Épernon brings together architectural traces from different periods, landscape views and routes that pass through the town. If you would like to combine culture and activity during your stay, you’ll find clearly distinct points of interest here: Les Pressoirs tells the story of former winegrowing and trade, while the Belvédère de la Diane opens up views across Épernon and its green surroundings. There are also two long-distance routes, each with its own character.
Traces of winegrowing, trade and architectural history
Since 2018, Épernon has held the “Petites Cités de Caractère” designation, which is valid at least until 2028. Les Pressoirs is a former cellar dating from the 12th century. It once served as a market in its own right, where wine, cider and oil were sold. The Salle des Pressoirs once housed two wooden presses. They were used to extract grape juice from vines grown on the slopes. The cellar, presses and market illustrate different aspects of the town’s former winegrowing and trading history.
The Église Saint-Pierre offers a different perspective: its overall structure dates from the 15th century and was built on earlier Romanesque structures. The building’s history thus brings together different layers of time. During your visit, comparing them offers a tangible way to see how the town developed over the centuries, from its older foundations to the later overall structure.
Panoramic views and walks
The Belvédère de la Diane offers panoramic views across Épernon and its green surroundings. Part of the Épernon meadow has been left untouched and is now a popular place for walks. Each offers a different focus: at the belvedere, the emphasis is on views of the town and its surroundings; in the meadow, it is on walking in the green space. You can therefore shape your time in the town around either the views or a walk.
Two routes with different paths
The Véloscénie from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel passes through Épernon. The GR®655, the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela, crosses the Épernon area towards Soulaires and runs along the Eure Valley. The routes therefore differ both in their destinations and in the paths described: one passes through the town on a route between Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel, while the other follows the Eure Valley towards Soulaires.
The Prieuré Saint-Thomas welcomes pilgrims, and its park is open for walks. You can therefore choose a different focus when planning your trip: learn about the pilgrimage route and the welcome offered to pilgrims, or consider the park as a destination for a walk. The routes and places mentioned offer different points of interest without requiring you to follow a single combined itinerary.
Stonework and town history
The Conservatoire des meules et pavés d’Épernon presents the history of the town’s stone industry. This includes turning local stone into paving stones for Parisian boulevards and using it in the construction of Haussmann-style buildings. This focus extends the story beyond winegrowing, church architecture and pilgrimage routes to craftsmanship and the use of stone. If you’re interested in the history of built places, Épernon offers a range of themes: working with local materials, the architecture of the Église Saint-Pierre and the former function of Les Pressoirs.
Discover more destinations: La Saucelle, Béthonvilliers, Pontgouin, Maintenon, Dampierre-Sur-Avre, Brunelles, Rueil-La-Gadelière, Fontenay-sur-Eure.
For the regional travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.
