Excursions From Chartres: Other Interesting Places To Visit
The Rev. Jill K H Geoffrion, Ph.D.
Portrait © Marilyn Larsen
Bonneville & Environs Megalithic Sites
The Bonneville Tourist Office has a wonderful flyer, "Megalithes de canton de Bonneville." By having the brochure (or the pop up map described below would have worked too) we were able to show people pictures of what we were looking for and descriptions in French of the megalith we were in search of. This helped immensely! Highly recommended!
Office de Tourism du canton de Bonneval
2 square Westerham 28800 Bonneval
Tel: 02 37 47 55 89, Fax 02 37 96 28 62
http://www.bonnevaltourisme.com
Once you are at the site, click on curcuits, then click on megalithes, and a pop up window will show you the locations of various megaliths. Very helpful!!!
Email: contact@bonnevaltourisme.com
Mégalithe de l'Omorice, Bonneville
From The Tourism Parking lot turn left and continue into the country until you get to a meat farm. Next, the road will jog right then left. You'll go under a TGV (train) line and the road will come to a farm on your left. Park your car on the side of the road and make your way into the field to find the menhir (close to the power lines.) These directions make sense to me, but I'm not known for my ability to give clear directions. I recommend that you check with the tourism office before going.
Dolmen de la Pierre de Beaumont
This was a bit tricky to find. It was off the main road between towns. We had to stop twice to ask directions. It may (or may not) help to know that a 90 degree turn in the road you turn off and take a little dirt road over a hill. Then, the dolmen will be off to the right in the middle of a field. The gate to the field had been closed up as if the farmer doesn't want people going out to see the dolmen. It is on private land and surrounded by a barbed wire fence.
Dolmen de St.-Avit-les-Guespières
NW of Saumeray before St.-Avit-les-Guespières on the road to Illiers-Combray. Our breath was taken away by this dolmen sitting out in a horse field on the Quincampoix farm. It is on the south side of the road D 28.
Dolmen Palet de Gargantua: Alluyes
We found this dolmen on the left side of the road going out into the country behind the Church in Alluyers. We were in search of the Menhir de la Trinité (which we never located). It is on private land that wasn't being cultivated. We went in May and it was easy to see and to approach.
The Polissoir de Saumeray
Behind the church in Saumeray is a little park where this polissoir (polishing stone & menhir) has been relocated.
This area has many, many megaliths. If you find others and would like to share your information, please email Jill.
I would be happy to upload information and photos as well.
Change, Dolmens and Menhirs
Two kilometers from Maintenon (direction Change) down a beautiful country road, there is an archeological site right before the town of Change. In the field beside it, a menhir (in two pieces) can be seen. As you head towards Chartres from Maintenon, D6 will be on your left across from rue de Georges Cours. There is a sign pointing in the direction of the dolmens that says "Site Archéologique."
Menhir du but de Gargantua
The archeological site has two sets of signs explaining what has been found there (lots of human bones).
Dolmen in archeological site, Change.
If you continue down the road to Change, you will come to the Dolmen de la Grenouille in the field on the right.
Dolmen de la Grenouille (Frog Dolmen), Change.
Dreux
There are several interesting things to see and do in Dreux, including visiting the Royal Chapel of St. Louis (closed Tuesdays and every day during lunchtime). 2, square d'Aumale.
Phone: 02 37 46 07 06
St. Peter's Church (Église St. Pierre) is open for visiting from 9:00-noon and 2:00pm to 7:00 pm every day. There are wonderful panels explaining most of the windows.
Apsidal windows (modern ), Dreux
©Jill K H Geoffrion, please email for permission to copy.
For more information about Dreux, which is 35 kilometers from Chartres, contact the Office of Tourisme de Dreux
6, rue des Embûches 28100 Dreux
+33(0)2 37 46 01 73
Web: http://www.ot-dreux.fr
Email: contact@ot-dreux.fr
Maintenon, Château de Maintenon
28130 Maintenon Tel: 02 37 23 00 09, Fax 02 37 23 00 79
Email: château.maintenon@cg28.fr
Adult Tarrif 2007: E 6,50, a room by room guide can be purchased in English for E 0,25.
Check for opening times before you go, times vary with the season. Closed Tuesdays. In all seasons it is open from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Last time of entry: 4:15 pm. Groups can arrange for visits in the afternoons.
A short 19k drive, train ride, or bike ride on fairly busy country roads from Chartres, the Château de Maintenon provides a nice outing. It is a small chåteau with fourteen rooms to visit, surrounded by running water, and flanked by a golf course. The grounds are lovely place for relaxing on a nice day.
While in the area you may want to make the 2 kilometer trip on D6 to visit the dolmens & menhir right before the town of Change (see above).
Megalithic Sites in Eure & Loir
There are many megalithic sites in this region. They are often hard to find or on private land. We found that many people we stopped to ask for directions were very helpful. The following sites are listed on the Eure & Loir regional map or in Eure et Loir: Le Guide Complet de ses 403 Communes by Michel de la Torre (Paris: Les Éditions Deslogis-Lacoste, 1989).
Alluyes, Auneau, Bonneval, Change (see above), Civry, Courtalain, Écluzelle (dolmen), Le Boullay-Mivoye (Menhir de la Pierre-Fitte), Le Boullay-Thierry (2 dolmens which have been destroyed), Lutz-en-Dunois, Méréglise, Mézières-en Drouais (dolmen), Tillay-le Peneux, Tizray-lès-Bonneval, Toury, Villeau, Villers-St-Orien, Vieuvicq, Vouvray, Voves.
Mills in Eure & Loir Region
Chartres lies in the middle of a fertile farming region. There are some beautiful old mills that can be visited from the Spring through the fall.
Windmills:
Moulin à vent de la Garenne à Ymonville 02 37 32 21 36
Mouilin à vent du Bois de Feugères 02 37 96 31 08
Moulin à vent du Paradis à Sancheville 02 37 44 01 40
Moulin à vent Saint-Thomas à la Bazoches-en-Dunois 01 49 24 42 66
Watermills:
Moulin à eau de Cougain 02 37 96 84 80
You can contact the tourist office in Chartres for more information.
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