Discover Donnemain-Saint-Mamès

If you are looking for a hotel in Donnemain-Saint-Mamès, the local attractions can help you plan your trip: nature watching and landscapes go hand in hand here with a rich architectural history. Les Marais and the Conie are the main natural attractions; the church and the Hameau de Dheury offer distinct architectural and historical points of interest. You can decide whether you would rather spend your time enjoying nature, cycling a route or exploring the architectural heritage.

Nature along the Conie

Les Marais is a protected natural site on the banks of the Conie. Its landscape includes damp woodland and reed beds. The natural site is not open to the public; it can be viewed from the rural path along the right bank of the marsh. Check current access conditions before your visit.

A permanently accessible observation post has been located at the natural site since June 2008. From there, you can look out over the Conie, its reed beds and wildlife. The observation post focuses on wildlife watching; the “Les rouches de la Conie – boucle n°22” cycling route offers a different view of the landscape. It passes through meadows and woodland in the Conie valley. Nature enthusiasts can therefore choose between a fixed observation point and a route through the valley landscape.

Church: distinct historical periods

The church of Donnemain-Saint-Mamès dates from the 12th century and was probably altered in the 16th century. Romanesque openings and corbels remain along the nave. The dates are not equally certain: the church originated in the 12th century, while the alterations are only thought to date from the 16th century.

The furnishings also reflect a distinct period. They have been largely preserved and date from the 18th century; the items mentioned include the pulpit, confessional and two side altars. The stained-glass windows were made by Atelier LOIRE in 2004. The architecture, furnishings and windows therefore represent different periods rather than a single period of construction. If you are interested in architectural heritage, you can consider these aspects separately: the Romanesque features of the nave, the 18th-century furnishings and the stained-glass windows from 2004.

Hameau de Dheury: landscape and building style

The Hameau de Dheury lies along the northern slope beside the Conie. The tallest buildings are below the ridgeline. This setting is part of the hamlet’s character: its buildings are integrated into the hillside, and the tallest buildings do not reach the ridgeline.

The traditional buildings use several distinctive materials. Their roofs are made of reed, their walls of earth mixed with flint and straw (“bauge”); limestone surrounds complete the construction. Some buildings are oriented with their gable ends facing the street. This orientation applies to some buildings, not the whole hamlet. Those interested in the local architecture can therefore look at both the materials used and the different ways the houses are positioned in relation to the street.

The hamlet is listed as a protected site (“site inscrit”); it was listed by decree on 29 July 1988. Together with its hillside setting and traditional building style, this creates a clear architectural heritage focus alongside the natural attractions along the Conie. Nature watching, the cycling route and the architecture of the Hameau de Dheury offer different options when planning a stay in Donnemain-Saint-Mamès.

Discover more destinations: Nogent-le-Roi, Yèvres, Dampierre-Sur-Avre, Pontgouin, Montigny-sur-Avre, Beauche, Arrou, Saint-Arnoult-Des-Bois

Return to the regional travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.