The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Laurent-Des-Bois

The current Church of Saint Maurice dates from the 16th century, replacing a 12th-century building. The entrance is through a door located on the east side, as renovations during the 19th century altered the church's orientation. An entrance was created in the flat apse, and a polygonal apse was built to the west. A south aisle was also added. Inside, the nave is flanked by two side aisles. The right aisle, to the north (since the church is now off-center), dates from the 16th century. The left aisle, built in 1865, is covered, like the rest of the church, by ribbed vaults. The baptistery chapel contains a modern marble font and a late 18th-century painting depicting the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. On either side of the chancel, two chapels terminate the side aisles. The chancel, in the Neo-Gothic style, dates from the 19th century, while the crucifix dates from the 16th century. The pulpit, imposing for a rural church, is made of oak and dates from the 19th century. The exit, located to the east, still retains traces of the former apse. On the 19th-century apse, there is a reused stone from the 12th-century building and a consecration cross.

The church consists of a nave dating from the late 15th century, with a 16th-century north aisle, and terminates in a polygonal apse. In the 16th century, a private chapel was built, featuring a vault with five richly sculpted pendant keystones. A bell tower, which appears to date from the second half of the 16th century, stands at the western end of the north aisle.

This old sanctuary in the Beauce region, on the edge of the Marchenoir forest, not far from the ruins of Cîteaux Abbey, has a glorious past and a certain artistic charm, which the 1963 restoration work brought to light. This church, along with the "Petit Cîteaux" (Little Cîteaux), was partially burned during the Hundred Years' War. The foundations of some walls reveal the Romanesque period. The bell tower dates from the 12th century, and the consecration crosses, themselves carved in stone, are very old. The portal opening, with its pointed arch, dates from the 15th century and was well-deserving of the beautiful wrought-iron door with hinges that has recently been installed. The altar is a magnificent 12th-century Touraine stone from an old cemetery chapel, supported by two ancient columns that are relics of Cîteaux Abbey. The cemetery once surrounded the church. The two stone benches on either side of the entrance are former tombstones. In the square in front of the post office, there once stood a huge barn: the tithe barn. Until 1989, the bell tower still housed one of the oldest bells in the region. It dated from 1522 and weighed 650 kilos, but unfortunately, a deep crack irreparably damaged its beautiful bronze casing. Named Sulpice, the inscription in Gothic script that once adorned it read: "In the year 1522, Sulpice was named by Sir Michel Berger, parish priest, and nobleman Guillaume de Frouville, squire, and Lady Katherine de Frouville." The new bell, named Catherine, weighs 310 kilos and is tuned to A sharp. It was christened on December 10, 1989, by Bishop Goupy of Blois. Madame Loridon is the godmother, and Mr Bernard Seigneuret is the godfather.

Saint-Laurent Church is distinguished by its attractive wooden porch that extends across the entire facade. The facade is quite large for a church without side aisles. Numerous 18th-century alterations are evident, particularly to the windows.

This church in Romilly-sur-Aigre was dedicated to Saint Peter (Saint Pierre). Simon, nicknamed Peter (Rock), was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee when he - together with his brother Andrew - was called by Jesus Christ to be "fishers of men". According to Catholic understanding, he is the supreme apostle, and the two millennia-long line of popes - currently Francis - are his successor. On statues and paintings, Peter is almost always depicted with two keys in his hand; this attribute refers to the biblical saying in Matthew: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Chapter 16, verse 19). Peter and Paul are also known as the “Princes of the Apostles”; their common feast day in the saints' calendar is June 29th.

The Talcy Windmill, which dates from the 18th century, consists of a stone base topped with a cone which supports a wooden cabin (the Hucherolle) which rotates with the wind. It is one of many mills in the region and its configuration is very particular and fascinating.

Talcy Castle is a Renaissance castle built in the 16th century. You can walk around the castle and admire its architecture, which combines classical and medieval elements. You can also learn about the history and culture of the people who lived and loved the castle, such as the poet Pierre de Ronsard, who wrote his famous sonnets for Cassandre, the daughter of the castle's owner.

At the end of the 15th century, a first construction project made it possible to rebuild this church dedicated to Saint Peter. The current building consists of a nave, a choir bay and a three-sided apse. The bell tower was probably built at the beginning of the 20th century. The peculiarity of this building lies above all in the facade framed by two corner towers from the 18th century. Inside the porch, on the ground floor, you can still admire the old 16th-century gabled gate and two large western Gothic bay windows. Source: https://www.sauvegardeartfrancais.fr/projets/romilly-sur-aigre-eglise-saint-pierre/