Discover Champmotteux

Champmotteux brings together two areas of interest that can serve different purposes when planning a trip: long-distance hiking trails and architectural history. Alongside information about two trails, several buildings are in the spotlight. The Église Sainte-Madeleine is notable for its Gothic choir and Michel de l’Hospital; the Ferme de Château Gaillard stands out for its courtyard layout, while the water tower is notable for its former role in the water supply. You can decide whether to focus your attention more on hiking or on architecture and the town’s technical history.

Long-distance hiking through Champmotteux

The GR® 655 long-distance hiking trail passes through Champmotteux. A 32.5-kilometre section runs from the footbridge over the Chalouette to Boigneville. This distance refers to the entire section described, not just the part within the commune. Before setting off, check the route details and plan according to the current route. The GR 111 also passes through Champmotteux; check its current route before going for a hike. Two different details are therefore relevant when planning your walks: for the GR® 655, the section, endpoints and distance are specified, while for the GR 111, it is the passage through the commune. Consider the two trails separately in your plans and check the route for whichever one you intend to walk.

Église Sainte-Madeleine: vault and tomb

The Église Sainte-Madeleine is believed to date from the 14th century. Its Gothic choir is covered by a rib vault. In this type of vault, the ribs intersect and divide the ceiling; they meet at the keystone. The coats of arms of Michel de l’Hospital are painted on the keystone. This architectural detail thus connects the choir’s structure with Michel de l’Hospital’s heraldry. His tomb and recumbent effigy are also in the south chapel. A recumbent effigy depicts a person lying down. Several aspects are therefore important when considering the church: its presumed date, the Gothic form of the choir, the coats of arms on the keystone, and the tomb with its recumbent effigy. The vault and south chapel draw attention to different parts of the architecture and furnishings.

Ferme de Château Gaillard: building complex with a courtyard

The Ferme de Château Gaillard offers a different architectural focus. It is a large building complex whose buildings are arranged around an enclosed courtyard. What matters, then, is not just one building, but the layout of the entire complex around the courtyard. This distinguishes the site from the Église Sainte-Madeleine: at the church, the focus is on the choir, vault and chapel furnishings, while at the Ferme, it is on how the buildings relate to the courtyard. The two offer complementary perspectives on the architectural forms in Champmotteux: the sacred space of a church and a larger complex arranged around a courtyard.

The water tower and the former water supply

The Champmotteux water tower was built by the architect Chassin at the beginning of the 20th century. It was used to store and distribute water brought in from elsewhere. This was because there were no rivers or springs in the commune. Its purpose helps explain the tower as a piece of technical infrastructure: its history concerns not only its construction date and architect, but also the water supply. This adds a technical aspect to the religious and agricultural buildings. While the choir and furnishings are of interest at the Église Sainte-Madeleine, and the courtyard layout at the Ferme, the water tower is notable for its role in storing and distributing water.

Discover more destinations: Grigny, Abbéville-La-Rivière, Janvry, Orsay, Courcouronnes, Boissy-Sous-Saint-Yon, Crosne, Saclay

For the broader travel overview: Essonne.