The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Firmin-Des-Prés

Rue du Change in Vendôme. Pedestrian street with a view of the Trinity

Although the Notre-Dame church in the town of Areines may seem modest in size, the richness of its interior decoration is remarkable. It consists of a rectangular nave from the 11th century that extends into a narrower choir and ends with a semi-circular apse from the 12th century. The bell tower was added in the Gothic period. All the walls are covered with murals. The restoration of those in the choir and apse dating from the middle of the 12th century allows us to see: Christ in Majesty, the Lamb with a halo, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, saints and apostles. Some of these primitive frescoes were covered by paintings from the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. Many traces are visible on the walls of the nave and will be restored in the years to come.

In 1960, Father Jacques Lepage, then vicar in the city center, was sent to prospect and begin to bring the Christian Community to life in the new Rottes district. A plot of land was found and an architect was chosen, Mr. Michel Marconnet. On October 19, 1962, the temporary chapel, the current Jacques Lepage hall, was opened. First baptism, on October 21, 62. There would be 10 more at the end of the calendar year and a hundred or so each year that followed. The population of the district was very young and growing. In 1966, while in the city center the 2 parishes of the Trinity and the Madeleine were merged, that of NDR was erected. Father Lepage became the first priest. The church was not finished. The interior design was entrusted to a local artist, Prix de Rome, Mr. Louis Leygue, who expressed himself in the choir, the baptismal font, the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and the crypt. Mrs. Anne Huet created the stained glass windows. Father Lepage would make a large part of them in his garage. At Christmas 1967, the first mass was celebrated. On May 12, 1968, Bishop Joseph Goupy came to consecrate the altar and bless the building. Work would continue and the history of the church did not end there.

Very beautifully restored church with a beautiful courtyard.

Vendôme benefits from an extraordinary heritage with numerous exceptional sites and monuments. The city is also renowned for the excellence of its artistic crafts. Crossed by the Loir, it is located in an environment that will delight nature lovers.

The Abbey of the Trinity is a Benedictine abbey founded in the 11th century in Vendôme. You can stroll through the abbey and admire its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, as well as its remarkable cloister. You can also discover the history and culture of the people who lived and prayed in the abbey, which was a center of learning and art in the Middle Ages.

Zone i is a cultural space around the image and the environment nestled in the heart of the valley in Thoré-la-Rochette. This one-of-a-kind place hosts cultural actions designed by its creators, Mat and Monica. They vary over the years, the seasons and the inspiration of the creators.

The Saint-Georges Gate marks the entrance to the town when crossing the Loir from the south. Its construction dates from the 14th century, although some elements were added later. From the bridge, you can admire the machicolations, medallions and ornamental sculptures present on the structure.