The best road cycling routes around Umpeau

The Saint-Lubin church of Coltainville is a religious monument located in the commune of Coltainville, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Although its name suggests a dedication to Saint Lubin, bishop of Chartres in the 6th century, the available sources do not specify its period of construction or its detailed history. This type of building, typical of the French countryside, often plays a central role in local life, both spiritually and communally. In the general context of the Centre-Val de Loire, parish churches like that of Coltainville were historically essential gathering places. They served not only for religious services, but also for social events, such as baptisms, weddings, or village assemblies. Their architecture and decoration often reflect local resources and know-how, as well as regional or national stylistic influences depending on the era.

The nave ends with an apse with facets, all covered by a polygonal paneled frame. A bell tower surmounts the facade. The current church was almost entirely rebuilt or renovated in the 17th century. The framework is entirely from this period. The underside of the rafters forming the truss and the turned-up tie beams is adorned with shingles decorated with decorative paintings. This framework is one of the rare examples entirely from the 17th century. Under Louis XIV, camps were established in the Gallardon valley for the construction of the Maintenon aqueduct. Officers stayed in the surrounding castles, and an intense life, with visits from the court, reigned in this region. It is likely that this church was completely restored at that time, and enriched with paintings in the style of the time.

The Saint-Léger church of Houx is a religious monument located in the commune of Houx, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Although its existence is attested, the available sources do not specify either its period of construction or the architectural or historical details associated with it. This type of building, typical of small French towns, often plays a central role in local life, both spiritually and communally. In the Centre-Val de Loire, parish churches like Saint-Léger of Houx were historically essential gathering places for the inhabitants. They served not only for religious services, but also for social or civic events. Their presence generally reflects the medieval or modern organization of the villages, where the church constituted a major geographical and identity landmark.

The charm of Nogent le Roi.

The Moulin de Mormoulins is a watermill located on the Eure River in the hamlet of Mormoulins. This mill dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and is a listed historical monument. You can admire the old stone building, the wooden wheel, and the canal that diverts water from the river as you pass in front of the mill. The mill is surrounded by green fields and trees, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

The church of Bleury, dedicated to Saint Martin, probably dates from the end of the Middle Ages. It was remodeled and enlarged in the 16th century by the addition of a large chapel on the north side. The nave ends with a semicircular apse. The chapel to the north is extended by a square bell tower which once opened onto the nave through an arch that is now blocked but still visible. The chapel opens onto the nave through two pointed arches made of recently rendered clotted stone. It communicated with the ground floor of the courtyard through an arch that is now closed. Another filled-in arch appears on the wall between the chapel and the lower room of the courtyard. The church is covered with a paneled roof. A single beam is sculpted, the penultimate one on the west side. It supported, with the beam resting on the facade wall, a recently demolished gallery. Some of the nave's semi-circular windows are late, and the pointed arch openings have Gothic tracery. The square bell tower has a saddleback roof. It is pierced with pointed arch openings. Access to the building is from the south, under a modern porch that houses a portal surmounted by a shield with three fleurs-de-lis. A stone cornice runs under the roof to the south, supported by unsculpted modillions. Two 18th-century altarpieces were included in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments on June 17, 1975. 16th-century wall paintings depict the Mass of Saint Gregory. They were discovered in 1881 and classified as Historic Monuments on November 17, 1908. Their preservation is currently threatened by infiltration due to the poor condition of the roof structure. The Sauvegarde de l’Art Français provided aid of 75,000 F in 1994, thus contributing to the repairs undertaken to restore the framework, which will allow the walls to be cleaned up.

Saint-Martin Church. This extremely modest church consists of a four-bay nave extended by a three-sided apse to the east and a sacristy to the north. It is built of rubble block, with sandstone buttresses and shell limestone surrounds. Although its history is poorly documented, it is likely that an earlier 16th-century church was enlarged and modified in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Externally, its elevation is punctuated by a short timber-framed bell tower erected in 1889-1890 above the western bay of the nave. The western façade is late: it features an 18th-century arched doorway, with the first level lit by three unequal pointed-arch windows, an addition made in 1820. On the south façade, a stone cornice runs under the roof, while a drip edge stringcourse is located one meter above the ground. Two of the apse windows were blocked during the installation of the great altarpiece. In 1890, when the spire was moved, the first bay of the nave underwent some modifications: the western wall was lined internally with another wall in which three large arches were cut; in the space thus delimited, two chapels were created on the ground floor, on either side of the entrance door, and a small gallery on the first level, while a staircase provided access to the bell tower. The interior of the church was furnished and decorated in the late 18th century. and during the Restoration: the Visitation altarpiece (1815-1820) dates from this period. Some statues, including four wooden evangelists, came from the old tabernacle. Statues of Saint Martin and Saint James were placed in the side niches of the altarpiece. The Sauvegarde de l'Art français (French Art Protection Agency) contributed €30,490 to the roofing work on the building in 2002.

The current church was built in 1547 on the site of an earlier church dating back to the 11th century. The work was financed by the Brézé family, who were lords of Gasville-Oisème at the time. The church was restored over the following centuries, particularly in the 19th century. The church's façade is its most remarkable feature. It is adorned with a Renaissance portal, surmounted by a sculpted tympanum depicting Christ in Majesty. The church's interior is also remarkable. It is adorned with sculpted columns and capitals, as well as several religious paintings. The Church of Saint Gregory is a remarkable historical monument, a testament to Renaissance religious architecture in France. It is also an important place of worship for the parish community. The church is open to the public upon request.