Discover Pontgouin

The highlights range from the Église Saint-Lubin and a megalithic monument to an unfinished water engineering project, a long-distance hiking trail and habitats near the Eure. Before searching, consider whether you would prefer to focus your stay on architectural history, a hike or nature.

Locks, canal and long-distance trail

The Écluses de Boizard are listed as historic monuments and were built by Vauban. They mark the starting point of the Canal Louis XIV. The canal ran from Pontgouin to Maintenon and was intended to carry water to the Palace of Versailles; it was never completed. For visitors interested in architectural history, the focus here is on both the locks and the purpose and fate of the canal project.

The 160-kilometre GR® de pays Vallée de l’Eure long-distance hiking trail runs from Anet to La Loupe and passes through Pontgouin. There, it goes by the Château de la Rivière. This brings hiking and architectural history together on the same route. Check seasonal access before your trip.

Buildings from different periods

Construction of the Église Saint-Lubin dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. An extension in the 16th century added a side aisle with four bays for parishioners. A side aisle is a part of a church alongside the main nave; the bays divide this area architecturally. This makes it possible to distinguish the earlier construction phase from the later extension.

The Château de la Rivière is a well-preserved building in the style of Louis XIII. Its heritage also includes a well-preserved dovecote dating from the 18th century. The Ferme du Plessis has been documented since 1219 and is part of a tourist route featuring fortified farms. A commemorative plaque identifies the Maison natale du Cardinal Pie as Cardinal Pie’s birthplace. The Menhir du Vaugelay is a 4.50-metre-long megalithic monument. These dates refer to different points of reference: the Ferme has been documented since 1219, the church brings together construction phases from the 13th/14th centuries through to the 16th century, and the dovecote dates from the 18th century.

Nature and activities

The ZNIEFF 240000001 in Pontgouin includes alder and willow woods, oak-hornbeam forests, a marshy mesotrophic meadow and reed canary grass stands. A fishing pond near the Eure is also part of the site. Insects found in wetlands and regionally protected plant species are also recorded there. The area thus brings together different habitats and species. “Mesotrophic” refers to medium nutrient levels; “marshy” describes how wet the meadow is. The two terms therefore describe different properties of the same meadow.

Fishing is possible at the Étang des Abysses in Pontgouin with advance reservation. Check the reservation arrangements before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maur-sur-le-Loir, Marchéville, Boncourt, Vaupillon, Le Mesnil-Simon, Saint-Maixme-Hauterive, Saint-Denis-d'Authou, Faverolles

For the overview of the wider region: Eure-et-Loir.