The best road cycling routes around Houdan

The Moulin de Mormoulins is a watermill located on the Eure River in the hamlet of Mormoulins. This mill dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and is a listed historical monument. You can admire the old stone building, the wooden wheel, and the canal that diverts water from the river as you pass in front of the mill. The mill is surrounded by green fields and trees, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

Great outing 👍

According to tradition, the church choir covers the remains of an older building, possibly dating back to the 6th century, which was built to house the saint's body. According to current knowledge, the commune of Saint-Piat (Sanctus Piatus in Latin) officially appeared in 1087, mentioned in a charter of the Nottonville Priory (Eure-et-Loir), on which it depended. The current building was rebuilt during the time of Francis I, as suggested by the date 1535 engraved on two buttresses of the apse and the date 1542 engraved on a piece of wood from the vault. This is according to a study by the SAEL (Eure-et-Loir Archaeological Society). The three-sided apses, the dripstone towers (horizontal members projecting from a wall), and the sculpted roof structures are a testament to the importance of the reconstructions carried out in the department during the 16th century. The church of Saint-Piat is one of them. While the church has not been officially recognized, it nevertheless contains objects that have attracted attention both for their antiquity and quality, but not always for good reason. Their artistic value, far from attracting only religious or aesthetic interest, has also aroused a covetousness that, unfortunately, remains for some of them. Fortunately, those still in place are carefully cared for and offer the curious a story to discover, a beauty to slowly ponder as they progress toward the choir.

Beautiful castle with a beautiful forest nearby 😉

Nothing remains of the old church, donated at the end of the 10th century by Hugh Capet to the Abbey of Saint-Magloire. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the building was remodeled numerous times. The bell tower was restored around 1840. The building burned down in 1888. In 1892, the Hériot family commissioned its reconstruction from Charles Trubert, architect of the town of Rambouillet. The sacristy was built in 1894, possibly by Pommay, the Hériot family's architect. A painting depicting Saint Thomas Aquinas receiving the blood of Christ can be attributed to the 18th-century French school. The iconographic theme chosen is unusual. The depiction of a saint receiving the blood of Christ is inspired by the medieval theme of the Church collecting blood and water in its chalice. In the 16th century, the figures depicted in this pose at the foot of the cross were angels. Saint Thomas Aquinas usually symbolizes the fight against evil. In this painting, he represents the love of Christ. The church consists of a single nave with a ribbed vault and semicircular arches. The stained-glass windows are probably the work of Lorin, a master glassmaker from Chartres. The bell tower, partially destroyed during the Second World War, was restored in 1955.

In Grison stone

Built at the end of the 12th century by the Counts of Montfort and listed as a Historic Monument since 1889, the Houdan Tower was used to watch for enemies and defend the territory. The Keep consists of a 15 m diameter and 21 m high tower, flanked by four turrets of the same height located at the four cardinal points. From the 16th century until the French Revolution, the Keep served as a prison, and executions took place at the foot of the Tower. The first water reservoir was installed in the tower in 1880. The second, built in 1952, is still visible. Tours are available on certain days.

Nice city center with medieval architecture