Yèvre-le-Châtel

The fortress stands proudly on its rocky promontory with four imposing towers, ramparts, fortified entrance and archway leading into the lower courtyard. During the Hundred Years’ War, Yèvre, along with Montargis, was the only stronghold north of the Loire not to fall into the hands of the English or the Burgundians.

Sightseeing in the picturesque village of Yèvre-le-Châtel

Nowadays the village with its pretty houses of local limestone and its narrow, flower-filled streets is a popular destination. The castle is open to the public free-of-charge every day between 1 April and 1 November, but the best way to visit it is with a pre-booked guided tour. A rampart walk runs around the curtain walls and from the top of the towers you can see right across the landscapes of the Beauce, Gâtinais and Orleans Forest.  In the castle courtyard 150 different herbs are planted in raised beds. But the castle is not the only heritage building in the village ! The nearby church of Saint-Gault is the venue for concerts and the romantic remains of the unfinished 13th century church of Saint-Lubin are well worth visiting.

This picture-postcard, friendly village is full of flowers with hollyhocks and lovely flower beds. It is easy to see that it enjoys an excellent quality of life which is lived to the full. Art lovers will be delighted to come across paintings, sculptures and other treasures as the village attracted the attention of well-known artists like Vieira Da Silva, Arpad Szenes and Pierre Dmitrienko.

Young visitors and foodies will adore the historic events which take place during summer, such as a son-et-lumière show and local producers’ markets. Round off your visit with a stroll along the Rimarde, the delightful river which runs through the village and is a tributary of the Essonne. Walks varying from 3km to 8km are a great opportunity to see the historic buildings and also the flora and fauna of the Essonne Valley.