Attractions and Places To See around Gressey - Top 20

Built at the end of the 12th century by the Counts of Montfort and listed as a Historic Monument since 1889, the Houdan Tower was used to watch for enemies and defend the territory. The Keep consists of a 15 m diameter and 21 m high tower, flanked by four turrets of the same height located at the four cardinal points. From the 16th century until the French Revolution, the Keep served as a prison, and executions took place at the foot of the Tower. The first water reservoir was installed in the tower in 1880. The second, built in 1952, is still visible. Tours are available on certain days.

Beautiful castle (private).

Oriented east, the building follows a rectangular plan, extended by a choir. With a length of 35 meters, the building is constructed of masonry and consolidated by sandstone buttresses. The pointed vault is 13 meters high, the adjoining bell tower is around twenty meters high. The construction of the church would have been the initiative of Don Roger, abbot of the very powerful Benedictine abbey of Coulombs from 1115 to 1174. At this period, the abbey stood near Nogent-le-Roi, former fortified town located twelve kilometers on the banks of the Eure. Extended over more than 80 parishes, it had a considerable influence in the region, until the Revolution, whether from a religious, economic or social point of view. The Romanesque style that it had adopted since its original construction was remodeled in the 16th century. by the opening of high Gothic windows, around the edge of the choir. Finally, in the following century, during the wars of religion, the church suffered serious damage. When peace returned, the entrance porch was finally rebuilt in the elegant manner of the Renaissance style. In 1950, a fire destroyed the church and all its furniture; it was restored at the end of the 20th century.

Monument dating from the end of the 12th century

Here at 36 rue de l'église, an old house different from the neighboring buildings. This is the "Tric" villa acquired in 1915 by Henri Désiré Landru to commit his macabre crimes. Within these walls, 7 women were murdered between 1915 and 1919 among the 11 officially recorded victims. The choice of the Gambais villa was motivated by its isolation, as it was 300 m from the nearest house (this is obviously no longer the case now), and by its outbuildings and the basement. Here were found supposedly human remains in a heap of ashes discovered in a shed, in the fireplace, and in the stove; one will also find clasps, pins, pieces of corset, partly burnt buttons. In all, the police found 4.176 kg of charred bone debris, including 1.5 kg undoubtedly coming from human bodies, as well as 47 teeth or tooth fragments. The medical examiner will announce to the press that these bones correspond to three heads, five feet and six hands. Having become a famous place on the occasion of the resounding trial, Villa Tric de Gambais was looted by the crowd, then sold to a restorer who renamed it "Au Grillon du Foyer" and converted part of the building into a museum. It even seems that the "Landru" rib steak was served there, grilled over a wood fire... The restaurant closed its doors in 1940 and the house was then sold to private individuals. The famous villa also gave rise to a series of postcards. Somewhat forgotten after several decades, the house came back into the news in 2018 when it was put up for sale with an announcement very discreetly stating "very beautiful house steeped in history"... The cook of the villa after a succession of transactions ended up being bought by Laurent Ruquier. Passionate about the character, he wrote a play on the subject, in 2005, with Régis Laspalès in the main role. No sign, no sign comes to announce the history of this house which undoubtedly wishes to fall back into oblivion.

Estate built in the first third of the 17th century, having preserved its park, its outbuildings and its alley of lime trees from the end of the 18th century. The castle stands opposite the church of Tilly, it was bought and saved from ruin in 1936 by François Delalande, his daughter still occupies it today. It is a beautiful Louis XIII-style residence, flanked by its two towers with an original domed roof, in a six-hectare park entirely surrounded by walls.

The Tower (commonly called "The Dungeon"), built in the 12th century under the reign of the Counts of Montfort, and classified as a Historic Monument since 1840, had the function of watching out for enemies and defending the territory. But in reality, it mainly had a dissuasive role since it was reputed to be impregnable. Built on the site of an old Merovingian necropolis, it originally consisted of an enclosure and a main tower. The enclosure, which has now disappeared, had a circular turret intended for the defense of the gate. The access door, located 4 meters from the ground then raised in the 15th century to 6 meters, was the only access to the large room on the 1st floor reserved for the military chief. It was accessed via a drawbridge.

One of the most beautiful Ile de France villages with its many vestiges.