four ornate panels, organized in three registers, classified as historic monuments object at the same time as the building. The five-sided apse is covered with a wooden vault with visible beams and hallmarks.

The Rond du Roi are two pyramids which mark the limits of the former royal hunting domain. The pyramids date from the 18th century and are made of sandstone blocks. They are located at the intersection of forest roads, called Rond de France and Rond du Roi. This area offers plenty of woodland running trails with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

The Rond des Quatres Barrières is a historic monument dating from the 18th century. It was built by the Duke of Penthièvre, owner of the neighboring castle of Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais. The Rond des Quatres Barrières is made up of four stone arches which form a circle, with a fountain in the center. It is located in the middle of the forest. The Rond des Quatres Barrières is the ideal place to visit during a running race.

The Rond du Roi are two pyramids that mark the boundaries of the former royal hunting grounds. The pyramids date from the 18th century and are made of blocks of sandstone. They are located at the intersection of forest roads, called the Rond de France and the Rond du Roi. This area offers pleasant walks in the woods, with some views of the surrounding countryside.

The Rond des Quatres Barrières is a historical monument dating from the 18th century. It was built by the Duke of Penthièvre, who owned the neighboring castle of Châteauneuf-En-Thymerais. The Rond des Quatres Barrières is made up of four stone arches that form a circle, with a fountain in the center. It is located in the middle of the forest. The Rond des Quatres Barrières is a peaceful and charming place to visit, especially in the spring or fall when the trees are in bloom or changing color.