Ermenonville-La-Petite combines a walking route around the village with several tangible traces of its history. For travelers who want to combine culture with a walk, this offers a clear local focus: you can explore the area through its route and historical themes.
A walking route around the village
The Chemin de ceinture runs around the village and offers views of an old washhouse, two old carriage stones, and the Church of Saint-Barthélémy. The loop brings different points of interest together in the same local setting; it is a useful way to get your bearings if you would rather discover the area step by step than focus on a single attraction. For travel planning, it is a reason in its own right to combine local history with a walk.
The church and historical traces
The Church of Saint-Barthélémy was built between 1865 and 1870. Another defining date is December 26, 1999: during the storm that day, its bell tower collapsed, while the bell remained intact. One year of work was planned to rebuild the tower, with the aim of restoring it faithfully to its original form. The church’s history thus encompasses several stages: its construction in the 19th century, the storm damage, and a planned reconstruction.
Another historical point of interest is the statue of Saint Sebastian. The work is carved from wood and polychromed; it was registered as a protected object on March 27, 2017. Its material and finish give the statue a distinctive craft profile, while the date situates its protected status in time. For visitors interested in religious art, this work offers a separate topic alongside the church’s architectural history.
The village name and walking events
The village name itself has changed over time. Since 1793, the village has been called “Ermenonville la petite”; since 1801, the spelling “Ermenonville-la-Petite” has been used. The second form stands out visually because of its hyphens. Comparing older and later forms of the name therefore reveals a clearly dated change in the village’s history. This history of the name is a distinct way to explore the area and adds another timescale to its architectural history.
In Ermenonville-La-Petite, the Comité des Fêtes offered public walking events in 2025 and 2026 with several route lengths, including 6, 8, and 13 km, as well as 6, 9, and 14 km. These distances make it possible to compare shorter and longer options; if you would like to include an event in your plans, check the dates in advance.
Regional context
Ermenonville-La-Petite lies north of the Beauce and east of the Perche; both are natural regions in the Eure-et-Loir department. This regional context complements the specific themes in the village: the walking route and local history. Another cultural point of interest is the Maison de Tante Léonie, the Musée Marcel Proust, in nearby Illiers-Combray, about 8 km away. If you would also like to include a Proust connection in your plans alongside a walk through the village, you can consider Illiers-Combray as a separate point of interest.
Discover more destinations: Maintenon, Cherisy, Marchéville, Senonches, Dangeau, Flacey, Illiers-Combray, Pontgouin
For the broader travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.
