The history of Coudray-au-Perche can be read in two construction phases of Saint-Pierre Church: the nave dates from the 12th century and is Romanesque; the taller choir was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. This chronology offers a concrete point of reference for anyone interested in cultural history.
Church, Festival Tradition and Manor House
The furnishings of Saint-Pierre also include distinctive architectural details. Inside the church is a stone Renaissance-style piscina. Pinnacles decorated with crockets frame it, with a curved gable above. The church also contains a statue of Saint Barbara.
Every year, Saint-Pierre is lavishly decorated for the FĂŞte des laboureurs et des ouvriers (Festival of Farmers and Workers). The festival connects the church with a recurring local tradition. It was celebrated for the 105th time in 2013; by then, the tradition had already existed for more than a hundred years.
The built heritage also includes the Manoir de Courcelles. The manor house dates from the 16th century, while its towers go back to the 12th century. It overlooks the left bank of the Ronne. At Saint-Pierre, the focus is on a church’s construction phases; at the Manoir, it is on the interplay between the younger manor house, its older towers and its riverside setting.
Nature Areas and Plants
Richardières is one of the three nature areas in Coudray-au-Perche. Protected flora grows in the Bois des Mottais, including royal fern and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage. The Bois de Montgraham is an area of high landscape quality; its flora includes, among other plants, marsh fern.
These details highlight different features: protected plants are named for the Bois des Mottais, while the Bois de Montgraham is noted both for a specific plant species and for the quality of its landscape. This gives you a concrete basis for choosing according to your interests without reducing the two areas to the same description of nature.
Horse-Riding Trail, Cycling Loop and Fishing
The routes also differ according to the activity. The “Les manoirs” horse-riding trail starts in Coudray-au-Perche and is 20.5 kilometres long. The “Au pays des fées et des ermites” cycling loop passes the Manoir des Basses-Loges in Coudray-au-Perche. This gives you a horse-riding trail with a stated length and a cycling loop with a named sightseeing destination to compare by mode of travel and route highlights.
At the Plan d'eau du Tertre, the fishing spot has been awarded a family-friendly course designation. The no-kill principle applies there, except for rainbow trout and species classed as harmful, such as brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish and American crayfish. Boats and float tubes are prohibited. Planning a visit to the water therefore involves both the fishing rule and its exceptions, as well as the restrictions on using boats.
Restaurants and Meal Planning
The Ferme Auberge de l'Agneau Grillé serves traditional cuisine. The lamb comes from the farm’s own livestock and is produced on site. Restaurant Le Saint Pierre hosts themed evenings; reservations are required on Friday and Saturday evenings. For meal planning, the relevant details are the Ferme Auberge’s traditional lamb cuisine and the reservation requirement for two evenings at Le Saint Pierre.
Discover more destinations: Ardelu, Auneau, Montreuil, Saint-Maur-sur-le-Loir, Baudreville, Donnemain-Saint-Mamès, Sainville, Saint-Arnoult-Des-Bois.
For the regional travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.
