Mézières-en-Drouais: Waterscape and Cultural Heritage

For a trip to Mézières-en-Drouais, there are two distinct themes to explore: the Plan d’eau de Mézières-Écluzelles, with nature watching and nautical activities, and the history of two religious buildings. There is also the opportunity to buy products directly from the farm. If you are looking for a hotel in Mézières-en-Drouais, these themes can help you choose the focus of your stay: water and nature, architectural and religious history, or a combination of the two.

Water, birdwatching and nautical activities

The 130-hectare Plan d’eau de Mézières-Écluzelles extends partly across the communes of Écluzelles and Mézières-en-Drouais. This means it is associated with both communes; the body of water is not located entirely within Mézières-en-Drouais. If you choose the Plan d’eau as the focus of your stay, its location across two communes is a useful point of reference.

One particularly tangible aspect of the natural setting is one of France’s few permanent grey heron colonies. An observation hide has been set up in front of the colony, allowing you to watch the birds without disturbing them. The focus here is on wildlife watching: the colony is permanent, and the hide lets you observe the birds without disturbing them.

There are also two options for nautical activities. The sailing school at the Plan d’eau offers nautical activities to a wide audience, with professional supervision. Paddleboarding is offered at the Base nautique de l’Agglo du Pays de Dreux; availability may change. If this activity is important to your travel plans, check whether it is available before your visit. The sailing school combines the activity with professional supervision, while availability is a consideration when planning to paddleboard.

Religious buildings and their different historical periods

The Église Saint-Martin may date from the early 12th century. By decree dated March 4, 2013, the church was classified in its entirety as a Monument historique. At the rear of the west portal, the church preserves a painted scene that is thought to depict a danse macabre and may date from around 1500. The dates are not all equally certain: the dates attributed to the church and painting are tentative, while the date of the classification decree is definitive. The building, its wall painting and its legal protection therefore relate to different historical periods.

The Temple protestant de Marsauceux was built in 1821 in the hamlet of Marsauceux, in Mézières-en-Drouais. The Reformed parish associated with the temple was founded earlier, in 1562. The parish’s founding and the construction of the temple are separate events: 1562 is the year the parish was founded, not the year the temple was built. At the end of 2022, the temple was listed in its entirety as a Monument historique, together with the adjoining plot of the former Huguenot cemetery. The listing therefore includes this neighbouring plot as well as the building.

Farm-shop sales

Products are sold directly from farms in Mézières-en-Drouais. This adds a practical shopping option to the historical and landscape themes. Individual sellers may change; if buying directly from a farm is important to your plans, bear this possibility in mind.

Discover more destinations: Fessanvilliers-Mattanvilliers, Yèvres, Maintenon, Vaupillon, Chandelles, Unverre, Ouarville, Montigny-le-Gannelon.

See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Eure-Et-Loir.