Attractions and Places To See around Presly - Top 10

It was therefore under the patronage of "Saint Firmin," the first bishop of Amiens in the 3rd century, who evangelized the land of Méry and became its patron saint after drinking from the miraculous spring that now bears his name, that the church was given in 856 to the Abbey of Saint-Sulpice (formerly the monastery of Notre Dame de la Nef, founded by Saint Sulpice II, known as "the Pious") by the Archbishop of Bourges, Raoul de Turenne, at the behest of Charles the Bald. Like so many others, the church includes parts dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, notably the north wall with a small, high, round-arched window with small voussoirs. The south chapel appears to date from the 14th century, with its mullioned window with trefoil arches at the top and an oculus above it. But the entire apse dates from the late 15th century; it is three-sided and lit by three large windows. The side windows have only one mullion, while the central one has two that intertwine at the top. The apse is vaulted internally, with ribs featuring openwork profiles, resting either on round pilasters or on corbels formed by reclining angels. The keystone of the chancel vault depicts the Eternal Father blessing and holding the orb surmounted by a cross. Also present is a blank escutcheon supported by a bear and a lion (the coat of arms of the Orsini Princes, one of whose members was Abbot of Loroy Abbey). The cornice rests on a torus molding supported by a molding. The original bell tower stood above the first bay of the choir. It was moved closer to the west gable end during the construction of the Sacred Heart Chapel, donated in 1881 by the Clermont-Tonnerre family, who resided at Loroy Abbey. The date 1525 is inscribed on one of the bells. In 1824, Henry François, the priest of Méry-ès-Bois, blessed a second bell. The bell mechanism was electrified on August 23, 1968, by decision of the Municipal Council.

Souesmes must have had some importance towards the end of the 8th century since during the division of the archbishopric of Bourges into archdeaconries themselves divided into archpriests, the priest of Souesmes received the title and function of archpriest. This archpriesthood included 32 parishes, all located to the east of Souesmes (except Salbris). It extended as far as the Loire to the northeast and to Boisbelle (Henrichemont) to the southeast as recalled by the table drawn up by Canon Augustin Petit, priest of Souesmes from 1892 to 1948, according to documents found in the archbishopric of Bourges. This table is still in place at the entrance to the church. The left side of the choir of the church of Souesmes is placed under the protection of Saint Julien, beheaded in Brioude around the year 304. The original building was no longer sufficient for the development of worship, which is why a larger Romanesque-style church was built on the same site during the Carolingian era. The walls of the nave bear witness to this period, the six windows being very small at the time. Carolingian terracotta modillions found in the walls during work in the 19th century allow us to date the period of construction of the walls. One of the modillions is in the Museum of Religious Art in Blois and two others, owned by SAHAS, are in the Marcel de Marchéville Archaeological Museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay (article by Joëlle Fallot - Jean-Marie Lorain published in the booklet "Souesmes heritage in your commune" produced by the departmental committee for heritage and archaeology in Loir-et-Cher and the municipality of Souesmes with the assistance of the general council of Loir-et-Cher).

This charming castle, with its remarkable architecture and vast grounds, invites you to explore the opulence of the past and the beauty of the present. The castle's grandiose façade is matched only by the breathtaking gardens and tranquil lake that surround it. Inside you will find a museum which traces the history of the castle and the glassworks that were once there. The picturesque setting and fascinating exhibits make Château de la Verrerie a destination that offers both cultural enrichment and a serene escape to the heart of the French countryside.

The Nançay Star Pole is a radio astronomy observatory created in 1953 over 150 hectares. Its instruments are used for the observation of astrophysical objects, particularly within the framework of European and international programs. There we also find the 4th largest decimeter radio telescope in the world.

Nançay radio astronomy station: https://www.obs-nancay.fr/

Located on 1972 lake, beautiful loop around the lake of 2 km in length

Quiet tranquil reservoir off the beaten track!