The best gravel rides around Garnay

Very beautiful pond

Just a stone's throw from Dreux, the Écluzelles lake stretches through the heart of a vast, protected natural area. Popular with windsurfers and paddleboarders, it offers a pleasant setting for strolling along its tranquil banks.

Abondant is located in the Eure Valley, in the immediate vicinity of the Dreux national forest and the important Château de Sourches, which was extensively transformed in the 19th century, and whose grounds were designed by the Duchênes. It appears that the extensive work carried out on the church in the 16th and 18th centuries was due to the generosity of this family. The current Saint-Pierre church succeeds a 12th-century building that was under the control of the canons of Saint-Étienne de Dreux and later the monks of Notre-Dame du Bec. Thanks to parish registers, the dates of its construction are precisely known: in 1508, the roof frame was raised; in 1516, construction continued thanks to donations from Pierre de Guerry, then lord of Abondant; in 1548, the erection of a 60-meter bell tower, which was topped with a cross in 1549. The dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Meaux did not take place until 1604. In the same year, a brotherhood of Charity was created under the patronage of Saint Sebastian and Saint Barbara, which remained

The Church of Saint-Pierre stands in the middle of the village, surrounded by the former cemetery area, which has been transformed into a grassy mound. On the north side, it is dominated by a large three-story stone bell tower. The western façade is preceded by a very rustic enclosed porch. The church consists of a single nave extended by a choir and a five-sided apse. The chapel, which occupies the base of the bell tower to the north, and the south chapel form a false transept. The church is built of flint rubble; the quoins, bands, cornices, and buttresses are made of sandstone. The interior of the building is covered with beautiful wainscoting, with battens, entirely redone based on the original layout above the nave. The radiating wainscoting of the apse is highlighted with a black geometric decoration painted on either side of the battens. The sculpted beams of the roof structure were preserved and placed on the new beams. The 18th-century waxed wooden high altar is decorated with a Crucifixion embroidered on fabric, possibly replacing a painting. The statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul were placed in the niches to the left and right of the central altarpiece. The church has enclosed wooden pews that have been restored. When the pews were removed, gravestones were unearthed in the floor; they were photographed and drawn. A stone statue with a separated body and head was discovered in the thickness of a wall: it is Saint Peter wearing the papal tiara. During World War II, the bombing of a train stopped at the station destroyed the stained-glass windows, which were of varying value; however, one of them, dating from the 16th century, was listed. In 1948, the Bernard Campin workshop in Chartres was hired to renovate all the windows, in the style of the 1930s. Drainage work, masonry, timber framing, and roofing were carried out throughout the building, the most significant of which was the restoration of the paneled vault. The Sauvegarde de l'Art Français (French National Art Protection Agency) awarded €10,000 in grants in 2005.

Travel the Eure Valley from Montreuil to Fermaincourt for a scenic ride along quiet country roads. The route passes through charming villages, lush green meadows and peaceful stretches of the Eure River. You'll enjoy gentle slopes that make the ride enjoyable and relaxing, with plenty of places to stop and admire the picturesque countryside.

large bird reserve and nautical activities

mounted when entering Eure-et-Loir

The Pays Drouais Nautical Center is a nautical base located on the Mézières-Ecluzelles stretch of water. You can practice sailing, canoeing, mountain biking or even motorboating. The base offers walks, rentals, and training for all these disciplines and also issues certain boat licenses. More info here: https://www.centrenautiquedupaysdrouais.fr/