The best traffic-free bike rides around Épieds-En-Beauce

The current Church of Saint Maurice dates from the 16th century, replacing a 12th-century building. The entrance is through a door located on the east side, as renovations during the 19th century altered the church's orientation. An entrance was created in the flat apse, and a polygonal apse was built to the west. A south aisle was also added. Inside, the nave is flanked by two side aisles. The right aisle, to the north (since the church is now off-center), dates from the 16th century. The left aisle, built in 1865, is covered, like the rest of the church, by ribbed vaults. The baptistery chapel contains a modern marble font and a late 18th-century painting depicting the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. On either side of the chancel, two chapels terminate the side aisles. The chancel, in the Neo-Gothic style, dates from the 19th century, while the crucifix dates from the 16th century. The pulpit, imposing for a rural church, is made of oak and dates from the 19th century. The exit, located to the east, still retains traces of the former apse. On the 19th-century apse, there is a reused stone from the 12th-century building and a consecration cross.

This old sanctuary in the Beauce region, on the edge of the Marchenoir forest, not far from the ruins of Cîteaux Abbey, has a glorious past and a certain artistic charm, which the 1963 restoration work brought to light. This church, along with the "Petit Cîteaux" (Little Cîteaux), was partially burned during the Hundred Years' War. The foundations of some walls reveal the Romanesque period. The bell tower dates from the 12th century, and the consecration crosses, themselves carved in stone, are very old. The portal opening, with its pointed arch, dates from the 15th century and was well-deserving of the beautiful wrought-iron door with hinges that has recently been installed. The altar is a magnificent 12th-century Touraine stone from an old cemetery chapel, supported by two ancient columns that are relics of Cîteaux Abbey. The cemetery once surrounded the church. The two stone benches on either side of the entrance are former tombstones. In the square in front of the post office, there once stood a huge barn: the tithe barn. Until 1989, the bell tower still housed one of the oldest bells in the region. It dated from 1522 and weighed 650 kilos, but unfortunately, a deep crack irreparably damaged its beautiful bronze casing. Named Sulpice, the inscription in Gothic script that once adorned it read: "In the year 1522, Sulpice was named by Sir Michel Berger, parish priest, and nobleman Guillaume de Frouville, squire, and Lady Katherine de Frouville." The new bell, named Catherine, weighs 310 kilos and is tuned to A sharp. It was christened on December 10, 1989, by Bishop Goupy of Blois. Madame Loridon is the godmother, and Mr Bernard Seigneuret is the godfather.

The Notre-Dame de Poupry Church, located in the southern Eure-et-Loir region, in the heart of Beauce, is a 12th-century building, predominantly Romanesque in style, incorporating some Gothic elements such as ribbed vaults. Several phases of work have allowed the building to be maintained: work on the roof and framework, restoration of the exterior plasterwork, work in the sacristy, restoration and lighting of stained-glass windows discovered on the site. Today, further work is needed: masonry, carpentry, and restoration of the Stations of the Cross. A fundraising campaign is underway to fund the work. Your support is essential to the preservation of this precious heritage. With its saddleback bell tower, Notre-Dame de Poupry sits in a green setting and borders a large square in the center of this small Beauce village of about a hundred inhabitants. First named Saint Sulpice, it became Notre-Dame de Poupry. Modest in appearance, the single nave is enlarged by two chapels. The furnishings date mainly from the 18th century. There are baptismal fonts with two gadrooned basins. Only one painting is exhibited in this church: "Saint Cecilia and the Angel with the Music Sheet," painted by Jules Vignon in 1872. Like many others, this church was endowed with this painting after the revolutionary turmoil. It was also the subject of a last-chance operation during a previous restoration supported by the Heritage Foundation.

The Saint-André church burned down in the middle of the 19th century. The priest, forced to celebrate mass in a barn, opened a subscription in 1864, the church was rebuilt in 1865, according to the original plan, plus a transept. Bell tower-porch.

The Sainte Christine church represents a heritage of the rural and religious world characteristic of Beauce, the "breadbasket" of France since the Middle Ages. The Romanesque nave dates from the 12th century and was given a bell tower in the 18th century. The spire then peaked at 28 meters high, visible from afar from the surrounding countryside. In 1835, a hurricane damaged the roof of the bell tower. In 1893, lightning ignited the spire which burned almost entirely. The traces are still visible today. It would take almost 25 years for the church to regain its bell tower, reduced by half to 17 meters in height. The heritage to be restored is in line with the many religious buildings in this area such as the Saint Sébastien church in Baignolet, listed as a Historic Monument.

The Saint-Martin church dates from the 11th century. It was ravaged and burned by the Protestants, then restored at the end of the 16th century. It still retains remains of the Romanesque style, particularly in the nave which was rebuilt on the same plan, with stones and other debris from the fire.

After an unrealized project by the architect Plisson in 1861, church built in 1866, based on plans by Ricard, diocesan architect; with reuse of the previous 13th century building (bell tower)

The Moulin de Lignerolles is one of the last pivotal windmills in the Loiret department. Built in 1848, this wooden mill belonged to Louis-Joseph Soulas, famous painter and director of the Orléans School of Fine Arts. You can admire the restored mill and its ingenious mechanism, as well as the panoramic view of the plain. The mill is open to the public on Sundays from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and also hosts various events throughout the year, such as a flea market, concerts and exhibitions. Visiting the Moulin de Lignerolles is an excellent way to discover the heritage and charm of the Beauceron countryside.