Margon: Church, Mills and Countryside

Margon lies in the southern part of the Parc naturel régional du Perche. The church and mills offer cultural and historical points of interest; trails in the Cloche Valley and the leisure area at the Plan d’eau de La Borde add countryside and outdoor activities to the picture.

Church and History

Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel Church dates from the 11th century; Romanesque remains in its apse bear witness to this building history. It stands on a rocky promontory above Margon’s old town centre. The church and the historic centre are among the town’s defining landmarks.

The church also has a restored Romantic organ. Abbé Tronchet, the parish priest of Margon and an organ builder, built it in 1902. The organ can be heard, and musicians are also invited to play it. If you would like to hear it, check the visiting arrangements locally.

Below the old town centre, on the banks of the Cloche in Rue des Lavandières, is the municipal washhouse. It dates from the first half of the 19th century. Its riverside setting and location below the centre are as much a part of its description as its historical date.

The history of the mills is also linked to the Cloche. Originally, there were three mills in the Margon area: the Moulin de Beaudolet, the Moulin de la Cave and the Moulin de la Vallée. Two of them still stand on the banks of the Cloche. One mill in Margon housed an ice factory from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1960s.

Another trace of the town’s history concerns the de Radray family: the old town centre seems to have been associated with them since the 17th century. The family was known as the “Lords of Margon”.

Trails and Countryside in the Cloche Valley

The “Margon – Le canal d’Arcisses” circular walking trail is 6 km long, takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is rated very easy. It starts at the Base de loisirs de la Borde. The Canal d’Arcisses itself runs for about 3 km alongside the Cloche. The “Le Val d’Ozée” route passes through the bocage landscape of the Cloche Valley.

“La vallée de la Cloche” also starts at the Base de loisirs de la Borde. An older official route description gives a distance of 32.5 km and a duration of about 3 hours. The stated timeframes therefore differ considerably from those for the “Margon – Le canal d’Arcisses” circular trail. Before setting out on “La vallée de la Cloche”, check the current signage and route conditions.

Plan d’eau de La Borde and Leisure

The Plan d’eau de La Borde is a 23-hectare former gravel extraction site. It lies where the Cloche and the Huisne meet, in Margon’s old town centre. The leisure area there offers fishing, walks, pedal boating and jogging. Mountain biking routes also start here; nature discovery activities and children’s games are available too.

There is a car park, toilets and picnic tables at the Plan d’eau. Alongside activities on the water, visitors therefore have access to practical facilities and a place to stop for a picnic.

Weekly Market

The farmers’ market “Le Petit Marché de Margon” takes place on Fridays from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm in Margon’s market hall. Producers from the Perche sell their products there. Check the times again before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Maintenon, Nogent-le-Roi, Saint-Maixme-Hauterive, Chapelle-Guillaume, La Puisaye, Boissy-Lès-Perche, Moléans, Oinville-Sous-Auneau.

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