Eure-et-Loir Holiday Guide
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Enjoy a holiday of a lifetime in the Eure-et-Loir
The Eure-et-Loir is brimming with ideas for your holiday. Whether you like to spend your time discovering a great historical heritage, enjoying unspoilt nature or playing golf, there is something here to ensure you have the holiday of a lifetime. There are plenty of opportunities to engage in outdoor activities, with Lake Margon offering something for all the family, including a good play area for the little ones.
Top 5 things to see and do in Eure-et-Loir
1. The Picassiette House
An unusual attraction and one which kids usually enjoy as much as the adult members of the party, is the Picassiette House in Chartres. The three rooms of the little museum are decorated entirely with mosaics made from pieces of broken glass and crockery, and the effect is stunning.
2. Lake Margon and Lake La Borde
The leisure lakes of Margon and La Borde offer a number of water-based activities allowing the whole family to get outdoors and active in lovely, peaceful surroundings.
3. La Perche Nature Reserve and Percheron horses
The ancient French breed of heavy horse known as the Percheron is not widely known outside the region these days, so it's well worth taking the time to visit the La Perche Nature Reserve and see these magnificent beasts close up.
4. Château de Maintenon
Perhaps one of the more fascinating, if not the grandest, of the region's chateaux is the Château de Maintenon, once the residence of Madame de Maintenon, the so called "secret wife" of Louis XIV. The love story of the King and Madame Maintenon and the secrecy surrounding the undocumented but widely accepted marriage is intriguing as the castle itself.
5. Play golf
Both the gentle countryside and the mild climate are ideal for golfing, and the department offers several good courses where you can enjoy a few holes or take a dedicated golfing holiday. Good courses include Golf du Château Maintenon, Golf du Bois d'O, Golf de la Chaussée d'Ivry and Golf du Perche.
Top 5 towns and cities in Eure-et-Loir
1. Chartres
Chartres, capital of the department, is known as one of the finest cathedral towns in France. The UNESCO listed Gothic cathedral is simply stunning, and if you see nothing else in the city do take plenty of time to enjoy this masterpiece of religious architecture. That said, the city offers a wealth of wonderful heritage buildings in addition to the cathedral, and there is enough to see and enjoy to make a city break in Chartres a very enjoyable experience.
2. Châteaudun
If you are taking a heritage tour of the department, don't miss out on a visit to Châteaudun, where the wonderful hilltop castle, the atmospheric streets of the historic centre, the riverside walks of the Loire and an excellent art museum await you.
3. Bonneval
Bonneval is packed with charm, a little town where the riverside houses give a Venetian feel and romance is always in the air. Take in the sights, then enjoy a boat trip down the river to really savour the ambience.
4. Nogent le Roi
This is just a small town, but it is a must see for lovers of mediaeval features such as narrow streets, half-timbered "colombage" houses and historic charm. A visit to Nogent le Roi can be followed by a peaceful nature walk in the surrounding countryside, where if you are lucky, you might see deer grazing or catch sight of a red squirrel or two.
5. Illiers Combray
This is the town that allegedly was the inspiration for Marcel Proust, when he wrote the famous novel "In Search of Lost Time". Follow Proust's trail and learn about the man and his work, seeing his stories come to life with a superb reconstruction of "Aunt Leonie's House" and much more.
Food and drink in Eure-et-Loir
The Eure-et-Loir is without doubt a great destination for lovers of fine food and wine, with many local specialities to try. Among the best are perhaps (although you will doubtless find your own favourites) the rich and tasty Beauceron pork stew, Chartres paté made from the most luxurious of ingredients including Foie Gras, partridge and truffles, beer from Chartres and Proust's Madeleine cakes (little scallop-shaped cakes). Mentchikoffs (chocolate pralines surrounded by meringue), Feuille de Dreux cheese and Eurélien and Cochelin pastries are also treats to try.
How to get to Eure-et-Loir
As Eure-et-Loir is close to Paris, you will have no difficulty in getting there from the UK. You can arrive by air with a great choice of airlines and departure airports, or use the excellent TGV service. Alternatively, the northern ferry ports of Caen, Le Havre and Dieppe are well within reach.
