Bouleurs: History, Buildings and Rural Trails

Bouleurs can be explored for your trip from two perspectives: the history of its buildings and trails through a rural landscape. The Church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine, the washhouse and the memorial offer different historical points of interest. For a hike, you could consider a 4.5-kilometre circular route around Bouleurs and the GR1 through Le Bas de la Hutte. If you are looking for hotels in Bouleurs, you can first decide whether local history or hiking will be the focus of your stay. The specific details of the buildings and trails give each of these interests its own point of reference.

Church, Washhouse and Memorial

The Church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine dates from 1153 and has three naves. Two of its stained-glass windows date from the 16th century. This brings together two historical periods in the same building: the stated date of the church’s origins and the windows, dated considerably later. The number of naves describes the layout of the church interior, while the windows are part of its furnishings. For travellers interested in architecture and local history, Bouleurs offers more than a single date to note; the building’s history and its stained-glass decoration can also be distinguished chronologically.

Another building has different features: the washhouse in Bouleurs is semicircular and has round-arched arcades made of red bricks. It also has a gently sloping slate roof and cast-iron pillars. Rather than identifying the architecture only by the label “washhouse,” you can look at its floor plan, arch shape, materials and roof. The basin is fed by the Ru Bouton. At the washhouse, the distinctive features lie in its shape and construction; at the church, the naves and windows provide the points of reference.

The memorial in Bouleurs was commissioned by the municipal council in 1921 to commemorate the residents of Bouleurs who fell in the First World War. Bouleurs also has houses in the Briard style. These houses add another architectural facet to the picture of the area’s building history.

Rural Landscape and Hiking Trails

Le Bas de la Hutte covers 27 hectares of woodland, old orchards, fallow land, meadows and cultivated plots. The GR1 passes through the area. The combination of a specific area, varied landscape features and a route that runs through it gives hikers a different point of reference from a single building in the village.

The Boucle de Bouleurs is a 4.5-kilometre circular hiking trail around Bouleurs. Improvements to this route include the restoration of the Vignot washhouse and a footbridge at the Ru Vignot ford. In Bouleurs, the GR1 was rerouted from the main road onto a restored rural path; a pontoon was also built over the Ru Vignot for hikers. The routes have different features to consider: the Boucle has a specified length and is circular, while the rerouted path and pontoon are practical features of the GR1. Before your hike, check the current GR1 route, as trail routes can change.

Discover more destinations: Meaux, Chamigny, La Chapelle-Rablais, Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux, Échouboulains, Saint-Germain-Sur-Morin, Germigny-l'Évêque, Coulommes.

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.