The best walks and hikes around Pithiviers

A huge magnifying glass on a plane tree

The Étang de la Vallée leisure centre is a veritable green setting, ideal for a day outdoors. This centre offers a multitude of activities for all ages: treetop adventure park for children, water activities such as canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and pedal boats for trips on the pond. The sandy beach, supervised in season, is ideal for swimming, while the Vallée Snack Club offers fast food for those who are hungry. For those who wish to extend their stay, a family campsite is also available.

Nestled on the edge of the Orléans forest, the Château de Chamerolles is a magnificent Renaissance castle which retains its medieval heritage. It was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII and Governor of Orléans. He wanted to make the old medieval building into a real pleasure castle responding to the architectural fashion of the time. With its polychrome brick decor and its open gallery, the Château de Chamerolles is inspired by the Louis XII wing of the royal Château de Blois. It retains its moat and its layout of corner towers from the medieval period. During the wars of religion, Lancelot's grandson, Lancelot II, transformed the castle of Chamerolles into a center of Protestantism. From this period remains the chapel whose painted tables of laws are the oldest in France. Chamerolles remained in the du Lac family until the end of the 17th century. In 1672, the castle belonged to Jacques Saumery, brother-in-law of Colbert. A century later, the castle passed into the hands of the Lambert family and in 1924, into those of Gaston Jessé-Curély. Occupied, ransacked, stripped during the Second World War, the Château de Chamerolles was put up for sale in 1970. In 1976, the city of Paris found itself in charge of Chamerolles. Abandoned, the Château de Chamerolles fell into ruins. In 1987, it became the property of the Loiret Departmental Council which then undertook an ambitious restoration program. The five years of work allow us to discover a transitional architecture, between the medieval heritage and the innovations of the Renaissance. Today, the Château de Chamerolles is dedicated to the history of perfumery and offers a historical and heritage showcase to the Cosmetic Valley, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Chamerolles offers a visual and olfactory journey, in pieces reconstructed from the 16th century to the 18th century, allowing you to discover the history of toiletry and perfume. The castle is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac, after a trip to Italy. A garden where it is beautiful to stroll in the summer.

These remains, all in all impressive with their red brick and stone curtain walls as well as their ten towers, transport you back to 1544, the date when Hallier Castle was built by Charles de l'Hospital. It is seen as a very good example of transition between the fortified castle and the pleasure residence. Henri IV found Henriette d'Entragues there, his mistress to whom he had made a promise of marriage without ever keeping it. Always linked to the loves of kings, Nibelle, where this castle is located, would take its name from Charles IX, who offered Le Hallier to his mistress saying "Here is your nest, Belle..."

Beautiful stretch of water to take a break. Leisure center in fine weather, you will find a beach, a picnic area, toilets and a café (open from April to October on weekends and during the week during school holidays).

The Caillettes belvedere is located in the heart of the Ingrannes massif. This 24 meter high lookout tower stands on the Caillettes hill at the highest point of the Orléans forest. It offers a breathtaking view of the entire surrounding massif and the forest canopy. An orientation table allows you to orient yourself when reading the surrounding points of interest.

Superb little place that I discovered recently.

Behind a door, pretty little wash house.