Discover Le Mesnil-Simon

Le Mesnil-Simon can be understood through two themes: historic buildings and memorials, and a gently rolling landscape with woodland. Église Saint-Nicolas and Mausolée de Malebranche tell of different eras; Vallon des Epinettes and Bois du Mesnil-Simon give the landscape its own scale.

Church and mausoleum: building history across different periods

Mausolée de Malebranche was built in 1733 in honor of Nicolas de Malebranche, who was known as a physicist and philosopher. The mausoleum was reconstructed in 1839 and reinstalled at the family tomb in the same year. It has been classified as a historic monument since April 12, 1963.

The main construction phases of Église Saint-Nicolas date to the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The nave ends in a four-sided apse; a square bell tower stands at the fourth bay. The nave is the elongated main space of a church, while the apse forms its end. A bay is a section of the nave, a single unit in the division of this elongated main space.

The surviving works of art also contribute to this historic profile. Église Saint-Nicolas preserves a complete depiction of the Tree of Jesse, which was extensively restored in 1872. Another kind of historical record is the tomb slab of Jean du Bec and Marguerite de Guainville. It is attached to the wall of the south aisle. Jean du Bec is shown wearing armor and a doublet, with his coat of arms; Marguerite de Guainville is depicted with folded hands beneath an architectural canopy. Jean du Bec is recorded as lord of Le Mesnil-Simon in 1520. The church’s construction phases span the 13th to 15th centuries; the mausoleum was not built until 1733, in a later era.

Woodland and gently rolling plateau

Bois du Mesnil-Simon is the municipality’s main wooded area, covering about 100 hectares of its territory. A gently rolling plateau also characterizes the municipality; Vallon des Epinettes cuts slightly into it. The woodland and valley offer two different perspectives on the landscape: the extent of a forested area and the plateau’s relief.

In the wider region, the GR 22 follows the Avre valley and then climbs toward Anet.

Plan your journey and accommodation search

Le Mesnil-Simon is served by bus route 88. Check the current timetable before travelling so you can factor the route information into your specific plans.

If you are looking for hotels in Le Mesnil-Simon, this distinction can help you understand the character of your destination before booking.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Lubin-de-la-Haye, La Bazoche-Gouet, Rouvres, Montigny-le-Gannelon, Saint-Rémy-Sur-Avre, Houx, Chartres, Montigny-sur-Avre.

For the broader travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.