Montépilloy: Château, Church and Hiking Trails

Montépilloy offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: the history of the Château, the architecture of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and historic boundary stones and paths through the countryside. Whether you are primarily interested in architectural history or want to set aside time for hiking can be decided based on these different themes. For your planning, the Château’s specific visitor arrangements and the walking time for a longer route are particularly relevant.

Château and the history of 1429

The private Château de Montépilloy was built around 1150 by Gui IV Le Bouteiller de Senlis. It is open to the public for visits on 40 days a year; groups can visit by arrangement. As access arrangements may change, confirm that visits are possible before travelling.

Another chapter in the town’s history is the Battle of Montépilloy, which took place on 15 August 1429. The royal army was commanded by Charles VII and Joan of Arc; opposing them were the English troops of the Duke of Bedford. Commemorative plaques in Montépilloy also recall Joan of Arc’s passage through the town in 1429.

Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste: Architectural history and details

The present-day Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built around 1190 and was the seat of a small parish priory dependent on Hérivaux Abbey. It comprises four square bays with rib vaults, 9 m high. A bay is a section of the spatial layout; the four square bays therefore give a concrete impression of how the church interior is divided.

The large choir windows and the present-day vaults were built in the 16th century in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The portal’s delicate column work is distinguished by columns whose diameter decreases. Thus, the construction period around 1190 and features added later in the 16th century come together in the architecture seen today; the portal, vaults and choir windows each reveal different architectural details.

Boundary stones as historical traces

Montépilloy has triangular medieval boundary stones that are sculpted and dated to 1543–1545. Boundary stones belonging to the Princes of Condé in Montépilloy are also engraved with a fleur-de-lis. The dating of the sculpted stones therefore falls within the same broad period as the church’s choir windows and vaults, built in the 16th century. The boundary stones add further concrete features to the architectural history: a dated sculpture and the fleur-de-lis motif.

Hiking and countryside

The hiking route “Une grande échappée de Montépilloy à Fourcheret” is 9.7 km long. Allow approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes for the walk. Check local route information before setting out, as route details may change. Highlights of the route include the 12th-century Donjon de Montépilloy. The distance and walking time give you an idea of how long the hike will take, while the donjon provides a specific historical focal point.

The circular route through Montépilloy follows a wooded path that skirts the town centre. It climbs to a ridge and offers views of the area’s remarkable landscapes. Along the path from Montépilloy to Fourcheret, a watering place provides a habitat for the midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans). The routes described therefore offer both views of the landscape and a specific connection with natural history.

Discover more destinations: Francastel, Ermenonville, Coye-La-Forêt, Paillart, Courtieux, Allonne, Verderonne, Tillé

For the broader travel overview: Oise.