Boissy-Lès-Perche: Hiking, Cycling and Saint-Pierre

Boissy-Lès-Perche offers several distinct starting points for a trip: the GR® 35, a cycling loop and the Church of Saint-Pierre. Outdoor activities and architectural and art history each provide a different focus. For planning, it is particularly helpful that the cycling route is listed with its distance and duration, while Saint-Pierre offers a cultural connection through its construction phases and stained-glass windows.

Hiking between the village and the countryside

The GR® 35 passes through Boissy-Lès-Perche and is one of the oldest hiking trails in the Eure-et-Loir department. It also provides a way to discover the department’s natural landscapes. Boissy-Lès-Perche lies on the edge of the Perche, a landscape characterised by damp hills, forests and plains. Two geographic scales therefore meet here: the GR® 35 is the specific hiking trail through the village, while the Perche describes the wider landscape setting. If you are planning your trip around hiking, you can consider the route and the region’s landscape as distinct aspects of your plans.

A cycling loop with a stated duration

The “Sur les traces de la Dame Blanche” cycling route also passes through Boissy-Lès-Perche. It is a 29.1-kilometre loop, with a stated duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. Its distance and duration give the route a clearly defined format for planning your time. Unlike the GR® 35, which is notable for passing through the village, its status as one of the department’s oldest trails and the natural landscapes along it, this route is described as a cycling loop with specific figures. This distinction helps you compare the two routes by mode of travel and stated time commitment.

Saint-Pierre: architectural history and stained-glass windows

The Church of Saint-Pierre preserves traces of its origins in the 11th century. It was rebuilt in the 16th century and restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its architectural history therefore spans several periods. Its exterior also combines different features: the church roof is covered with red tiles, while the pointed bell tower has a square base and a slate roof.

Three figurative stained-glass windows in the church depict the Passion, the Resurrection of Christ and Strength. They have been protected as movable cultural heritage since 1908. The building phases, roof forms and subjects of the images offer different ways to appreciate Saint-Pierre: you can consider both its historical development and the themes depicted in the windows. If you are interested in architecture, the roof tiles and slate tower are the main features; for religious art, the three window subjects provide a specific point of interest.

Craft training

Separately, La Cour Pétral offers training in stoneworking and stained glass. These two subjects offer a different focus from the routes: the emphasis is on craft techniques rather than a route or its landscape. Alongside the architectural and artistic subjects associated with Saint-Pierre, this offers another perspective. If you are interested in craftsmanship, you can consider stoneworking and stained glass as separate themes when planning your trip.

At 29.1 kilometres and 3 hours 30 minutes, the cycling loop offers a defined time commitment; the GR® 35 is associated with hiking and landscapes, while Saint-Pierre offers architectural history and church art. Look for hotels in Boissy-Lès-Perche and plan around the subjects that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Rouvres, Gommerville, Lanneray, Cherisy, Thivars, Langey, Denonville, Chandelles

For the broader travel guide: Eure-Et-Loir.