Discover Fontenailles

Fontenailles can be planned from several angles: architectural history, preserved washhouses, and a landscaped park sit alongside horse-riding activities and a walking route. When choosing your accommodation, it may help to start by considering whether you are interested in the local heritage, plan to go on a ride, or would like to spend several hours on foot. The themes also span different periods: the church, washhouses, and park offer different points of interest for culture-minded travellers; vineyards and tombstones belong to earlier periods, while a horse ride, the walking route, and the village fête are practical considerations for planning your trip.

Saint-Fiacre Church and Local History

Saint-Fiacre Church was restored in 1861. Its bell tower dates from the 13th century and is the only original part of the church that has survived. The same building therefore brings together two clearly distinct periods: the restoration marks a major alteration, while the tower dates back to the original church. For anyone interested in architecture, this is a striking starting point for exploring the history of the village.

Two tombstones from the 16th century are also part of the church’s history. The mortal remains of the lords of Meaux-Bois Boudran rested beneath them. These tombs give the church’s history a specific connection to the lords of that time, while the bell tower chiefly illustrates the building’s long history. During a stay in Fontenailles, you can therefore explore architectural and historical themes separately without reducing them to the same period.

Washhouses and Landscape Design

Four historic washhouses have been preserved in Fontenailles: Le Bézard, L’Orme, Glatigny, and Fontenailles. Their names provide several specific points of reference for the village’s architectural history. The Fontenailles washhouse has also taken on a later use: it was converted into a recreation space in 1986 and continues to serve as a local meeting place. This example shows how a washhouse became a place for community life.

The area’s former wine-growing history also has a clear timeframe: Fontenailles had vineyards until the end of the 19th century. For travel planning, this is a historical aspect of the village, not a description of a present-day wine offering. The park and hunting park of the Château de Bois-Boudran in Fontenailles offer another glimpse of designed outdoor spaces. The grounds are laid out as an irregular garden, with lawns, ornamental meadows, groups of trees, and individual clusters of trees. This combination describes the design in more detail than a general reference to a park.

Horse Riding or Getting Around on Foot

La Randonnée in Fontenailles is an equestrian tourism centre and a riding stable focused on ethological horse care. Its activities include rides for children and adults, as well as rides with picnics. If you plan to go on a ride, check booking and participation requirements directly with La Randonnée in advance; activities and requirements may change. The address is 1 route de Montereau à Glatigny, 77370 Fontenailles. Check the contact details before travelling.

For a hike, the “Balade branchée en Brie – Villefermoy” walking route, Section 1, passes through Fontenailles. It is 9.4 kilometres long and takes about three hours. The route starts at the Ru Guérin reception area, at the intersection of the RD12 and Route du Ru Guérin. Its distance and approximate duration give you a specific guide for fitting the route into your day. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Horse riding and walking offer different approaches to planning: for a ride, check the relevant booking and participation requirements directly; for the walking route, you can use the approximate three-hour duration as a guide. Which option best suits your stay depends on whether you would rather focus on a horse ride or a hike.

Date of the Village Fête

The Fontenailles village fête continues to take place on the first Sunday in September. If the fête is important to your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant year in advance. This lets you plan your stay around the scheduled fête without assuming a particular year’s programme.

Discover more destinations: Favières, Thomery, Fericy, Choisy-en-Brie, Jossigny, Perthes, Touquin, Guermantes

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