The best traffic-free bike rides around Épernon

Very nice route, 3/4 of which is in the forest. The few roads used are very quiet. The advantage of this route, if you like, is that it can easily be transformed into a mountain bike route. Just look to the right or left of the cycle path and there is a single track. Have a good trip to all those who wish to take it.

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.

Great outing 👍

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.

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.

It is best to take it in the direction of the ascent, from south to north.