Attractions and Places To See around Épernon - Top 20

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.

more road and fields than forest areas but still nice

The Moulin de Saint-Piat is a water mill located on the Eure and dating from the 11th century where it was once used for the production of flour and the extraction of oil. You can admire the architecture of the mill, which was extended in 1865, and enjoy the view of the river and the nearby church. The mill is also a good place for birdwatching, as you may be able to see herons, kingfishers and ducks along the water.

The Château de Maintenon is a castle that was once the residence of Madame de Maintenon, the second wife of Louis XIV. You can explore the elegant halls and gardens of the castle, as well as the impressive aqueduct that was built to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. The castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The entrance price is 9 euros for adults and 6 euros for children. You can also benefit from a guided tour or an audio guide at an additional cost. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful park, where you can stroll along the Eure and admire the view of the aqueduct and the castle.

The church in Epernon was dedicated to Saint Peter (SAINT-PIERRE). Simon, nicknamed Peter (rock), was a fisherman on the Sea of Genesareth when he – together with his brother Andrew – was called by Jesus Christ to be the "fisher of men". According to Catholic understanding, he is the supreme apostle, and the two millennia-long line of popes – currently Francis – are his successors. On statues and paintings Peter is almost always depicted with two keys in his hand, this attribute refers to the Bible passage in Matthew: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (chapter 16, verse 19). Peter is also known along with Paul as the "Princes of the Apostles", their common feast day in the calendar of saints is June 29th.

Pretty mill to contemplate for a refreshing break along the Eure. Its construction is estimated at the 11th century, but its existence is attested only at the end of the 15th century.

This beautiful castle owes its fame to the most famous of its occupants, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon, wife of Louis XIV. Transformed many times, the castle was created in the 12th century with the role of a fortress. It became a pleasure castle during the Renaissance before becoming the property of the Marquise. During a visit, you discover the rich history of the place. The castle is fully furnished, which makes the visit all the more immersive.

At the edge of this road a pond which forms with the forest which surrounds it a protected natural area. Each year, during the thaw (roughly from February to April), a "toadstool" is installed on the road that runs along the pond. But what is a toaddrome exactly? So, it is not a place where one could indulge in clandestine bets on toad races, but a device intended to prevent these poor beasts from being crushed by cars in crossing the road to breed and lay their eggs in the pond on the other side of the road. Indeed, thousands of common toads, but also frogs and newts, begin their long prenuptial migrations around March each year. They go to the nearest pond or pond to breed. Once their duty is done, they leave the aquatic environment to return to their summering areas where they will spend most of their time feeding. In order to avoid a carnage of amphibians on the road, a tarpaulin is planted 600m on each side of the road to block their passage. In various places a hole has been made in which a bucket is buried. By looking for a passage all along the tarpaulin, the toad will inevitably end up at the bottom of a bucket. Every morning, volunteers come to collect toads and other frogs and drop them off on the other side of the road.