Droué: Historic Sites and La Pierre Cochée
Accommodation in Droué
If you are looking for a hotel in Droué, the local landmarks can help you get a sense of the destination: Neolithic stoneworking, the history of churches and a château, and a walking trail all come together here. These themes differ in age and type. You can decide in advance whether you are particularly interested in archaeology, sacred architecture, or the history of a château.
La Pierre Cochée and the walking trail
La Pierre Cochée is a large Neolithic polissoir, or prehistoric grinding stone. The stone has 27 grooves. La Pierre Cochée is listed as a historic monument under the 1889 list. Its Neolithic classification describes the age of the object; 1889 is the year it was listed. This means two different time periods are represented at this site.
The La Pierre Cochée walking trail starts at the Boisseleau car park on the D19 in Droué and crosses the Egvonne over a footbridge. The starting point gives you a specific landmark to help plan your visit. Check the conditions at the crossing on site.
Château and religious architectural history
The Château de Droué was built between 1610 and 1614. It stands on a former feudal motte, which served as an outlying defensive position for Châteaudun. The location of the monumental staircase and the semi-underground level of the service rooms have been preserved at the château. The construction dates, former defensive site, and surviving architectural features offer different points of reference for placing the château’s history in context.
The Ancienne chapelle de Boisseleau was originally the church of a Benedictine priory under the Abbey of Saint-Avit in Châteaudun. Its nave dates from the 12th century and has a semicircular vaulted apse. The north aisle, dating from the 16th century, is incomplete. There are also traces of 16th-century wall paintings on the apse, known as “Les Trois Marie.” The nave, aisle, and traces of paintings make it possible to distinguish different elements of the building’s and decoration’s history.
The Église Saint-Nicolas de Bourguérin is now the church of Droué. It has been mentioned since 1177; however, its oldest surviving parts date from the late 15th or early 16th century. The church was extended westward by two bays in 1631. Two side chapels were added in 1833, and the sacristy in 1875. These dates mark several phases of expansion without conflating the early mention with the age of the surviving parts. The church contains a painting attributed to Pierre Jouvenet: it depicts a kneeling soldier presenting a large book and keys to a bishop.
Farm shop and production
The Ferme de la Pierre Cochée sells milk ice cream made from cow’s milk directly from the farm in Droué. The farm also makes artisanal ice cream and sorbets in a workshop. If you plan to visit the farm shop, check access before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Vallières-Les-Grandes, Lignières, Sassay, Villavard, Orchaise, Molineuf, Méhers, Bracieux
For the broader travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
