La Bazoche-Gouet: Church, Mills and Circular Walk

La Bazoche-Gouet brings together historic buildings and milling history, with a circular walk and the Yerre. When planning your visit, you can choose from different areas of interest: church architecture and art, technical equipment, or time outdoors. The municipal area lies within the Parc naturel régional du Perche.

Church and architectural history

The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste has been protected as a historic monument by a decree dated 13 April 1907. Most of the building dates from the 16th century; some surviving elements date back to the 13th century. The church therefore brings together evidence from several different centuries.

The church’s furnishings also have several distinct points of interest: fourteen Stations of the Cross, painted on canvas by a local worker and his son, hang inside. Among the stained-glass windows from the 16th century is one dated 22 June 1541. The Chapelle Notre Dame des Bois adds to this historical focus; it dates from the 13th century. Together, the church and chapel offer different points of interest for a stay focused on architectural history and religious art.

The Grand Moulin and the Yerre

The Grand Moulin was probably built in the 17th century on the site of a seigneurial mill dating from the 13th century. It preserves a complex hydraulic system spread over three levels, including a three-metre waterwheel, millstones, a tarare and a plansifter. The combination of the waterwheel and other milling equipment makes the machinery a distinct point of interest alongside the architecture. If you would like to visit the Grand Moulin, check locally in advance about access.

The Yerre is a tributary of the Loir and a category-two watercourse. In the 19th century, it powered the wheels of six grain mills. Those interested in the role of water in milling history can find here an additional perspective on the river’s historic use.

Circular walk through La Bazoche-Gouet

The circular walk “La Bazoche-Gouet, une baronnie du Perche” starts and ends in La Bazoche-Gouet. It crosses the Yerre and leads back to the church. At 4.2 kilometres long and taking approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes, the walk is easy to plan for; it is described as very easy. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

The route combines a specific walking distance with a clearly defined start and finish in the town. This distinguishes it from a visit to the Grand Moulin, where access needs to be checked in advance: the circular walk has a stated length and approximate duration, while it is advisable to make a local enquiry about the mill. You can therefore consider the two options separately when planning your day.

Fishing and time outdoors

The Plan d’eau Gilbert Lecomte is an easily accessible fishing lake. A designated fishing area is located near the car park. If fishing is of interest to you, you can make this a focus of your visit and check the applicable fishing regulations in advance, as they may change.

You can compare which of these options matter for your stay with the specific information about what is on offer.

Discover more destinations: Ver-lès-Chartres, Houx, Boncourt, Barjouville, Chartres, Saint-Jean-de-Rebervilliers, Le Gué-De-Longroi, Brunelles.

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