A Romanesque church, a château complex that has been redesigned several times, and two walking trails of different lengths give Dangeau several concrete points of interest for an exploratory visit. The buildings tell the story of different centuries, while the trails put the landscape and physical activity centre stage. When planning your visit, you can therefore first decide whether you are mainly interested in architecture and the history of the park, or would rather plan a walk.
Church architecture at the Église Saint-Georges
The Église Saint-Georges is a Romanesque, unvaulted church with side aisles, a semicircular apse and an ambulatory. It also has three chapels with domical vaults. An apse is the semicircular end of a church space; an ambulatory runs around the choir area. Domical vaults are dome-shaped vaults. These terms help distinguish the architectural features mentioned: the church itself is unvaulted, while the three chapels have their own vaults.
A wooden, pointed bell tower dating from the 17th century completes the architecture. A sculpted portal from the 12th century is located in the third bay of the south aisle. The portal and tower thus represent architectural features from different periods. Together with the Romanesque layout, they offer various points of reference for understanding the church’s design.
The Château de Bouthonvilliers and the history of its park
The Château de Bouthonvilliers has been redesigned several times. Today, it consists of a central 18th-century building framed by two older pavilions. The façades and roofs have been listed as a historic monument by decree dated 11 August 1975. The listing specifically names these parts of the building; the description of its architectural history also distinguishes the central building from the older pavilions.
The development of the park can also be placed in a historical context. It was formerly laid out in the French style; in 1850, Maître Joly extended it and redesigned it in the English style. This date relates to the park’s design. It is distinct from the history of the château, which includes a central 18th-century building and two older pavilions. Comparing the two gives you different historical reference points for the buildings and the park.
Walking trails of different lengths
The La Fontaine walking trail is 14 kilometres long; it takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Along the route, two footbridges cross the Ozanne. These details combine a specific time estimate with a distinctive feature of the route. Before setting off, check the local signage, as recommended for this trail.
Les grands bois is 13 kilometres long and passes through plains, forests and a valley. Yellow markings show the way. In terms of distance alone, Les grands bois is one kilometre shorter than La Fontaine; however, the estimate of around 3 hours and 30 minutes applies to La Fontaine. You can distinguish between the two walks by their length and the landscapes described.
Visit to the educational farm
Ferme pédagogique AnimO Perch' offers visits to its educational farm. Visitors can get to know the farm animals there. As visit details may change, it is advisable to check them before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Vaupillon, Yèvres, Montireau, Rueil-La-Gadelière, Mézières-en-Drouais, Oinville-Sous-Auneau, Senonches, Ver-lès-Chartres.
For the wider travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.
