Ézy-sur-Eure / Maintenon
From Maintenon, your cycle route begins with your back to the château that was home to the secret love affair between the Sun King and Françoise d'Aubigné, known as Madame de Maintenon. You cycle towards Nogent-le-Roi, a village with a rich heritage, featuring half-timbered houses and the remarkable St-Sulpice church. The Écluzelles lake along your route is the perfect place for a break surrounded by nature. You enter Normandy by crossing the Eure, which marks the border between the two regions. From Saint-Georges-Motel, the greenway takes you to Ezy-sur-Eure. The Renaissance castle of Anet, former residence of Diane de Poitiers, is the end of this stage of the Eure Valley cycle route.
The cycle route
From Maintenon, follow the signs for La Véloscénie / Saint Jacques à vélo. At Villiers-le-Morhier church, leave La Véloscénie on your right and follow the Vallée de l’Eure à vélo signs towards Nogent-le-Roi. Take the small country roads (D116) and pass through the small villages of the Eure valley. Continue on the D116, passing the Écluzelles lake and then the Avre aqueduct. When you reach Saint Georges Motel, take the Eure Valley greenway to Ezy-sur-Eure, taking care at intersections marked by wooden barriers.
Gradients and elevation
Road types
Surface
Do not miss
- Anet: a royal town built on the banks of the Eure River and on the edge of a national forest, it is home to the Château d'Anet, a Renaissance gem.
- Écluzelles: the largest lake in Eure-et-Loir, it is a must-see natural area. The ideal place for a short break.
- Nogent-le-Roi: pretty half-timbered houses surround the Church of Saint-Sulpice. The castle grounds are perfect for an impromptu picnic.
- Maintenon: its château and French gardens are famous for having been the setting for the secret love affair between Madame de Maintenon and Louis XIV. The ruins of the aqueduct built by the architect Vauban to bring water from the Eure to Versailles offer a truly romantic atmosphere.
