The best traffic-free bike rides around Bouglainval

Built in the 16th century, with a lovely crafted portal; ogival wooden vault, with sandboxes, as in Brittany.

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.

Before 528, the village of Saint-Prest was called Saint-Jean-sur-Eure. At that time, the Bishop of Chartres, Ethère, had a building built adjoining the southern flank of the parish church, including a "martyrium" to house the remains of holy martyrs (the legend of Saint-Prest), which were placed in ten sarcophagi. The most honored relics were those of a certain Priscus; following numerous miracles, the parish took the name of Saint-Prest. The current church's crypt is the apse of the 9th-century Carolingian church, which replaced a 6th-century sanctuary. Access to the 12th-century nave, on the west side, is through a beautiful Romanesque portal, carved from beautiful limestone, surmounted by a triple saw-tooth archivolt and framed by two small columns with capitals. On the right, a face would be that of Eve, and on the left would appear the tempting serpent.

Don't be surprised if you spot flamingos 🦩 on the banks of the pond. They're still there, despite the park being closed for many years.

The church of Chartainvilliers was built in 1691. At least that is the date engraved on one of the stones of the façade. It consists of only one nave, the choir which is only the extension of the nave is separated from it only by a wooden support partition, and by a stone step. Each side of the church is lit by three ogival windows. The nave and the choir are crowned with a flat paneling of a very unpleasant effect and of poor execution, it is composed of poorly joined and barely whitewashed boards. This church is extremely small, it seems to have been built by the Noailles family, it is likely that at its origin it was considered simply as a seigneurial chapel and not as a parish church. It bears below the western entrance door, and engraved on stone, a Shield which although damaged we believed to recognize as the coat of arms of the Duchy of Maintenon. The Priest and the Mayor pointed out to us that the church was indeed too small for the population, and that an enlargement estimate amounting to 10,000 francs had already been drawn up but had not been executed, the planned enlargement was of The bell tower straddling the middle of the church is formed of a framework in fairly good condition but the slate roof is in a complete state of destruction and needs to be redone. The walls of the church are built in large masonry, a sandstone platform crowns the walls. The framework is made of very small oak, the roof is made of tiles. The entire nave is in very poor condition. The western gable, already held by 4 iron anchors attached to the frame, overhangs and we consider its reconstruction as inevitable. The tiled roof is also in poor condition and also needs to be partly redone. The rafters are weak and too far apart, several rafters need to be replaced. Main dimensions. Length of the nave internally 12.30 meters – Length of the choir 11.20 meters – Width of the nave 7.80 meters – height from the ground to under the floor 5.50 meters – height from the ground to under the drip edge 6.00 meters – perpendicular height of the roof 6.00 meters – height. Of the bell tower measured from the peak of the church to the spire 6.00 meters. statistics of municipal buildings and structures produced by cantonal road agents between 1852 and 1854

it's a route with very few vehicles so you can relax more to have fun

Coming from Berchères la Maingot, Place Pasteur, the farm is on the left, you have to enter the courtyard, and it is again on the left.

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