The best road cycling routes around Les Menus

In Grison stone

Moutiers is one of the oldest villages in the Perche region, built around a monastery founded in the 6th century and destroyed by the Norman invasions. This is where the village's name comes from, since "Moutiers" means monastery in Old French. On the slopes of the hill, called Mont Harou, stands the church, flanked by a few typical Perche houses that form the old town. To reach it, you'll have to navigate the steep, straight climb of Church Street or take a detour through small streets that soften the steepness of the climb. The church square offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Don't forget to walk around the church to admire the gargoyles, which are quite exceptional for such a small church. Restrooms and water are available right next door.

following a landslide, the road is blocked for about twenty meters, nothing problematic for cycling

Church built in the first half of the 16th century, then raised in 1752. It is formed of a nave preceded by a narthex and adjoining two chapels forming a false transept. The 16th century door is formed of a low arch, adjoining smooth pilasters which support the lintel, above which a triangular pediment stands out from the wall. The church is decorated with murals in the apse and the side chapels, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. In the choir, the paintings date back to the 19th century. Large flamboyant Gothic windows illuminate the building and retain stained glass windows.

Parish church, as well as its polychrome stone choir enclosure, with the exception of the bell tower and the sacristy built in the 19th century. The church consists of a main nave whose choir ends with a semi-circular apse from the Romanesque period. The large mullioned windows were installed in the 15th century. The south aisle dates from the 16th century. In the second half of the 19th century, the church underwent major modifications: construction of the sacristy in 1860, brick vault in 1870, stone bell tower according to the designs of the architect Prempain around 1879.

Between the green hills of Perche, the Saint-Denis church contains a 16th century baptistery listed as a Historic Monument. Explanatory plaque at the entrance. This church is Romanesque in style and has a rounded apse and a quadrangular bell tower. The baptismal font dates from the 16th century. The church is surrounded by walls made of Saint-Denis stone.

It was heavily remodeled in the 19th century. The bell tower, previously in the center of the roof, was rebuilt as a gable in the 19th century. At that time, the eleven windows were enlarged. Near the Meuvette, to the northeast of the town, are the ruins of an old fortified castle destroyed in 1793.

With a very simple plan, with its tiled nave and its small slate bell tower on the ridge, the church surrounded by its cemetery, set back from the road, overlooks the countryside planted with trees. The river is nearby, and its flowing water evokes that of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, as soon as we see the statue of the patron, Saint John the Baptist, in the choir. His arm raised towards the sky reminds us of his preaching in the desert of Palestine: "Prepare for the coming of the Messiah...". On the thin banner attached to his staff are written the words: "Ecce Agnus Dei", by which he already announced that he saw in Jesus the victim freely offering himself as a sacrifice for the Redemption of all men. Placed on the ground against the wall, a 17th century painting. depicts Jesus immersed up to his knees in the waters of the river, leaning with his hands crossed on his chest to receive the baptism of penance from the hand of John kneeling on the bank. We see “the Spirit descending on him like a dove” and we recall the words of John reported in the Gospel: “I am not worthy to bow down at his feet… I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” Beside him, the angel wearing Jesus’ clothes turns his face towards a young child whom he guides with a hand placed on his shoulder, as if to teach him the profound meaning of baptism. Above the arch through which the nave opens onto the choir, the group of Christ on the cross surrounded by Mary and Saint John the Evangelist is a fine example of 16th century religious sculpture, faithful to traditional iconography. Similarly, at the back of the nave is the charming naive statue of Saint Fiacre: this young monk from Ireland loved to cultivate the vegetable garden of his monastery, near Meaux. Patron saint of gardeners, he holds his spade, and in the Perche region he was also invoked to cure various illnesses. More unique in style, the large Renaissance chest serving as a central altar was the former “work bench of the factory” reserved for the administrators of the parish’s resources and expenses. Let us admire the skill and imagination of the cabinetmaker who carved this series of full-length figures in oak under the arcades separated by “terms” inspired by Roman antiquity. Their distinctive attributes make us recognize Saints Christine, Barbara, Madeleine and Catherine on the front, and on the sides Saints Peter and Paul on the right, John the Baptist and Bartholomew on the left. Their silhouettes are more reminiscent of fairy tale characters…