Châteaudun

• The castle: A large princely residence inscribed among the Châteaux of the Loire. First fortress of the counts of Blois since the 10th century, then palace castle of Jean de Dunois, companion in arms of Joan of Arc and great captain of France in the 15th century, the "first castle of the Loire" From Paris overlooks the Loir from the northwest point of the rocky spur on which is built the city of Châteaudun. It allows the visitor to admire architectural elements of various styles from the feudal dungeon to the great Renaissance staircase and to perceive the transition between Gothic architecture and that of the Renaissance. To see during your visit:

• The large circular keep of the late twelfth century, more than thirty meters high, the last vestige of the old castle, one of the best kept dungeons in the world with its magnificent frame Dungeon is only accessible for guided tours).
• The Holy Chapel which once contained a fragment of the Holy Cross and which houses a beautiful set of 15th century statues as well as a mural of the Last Judgment.
• The fifteenth-century Gothic-style Dunois wing, with its beautiful Gothic flamboyant staircase, with large vaulted ogive kitchens, ancient bathrooms remodeled in dungeons, and a 17th century Ancien Régime courtroom century.
• The Longueville wing of the 16th century with its large Renaissance staircase with loggias and in which one can admire beautiful old tapestries.
• The garden of medieval inspiration and the garden suspended on the terrace, the first of its kind in France, unique in the Center-Val de Loire region.

• The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History: Rich and varied collections.

• Various and surprising, the collections of the museum will make you travel in Egypt with the gallery of Emile Amelineau who carried out excavations in Abydos at the end of the XIX^e century and discovered royal tombs of the Thinite period (3100-2700 BC). There are mummies, amulets, vases or ouchebtis...
• The Orient is also evoked with the porcelain collection of the Marquis de Tarragon and that of Mr. Wahl Offroy. From India to Persia through China and Japan, two rooms offer an eclectic panorama of unusual objects.
• The collection which is the reputation of the museum is the superb set of 3,000 birds and naturalized mammals of the Marquess of Tarragon, passionate of ornithology and great collector of the XIX^e century. Some of these animals are exposed under globes or in original assemblies.
• The museum also features a room devoted to the War of 1870, a reconstructed 19th century Beauceron interior, a room of paintings, dioramas, a collection of local archeology and lapidary collections outside the museum.

• The caves of Foulon: Large natural cavities under the city.

• Natural caves dug millions of years ago by runoff, the caves of Foulon invite you to travel in time. Exceptional geological site where the visitor can observe in the natural environment hundreds of marine geodes of quartz and chalcedony. A veritable open book on the history of the earth with the layer K-T, this stratum visible from the time of the disappearance of the dinosaurs, or with these giant bones of marine mammals discovered in 2010.
• On a course of more than one hectare under the city of Châteaudun, the visitor will discover in this calcareous cavity all the diversity of the underground world: large rooms, galleries, pillars, giant pots... A treasure hunt is also For younger guests (extra charge).

• Tour of the historic district:

• Duration: from 1 hour to 2 hours with variants.
• Distance traveled: 1.6 km to 6 km with variants.
• Follow the tourist circuit and discover the historic center of a city rich in centuries of history, home to no less than 58 listed and listed sites and monuments. Several architectural styles can be found in the upper town, overlooking the Loir, the medieval quarter offers Renaissance half-timbered houses or beautiful white stone facades, while the streets around the central square feature classical 18th-century buildings Resulting from the reconstruction of the city after the terrible fire of 1723. Remains of the old urban fortifications have been restored and are also visible along the escarpment of the rocky promontory.
• You will find throughout the walk explanatory plaques at each stage of this tour that will provide you with more detailed information.

• Circuit of the War of 1870:

• Duration: about 20 minutes.
• Distance traveled: 0.5 km.
• The memorial path from the Place du 18 octobre recalls the bravery of the defenders of the city on October 18, 1870, against an entire division of the Prussian army. Discover through a circuit punctuated by five totems and a desk the events of this memorable battle.
• In remembrance of this feat of arms, the central square was renamed Place of 18 October and Châteaudun was the 5th fifth city in France to have been decorated with the Legion of Honor. The Cross of the Legion of Honor has been featured since 1877 in the upper part of its coat of arms.
• Departure from the monumental fountain in the center of the square on October 18th.

• Free tour: At the edge of the Loir.

• Duration: about 45 minutes.
• Distance traveled: 1,5 km.
• Descend from the upper town towards the Saint-Jean district to enjoy the Loir and its green surroundings. The lower town is the starting point for several hiking trails.

• Gardens in the heart of the city:

• The Promenade du Mall, behind the Tourist Office, where the game of mail, formerly the croquet, was practiced, offers a magnificent panorama over the valley of the Loir from the belvedere.
• The gardens of the Hôtel-Dieu, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, shaded and with a playground.
• The Léo Lagrange floral park offers games for children.

• Gardens and promenades of the lower town:

• The Grands Moulins garden, located on the Chemars Island, is bordered by the Loir. You can admire the view of the castle and a peaceful place where you can picnic.
• Bois des Gâts, a little further, accessible by foot or by car. Walk of 23 hectares, starting point for hiking with picnic area, bird observatory, sporting trail and nature on the edge of Loir.

• Hiking :

• Many hiking trails crisscross Châteaudun and the valley of the Loir, in the woods or along the river. It is thus possible to survey the Bois des Gâts at Châteaudun which stretches over 23 ha along the Loir, follow the circuits of the water mills along the Loir or discover the site of the Dheury marshes in the valley Of the Conie.
• These routes connect with the route of Santiago de Compostela which crosses the department of Eure-et-Loir (GR655).

• Cycling / cycling and mountain biking:

• Châteaudun and its surroundings offer many marked hiking and biking trails to discover the region and the surrounding countryside. The city is also located on two major cycling routes along the Loir, the Loir Valley by Bike and Saint Jacques by Vélo.
• The Tourist Office offers bicycles for rent to discover the city and its surroundings.

• Peach :

• Many sites and fishing trails are accessible in Châteaudun and in the surrounding communes on the Loir and the Conie but also in water plan on the site of the Low Plain in Douy and the lake Seigneuret in Châteaudun.
• Guide available at the Tourist Office.

• Canoe Kayak :

• The canoe-kayak club is ideally located at the foot of the castle, in an old watermill, next to the gîte d'étape and the motorhome area. It offers various walks on the Loir, trainees and semi-nocturnal outings in summer, as well as stand up paddle at the foot of the castle.
• One-hour walks "At the foot of the castle" or two hours "The tour of the island".
• Half-day walk from Marboué to Châteaudun.
• Day trip from Saint-Christophe to Châteaudun or from Douy to Saint-Jean-Froidmentel.
• Other personalized walks on request.
• Learning, internships, stand-up paddle.
• Information on +33 6 33 32 53 64.

• Aerial walks:

• Aero-club of Châteaudun proposes courses of piloting and walks to fly over the region and the castles of the Loire.
• Reservation required. Such. +33 2 37 45 43 43/+33 6 82 20 64 86.

• Karting:

• 400 meter indoor (indoor) and outdoor (outdoor) circuit of 1000 meters. Kart rental, organization of events. Groups of more than 10 people on reservation.
• Tél. : +33 2 37 66 31 66/+33 6 81 92 75 63.

• Kid's land - Covered playground for children (0-13 years):

• Many tubular games in a space of 500m ².
• Open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays from 1pm to 7pm. Open every day during the school holidays.
• Street of the Fouleries - Z.A. La Boissière - 28200 Châteaudun.
• Tél. : +33 7 83 40 29 93.

• Tennis:

• Three outdoor courts and two covered courts heated in winter.
• Tennis Club Dunois - 83 rue de Varize - 28200 Châteaudun.
• Tél. : Room: +33 2 37 45 05 59 / Person in charge: +33 6 27 31 46 78.

• Swimming pool :

• Center nautique Roger Creusot: 2 covered pools with water slide, outdoor relaxation area and sauna.
• 19 rue du Champdé - 28200 Châteaudun.
• Tél. : +33 2 37 45 21 85.

• Cinema:

• The Dunois - 24 rue Lambert Licors - 28200 Châteaudun.
• Tél. : +33 2 37 96 62 94/0892 68 36 30.

• Media library:

• 36 boulevard Grindelle - 28200 Châteaudun.
• Tél. : +33 2 37 45 23 54.

• Riding stable :

• Equestrian excursions, horse riding in the woods and along the dormouse. Internships and initiations.
• Tél. : +33 2 37 66 00 00.

The medieval festival fair Wool: early July.

• The windmill of Frouville-Pensier in Ozoir-le-Breuil: Located 10 kilometers from Châteaudun, on the road of Meung-sur-Loire and visible from that of Orléans, Ozoir-le-Breuil. The mill is built since the thirteenth century on this site well winded.
• The Val de Conie and its protected marsh.
• The upper valley of the Loir with Illiers-Combray, village attached to Marcel Proust; Bonneval, medieval city nicknamed "Little Venice of the Beauce" to discover in electric boats; Montigny-le-Gannelon; Cloyes-sur-le-Loir.