フレスネ＝ル＝コントのおすすめツーリングルート

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention that dates back to pre-Christian times. Thanks to such a construction, human or animal muscle power could be easily replaced by a watercourse - natural or artificially created - in order to grind grain into corn, for example. There are essentially two different ways of driving watermills: either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the water is guided above the wheel and falls onto the blades; this type of construction is more efficient due to natural gravity.

Unfortunately, the church was not accessible when I visited (mid-September 2024). You could only look in through a gate and the dance of death depictions on the left side were not really visible. In front of them were transparencies with skeleton drawings. Maybe those were the depictions...

Porte de Boisville Its ogival portal opens into a thick quadrangular massif where there was a room for operating the portcullis. We can still see the groove in the thickness of the walls. On the left and right two small funnel-shaped spaces allowed the defenders to observe and repel the enemies who appeared on the bridge. The gate was topped by a building serving as a guardhouse which was demolished in 1761. The guarding of these doors and their keys was in the troubled times of the Hundred Years' War the subject of concern for the inhabitants and also a source of quarrels and trials between the city and the abbey. This gate is preceded by a bridge of 5 stone arches, the one adjoining the gate was built in 1774 and replaced a drawbridge which defended the entrance.

Former keep nicknamed La Poivrière because of its roof and which was part of the fortified enclosure in the 13th century

Bonneval, nicknamed the little Venice of Beauce

The castle overlooks the Loir River from a height of 60 meters. It comprises elements from different periods, blending medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles. Imposing, especially when viewed from below, this castle served as a princely residence in the 12th, 15th, and 16th centuries. A visit will reveal a well-preserved and beautifully presented interior.

Bonneval is a beautiful town with still-present fortifications. The old town is surrounded by a wall at the foot of which flows the Loir. This city retains many period buildings such as the Saint-Roch Gate and the King's Tower. Among its must-see attractions, the city also includes the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Florentin-et-Saint-Hilaire, many times destroyed and rebuilt during wars.

This castle dates back to the 12th century, although some parts were added later. Its imposing tower was present from the beginning. As for the Saint Nicholas chapel, it is known for its Gothic decorations.