Champrond-en-Gâtine: History and Hiking Trails

Visitors planning a stay in Champrond-en-Gâtine will encounter a mix of architectural history, community life, hiking trails and nature. The Église Saint-Sauveur and the Tour de Champrond date from different periods; the washhouses add the history of social meeting places to this picture. At Étang du Panama, a historic site meets the pastime of fishing. You can therefore plan your trip around specific interests: historic buildings, local history, or routes through the countryside and forest.

Church and architectural history

The Église Saint-Sauveur dates from the 12th century and was later altered and extended. Its medieval origins and later changes can thus be distinguished within a single architectural history. Beneath the altar is a spring that never runs dry, an unusual connection between the church interior and a natural feature. A painting by Carlo Van Loo returned to the church on 7 December 2013 after several months of restoration. This event belongs to a much later period than the church’s construction and marks another stage in its history.

Tower and community life

The Tour de Champrond was built in 1876 by the godmother of the Marquise d’Aligre on the foundations of the tower of the former feudal castle. There is also a medieval watchtower on the façade of a house. It is privately owned and cannot be entered, but it can be viewed from Rue de l’Étang.

The washhouses also point to the community life of the past. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were social meeting places and centres of community life. One historic washhouse is in the hamlet of Beaurepaire, while the second is at Étang du Panama. The two locations mark different points of reference: a hamlet and a pond. Unlike the church and the Tour, their significance lies not primarily in their builders or religious history, but in everyday encounters. The washhouses thus add a social perspective on the area to its architectural landmarks.

Nature and hiking trails

People fish at Étang du Panama, where the local fishing association stocks trout. The privately owned Bois Landry forest is now designated as a natural area for the protection of wildlife and plant life. The 7 km “Le Beauvais” walking trail runs through the surrounding countryside. The “Le Brisecou” walking trail is 6 km long and leads through the forest. The routes differ by one kilometre and in their landscape setting—two concrete points of comparison for your plans.

Champrond-en-Gâtine is included in the “Terres de Rando” programme of the Communauté de communes Terres de Perche. The programme promotes hiking trails to make the natural, historical and cultural heritage more accessible. Alongside the buildings and former meeting places, the trails offer another way to explore the themes of nature and history.

Discover more destinations: La Puisaye, Chandelles, Saint-Denis-d'Authou, Saint-Rémy-Sur-Avre, Saint-Arnoult-Des-Bois, Cherisy, Saint-Laurent-en-Gâtines, Luisant

For the overview of the wider region: Eure-Et-Loir.