The Château de Courtalain tells the story of several building phases, while its 200-hectare English landscape park, with meadows and sweeping vistas, offers a different perspective on the estate. For active exploration, there is also a marked cycling loop starting in Courtalain and a riding route in Vald’Yerre. This gives you a choice of château history, a park visit, and two different ways to explore the area.

Château history and visits

Guillaume d’Avaugour built the Château de Courtalain. Construction dates from the late 15th to the early 16th century; it was remodelled in the early 19th century. The building combines medieval and Renaissance architecture with 19th-century neo-medieval additions. The combination thus brings together architectural styles from different periods. The medieval and Renaissance architecture reflects the early building history, while the neo-medieval additions belong to a later phase. If you are interested in architecture, it is worth keeping this chronological sequence in mind during your visit.

A guided tour of the Château includes the exterior areas, with the château, park, and outbuildings, as well as interior spaces such as the orangery and grand staircase. Visiting options vary by season. So if you are planning to see the interiors, check the tour dates before your trip.

Landscape park and trails

The English landscape park of the Château de Courtalain is open to visitors and covers 200 hectares. Its features include meadows and sweeping vistas around the château. The park gives your visit a focus beyond the rooms and architectural history: here, the landscape design and open spaces take centre stage. Check the visiting arrangements in advance if you would like to include the park in your plans.

The “À la recherche de la Chevêche” cycling loop is a marked 13-kilometre circular route starting in Courtalain. One of its sights is the 12th-century Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The church originated as the chapel of the Château de Courtalain, giving the cycling loop a direct connection to the château’s history and a religious building of its own as a point of interest. If you enjoy combining culture with a cycling route, this loop offers a clearly identified trail and a historical focus.

“Plaine et vallée de l’Yerre” is an easy 35-kilometre riding route in Vald’Yerre. It passes through varied landscapes between the hills of the Perche and the Beauce plain, and ends with a visit to the Château de Courtalain. The route differs from the 13-kilometre cycling loop in both length and mode of travel. This lets you choose between a marked cycle ride with a connection to the church and a longer ride on horseback through changing landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Gommerville, Maisons, Yèvres, Le Gué-De-Longroi, Faverolles, La Puisaye, La Loupe, Moléans.

Back to the regional travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.