Malesherbes: Printing, Heritage and Green Trails

During a stay in Malesherbes, you can explore its cultural history and landscapes through a wide range of attractions. The Atelier-Musée de l’Imprimerie is dedicated to the development of printing. The Church of Saint-Martin highlights architectural history and works of art. Other attractions include the Château de Malesherbes and its wooded park, a municipal wetland on the Essonne, and green trails. If you’re looking for a hotel in Malesherbes, you can choose the focus of your stay from these options: the museum and architectural history, the river landscape, or outdoor activities.

Printing at the Atelier-Musée de l’Imprimerie

The Atelier-Musée de l’Imprimerie displays almost 150 printing presses. Its exhibits cover the history of book printing and printed works from Gutenberg to the digital revolution. You can see both the machines and the development of printed media and how they were produced. Eight workshops offer hands-on introductions; the program may change, so it’s a good idea to check the current workshop schedule before your visit.

Another connection to book culture is the Prix Malesherbes “Le Libraire du Roi.” The Atelier-Musée has held it every year since 2021 during the European Heritage Days. If you’d like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant edition separately. The workshops and the prize offer different experiences: one focuses on hands-on introductions, while the other is an annual event held as part of the Heritage Days.

The Church of Saint-Martin and the Château de Malesherbes

The Church of Saint-Martin was rebuilt after the Hundred Years’ War and dedicated to Saint Martin in 1540. Among its works of art is a depiction of the Entombment of Christ with eight life-size figures. It was commissioned from Adrien Wincart in 1495. The church also houses the cenotaph to Monsieur de Malesherbes: a white marble bust by Dumont, presented to the residents by Louis XVIII in 1822. Together, the church’s history and these two works illustrate different aspects of Malesherbes’ history and art.

The Château de Malesherbes offers a different historical perspective. Its main building was constructed between 1718 and 1724 by Pierre Vigné de Vigny. The château stands in an approximately 100-hectare wooded park. This brings together different scales of local history: the development of a church after the Hundred Years’ War and the construction of a château in the early 18th century, set within an extensive park. These details help you distinguish the two attractions by their historical and landscape features.

The Essonne, wetlands and trails

On the left bank of the Essonne lies the Marais du Château de Malesherbes, a municipal wetland covering about 4.5 hectares. The area is undergoing ecological restoration, and access conditions may vary. Check the current access situation before visiting. The GR32 long-distance trail follows the Essonne from its source to Malesherbes. If you plan to walk the trail, check the trail conditions beforehand.

The Doudemont Valley, a green trail, has a fitness trail and a children’s playground. These facilities offer a different experience from the riverside trail or the wetland: the valley is home to the fitness trail and playground, while the GR32 follows the Essonne. Facilities may change, so check what’s currently available before your visit. This will help you choose between the natural and outdoor attractions based on whether you’re interested in a wetland, a riverside route or the amenities in the Doudemont Valley.

Getting to Malesherbes

Malesherbes is directly connected to Paris by RER line D. REMI buses run from Montargis and Pithiviers to Malesherbes. Check the timetable for your travel date before departure, as transport services may change. When planning your stay, choose a connection based on your starting point and compare the relevant departures. This is also useful if you want to plan when to visit the museum, the church or one of the trails.

Discover more destinations: Vennecy, Gien, Châlette-Sur-Loing, Meung-Sur-Loire, La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, Olivet, Poilly-lez-Gien, Sennely.

For the broader travel overview: Loiret.