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Eure-et-Loir, France travel guide

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The Eure-et-Loir department of France is found to the north of the Centre region, south-west of Paris.

Although not home to the most famous chateaux of the region, there are still several attractive castles to visit, and some other unmissable highlights.

Inevitably the focus of most visits, the best known site is at Chartres - the Chartres cathedral is a protected world heritage site, and one of the highlights of the region. The town of Chartres itself also contains an interesting old town that should detain you a while.

Castles in Eure-et-Loir

The most well known castle in Eure-et-Loir is impressively located at Chateaudun - as with Chartres, don't neglect the town itself. The extensive Chateau-des-Vaux is also among the most impressive castles in the department. A few of the others to explore include the Chateau de Maintenon, the Chateau d'Anet, Château Saint-Jean de Nogent-le-Rotrou, Château de Montigny-le-Gannelon, Chateau de Villebon, the brick chateau at Château de Maillebois...

Other places to visit in Eure-et-Loir

The department falls into a few different regions: the Perche region to the west around Nogent-le-Rotrou; the Drouais to the north around Dreux; and Beauce.

The Beauce region is characteristically flat agricultural land, and includes the highlights of Chartres and Chateaudun. Several working windmills can also be seen, mostly in the Beauce region - the one at Ymonville is an interesting and unusual 'wooden clapboard' design.

Bonneval (southern Eure-et-Loir) is attractive and traversed by canals and features the Saint-Florentin abbey and an interesting medieval centre.

A couple of other popular sights include Moutiers (south-east), and also in the south the working watermill at Douy is in a pretty setting.

To the east of Eure-et-Loir visit the medieval centre of Gallardon, and at Pierres visit the medieval gardens at Jardin de Bois-Richeux, which are an interesting recreation of a 14th century garden.

Heading to the west, admire the medieval centre of Nogent-le-Rotrou.

Senonches is in the Perche Regional Natural Park and surrounded by extensive forests - a very popular place for walking and cycling.

Note: the town of Illiers-Combray is also in Eure-et-Loir, as featured in the works of Marcel Proust. Originally called Illiers, but referred to as Combray in the Proust novels, it was therefore later renamed Iilliers-Combray in his memory. At Illiers-Combray you can visit Swann Park (designed by the author's uncle).