RoutesRoad cycling routesFranceNormandyMortagne-Au-PercheLongny-Les-Villages
Château de Saint-Simon 🏰✨⚜️ – Ferté-Vidame Castle loop from La Lande-sur-Eure
RoutesRoad cycling routesFranceNormandyMortagne-Au-PercheLongny-Les-Villages
Château de Saint-Simon 🏰✨⚜️ – Ferté-Vidame Castle loop from La Lande-sur-Eure
Moderate
7
riders
Château de Saint-Simon 🏰✨⚜️ – Ferté-Vidame Castle loop from La Lande-sur-Eure
02:59
70.1km
370m
Road cycling
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: June 20, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through protected areas
Please check local regulations for:
Waypoints
A
Start point
Parking
Get Directions
1
261 m
Saint John the Baptist Church
Highlight • Religious Site
With a very simple plan, with its tiled nave and its small slate bell tower on the ridge, the church surrounded by its cemetery, set back from the road, overlooks the countryside planted with trees. The river is nearby, and its flowing water evokes that of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, as soon as we see the statue of the patron, Saint John the Baptist, in the choir. His arm raised towards the sky reminds us of his preaching in the desert of Palestine: "Prepare for the coming of the Messiah...". On the thin banner attached to his staff are written the words: "Ecce Agnus Dei", by which he already announced that he saw in Jesus the victim freely offering himself as a sacrifice for the Redemption of all men.
Placed on the ground against the wall, a 17th century painting. depicts Jesus immersed up to his knees in the waters of the river, leaning with his hands crossed on his chest to receive the baptism of penance from the hand of John kneeling on the bank.
We see “the Spirit descending on him like a dove” and we recall the words of John reported in the Gospel: “I am not worthy to bow down at his feet… I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” Beside him, the angel wearing Jesus’ clothes turns his face towards a young child whom he guides with a hand placed on his shoulder, as if to teach him the profound meaning of baptism.
Above the arch through which the nave opens onto the choir, the group of Christ on the cross surrounded by Mary and Saint John the Evangelist is a fine example of 16th century religious sculpture, faithful to traditional iconography. Similarly, at the back of the nave is the charming naive statue of Saint Fiacre: this young monk from Ireland loved to cultivate the vegetable garden of his monastery, near Meaux. Patron saint of gardeners, he holds his spade, and in the Perche region he was also invoked to cure various illnesses.
More unique in style, the large Renaissance chest serving as a central altar was the former “work bench of the factory” reserved for the administrators of the parish’s resources and expenses. Let us admire the skill and imagination of the cabinetmaker who carved this series of full-length figures in oak under the arcades separated by “terms” inspired by Roman antiquity.
Their distinctive attributes make us recognize Saints Christine, Barbara, Madeleine and Catherine on the front, and on the sides Saints Peter and Paul on the right, John the Baptist and Bartholomew on the left. Their silhouettes are more reminiscent of fairy tale characters…
Placed on the ground against the wall, a 17th century painting. depicts Jesus immersed up to his knees in the waters of the river, leaning with his hands crossed on his chest to receive the baptism of penance from the hand of John kneeling on the bank.
We see “the Spirit descending on him like a dove” and we recall the words of John reported in the Gospel: “I am not worthy to bow down at his feet… I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” Beside him, the angel wearing Jesus’ clothes turns his face towards a young child whom he guides with a hand placed on his shoulder, as if to teach him the profound meaning of baptism.
Above the arch through which the nave opens onto the choir, the group of Christ on the cross surrounded by Mary and Saint John the Evangelist is a fine example of 16th century religious sculpture, faithful to traditional iconography. Similarly, at the back of the nave is the charming naive statue of Saint Fiacre: this young monk from Ireland loved to cultivate the vegetable garden of his monastery, near Meaux. Patron saint of gardeners, he holds his spade, and in the Perche region he was also invoked to cure various illnesses.
More unique in style, the large Renaissance chest serving as a central altar was the former “work bench of the factory” reserved for the administrators of the parish’s resources and expenses. Let us admire the skill and imagination of the cabinetmaker who carved this series of full-length figures in oak under the arcades separated by “terms” inspired by Roman antiquity.
Their distinctive attributes make us recognize Saints Christine, Barbara, Madeleine and Catherine on the front, and on the sides Saints Peter and Paul on the right, John the Baptist and Bartholomew on the left. Their silhouettes are more reminiscent of fairy tale characters…
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
6.90 km
View of the Château de Saint-Simon⚜️🏰✨
Highlight • Historical Site
The view of the Château Saint-Simon and the Mousseuse basins offers an exceptional panorama of the Château de Saint-Simon, a 16th century building that belonged to the famous memoirist Louis de Rouvroy, Duke of Saint-Simon. You can also admire the Mousseuse basins, which are part of the castle park and reflect the elegance of its architecture. The hike is easy and accessible, and you can start from Maison Saint-Simon, a museum dedicated to the life and work of the Duke. Along the way, you will learn about the history and culture of this remarkable site.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3
7.56 km
Saint Nicholas Church - La Ferté-Vidame
Highlight • Religious Site
CHURCH
SAINT NICOLAS
(17th century)
The town of La Ferté-Vidame takes its name from the Latin Firmitas Castrum which means the fortified villa belonging to the vidame'.
Its primitive church existed from the 12th century.
We find it mentioned in a charter dated 1136 under the name “Ecclesia Sancti Nicolai de Firmitate”.
Under the Ancien Régime, the rectory which was at the disposal of the abbot of Saint-Vincent-des-Bois became an annex of the parish of Lamblore. This particular situation of a chief town of a castellany belonging to a rural parish is explained by the detachment of the original parish from the territory around the castle.
Successor to the Huguenot heirs, Claude de Rouvroy de Saint-Simon, proclaimed by the grace of Louis XIII duke and peer of France, acquired the La Ferté estate in 1632. In order to erase all traces of Protestantism, of which the church had become over the centuries a very active platform, the Duke of Saint-Simon ordered in 1658 the demolition of the original church to replace it on the same site with the current building. The work was carried out promptly. On November 1, 1659, the Saint-Nicolas church was blessed by Messire Louis Oudard de Germens, canon priest of Chartres.
Classic in style with its homogeneous and ordered composition, the church was built according to a plan in the shape of a Latin cross. Its construction was inspired by the drawings of the famous Italian architect, Andrea di Pietro Palladio, whose sketches Duke Saint-Simon had brought back from Spain.
The architecture remains faithful to the marriage of stone and brick while giving this alternation a fanciful touch. Very majestic, the facade is built according to the Italian pattern (bossed pilasters, superposition of orders, pediment, volutes), a style also in vogue in France since 1630.
The arms of the Saint-Simon family were engraved on a stone at the pediment of the portal and on two others on either side of the portal. They were burned during the Revolution. Today, only the date engraved on the frieze remains: 1659.
16 59
Square in plan, the bell tower, which adjoins the church in the northern part, is topped with a dome surmounted by a lantern. Two bells are housed in the bell tower: one dates from 1762, the second from 1813.
The history of the church is closely intertwined with that of the lords of the parish, including the families
Saint-Simon, Laborde, Bourbon-Penthievre and Bourbon-Orléans remain the most famous.
Grandstands accessible from the outside and opening onto the side chapels recall their presence.
In 1743, at the request of Louis de Saint-Simon, a great memoirist, the family vault was built in the Chapel of the Resurrection. A slab on the ground marks the location of the grave.
Unfortunately, during the Revolution, the tombs were desecrated, the bones of the benefactors were extracted from the vault and scattered in a common grave dug at the apse of the church.
The church was the subject of significant restorations at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, including the interior ornamentation of the building which is a manifestation of the neo-classical style.
SAINT NICOLAS
(17th century)
The town of La Ferté-Vidame takes its name from the Latin Firmitas Castrum which means the fortified villa belonging to the vidame'.
Its primitive church existed from the 12th century.
We find it mentioned in a charter dated 1136 under the name “Ecclesia Sancti Nicolai de Firmitate”.
Under the Ancien Régime, the rectory which was at the disposal of the abbot of Saint-Vincent-des-Bois became an annex of the parish of Lamblore. This particular situation of a chief town of a castellany belonging to a rural parish is explained by the detachment of the original parish from the territory around the castle.
Successor to the Huguenot heirs, Claude de Rouvroy de Saint-Simon, proclaimed by the grace of Louis XIII duke and peer of France, acquired the La Ferté estate in 1632. In order to erase all traces of Protestantism, of which the church had become over the centuries a very active platform, the Duke of Saint-Simon ordered in 1658 the demolition of the original church to replace it on the same site with the current building. The work was carried out promptly. On November 1, 1659, the Saint-Nicolas church was blessed by Messire Louis Oudard de Germens, canon priest of Chartres.
Classic in style with its homogeneous and ordered composition, the church was built according to a plan in the shape of a Latin cross. Its construction was inspired by the drawings of the famous Italian architect, Andrea di Pietro Palladio, whose sketches Duke Saint-Simon had brought back from Spain.
The architecture remains faithful to the marriage of stone and brick while giving this alternation a fanciful touch. Very majestic, the facade is built according to the Italian pattern (bossed pilasters, superposition of orders, pediment, volutes), a style also in vogue in France since 1630.
The arms of the Saint-Simon family were engraved on a stone at the pediment of the portal and on two others on either side of the portal. They were burned during the Revolution. Today, only the date engraved on the frieze remains: 1659.
16 59
Square in plan, the bell tower, which adjoins the church in the northern part, is topped with a dome surmounted by a lantern. Two bells are housed in the bell tower: one dates from 1762, the second from 1813.
The history of the church is closely intertwined with that of the lords of the parish, including the families
Saint-Simon, Laborde, Bourbon-Penthievre and Bourbon-Orléans remain the most famous.
Grandstands accessible from the outside and opening onto the side chapels recall their presence.
In 1743, at the request of Louis de Saint-Simon, a great memoirist, the family vault was built in the Chapel of the Resurrection. A slab on the ground marks the location of the grave.
Unfortunately, during the Revolution, the tombs were desecrated, the bones of the benefactors were extracted from the vault and scattered in a common grave dug at the apse of the church.
The church was the subject of significant restorations at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, including the interior ornamentation of the building which is a manifestation of the neo-classical style.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4
7.69 km
Château de Saint-Simon 🏰✨⚜️
Highlight • Other
To visit with Gael, passionate and fascinating guide!
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5
7.71 km
Ferté-Vidame Castle
Highlight • Other
In 1374, the Vendôme family, who possessed the prestigious title of vidame de Chartres (officer in charge of exercising the military and judicial powers of the bishop), bought the estate and had a stone castle built. This same castle was then acquired in 1635 by Claude de Rouvroy, a favorite of Louis XIII. His son, Louis de Rouvroy, better known as the Duc de Saint-Simon, retired to this area to write some 12,000 pages of his Memoirs; chronicles of the last years of the reign and the court of King Louis XIV at Versailles who, between portraits and memories, dismantles the courtesan machine, and its springs of appearances and power. He also had the stable building built there, the current "small castle" now housing the Orée du Perche Tourist Office.
At the end of his life, Saint-Simon no longer had any male descendants and his granddaughter, who inherited the estate, sold it in 1764 to Jean-Joseph de Laborde, banker to the court of Louis XV and farmer general (in charge tax collection). The Marquis de Laborde holds one of the largest fortunes in France, which comes in particular from the slave trade. He had the medieval castle destroyed and launched the construction of a new building: it is the castle whose ruins can be admired today. This was built in just three years. Consisting of three floors, it would have had 167 rooms and its facade is 150 meters long. Laborde is not limited to the reconstruction of the castle, he also redevelops the city park: a huge area of 860 hectares, surrounded by a wall of 13 kilometers which makes it the second largest park in the region after Chambord. It is also the last French-style garden created in France, with a perspective of 1.5 kilometers.
At the end of his life, Saint-Simon no longer had any male descendants and his granddaughter, who inherited the estate, sold it in 1764 to Jean-Joseph de Laborde, banker to the court of Louis XV and farmer general (in charge tax collection). The Marquis de Laborde holds one of the largest fortunes in France, which comes in particular from the slave trade. He had the medieval castle destroyed and launched the construction of a new building: it is the castle whose ruins can be admired today. This was built in just three years. Consisting of three floors, it would have had 167 rooms and its facade is 150 meters long. Laborde is not limited to the reconstruction of the castle, he also redevelops the city park: a huge area of 860 hectares, surrounded by a wall of 13 kilometers which makes it the second largest park in the region after Chambord. It is also the last French-style garden created in France, with a perspective of 1.5 kilometers.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6
10.1 km
Catholic Church - St-Martin de Lamblore
Highlight • Other
Martin was a Roman legionary in the 3rd century. He is known by this episode of his life by which he is represented: passing a poor man without clothes in the street, he cuts his legionnaire's coat in two to cover the unfortunate man.
What is less told is the sequel: in the night, Martin saw in a dream Jesus Christ wearing half a coat saying: "I am wearing Martin's coat".
This confirms a word of the Gospel: “Whatever you did to one of the least of these who are my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25.40)
Martin, having become a Christian, left the Legion, and approached Hilaire, the bishop of Poitiers. He suggested that he settle in Ligugé with a few disciples. The Ligugé monastery is still occupied by monks, successors of Saint-Martin. The work of Saint-Martin extended into the countryside, so much so that the inhabitants of Tour asked him to become their bishop.
What is less told is the sequel: in the night, Martin saw in a dream Jesus Christ wearing half a coat saying: "I am wearing Martin's coat".
This confirms a word of the Gospel: “Whatever you did to one of the least of these who are my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25.40)
Martin, having become a Christian, left the Legion, and approached Hilaire, the bishop of Poitiers. He suggested that he settle in Ligugé with a few disciples. The Ligugé monastery is still occupied by monks, successors of Saint-Martin. The work of Saint-Martin extended into the countryside, so much so that the inhabitants of Tour asked him to become their bishop.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
54.2 km
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette Church
Highlight • Other
How curious it is to discover such an original church in such a small town. Its tower transports us to the seaside with its neo-baroque style inspired by a lighthouse.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
69.9 km
Mairie la Lande sur Eure
Highlight • Other
Town hall of the small village of Lande sur Eure with its small war memorial
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
70.1 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
68.7 km
1.07 km
349 m
Surfaces
55.9 km
14.1 km
154 m
< 100 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.
Highest point (270 m)
Lowest point (160 m)
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Saturday 11 July
35°C
18°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
Comments
Want to know more?
Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.
Sign up for free