Yèvre-le-Châtel
Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire
The imposing fortress of Yèvre-le-Châtel, built under Philippe Auguste at the beginning
of the 13th century, will not make the village deny its rural character! Between Beauce and Gâtinais, this village with a simple charm likes to play with contrasts: along the flowered alleys, medieval heritage and contemporary works of art are combined with ease.
© Thierry Bougot, La République du Centre
“Magnificent! I am drawing everything I see,” exclaimed Victor Hugo describing his discovery of this village to his wife in a letter dated August 22, 1834. Painters, sculptors, and visual artists have been coming here ever since. Monumental sculptures, gateways, and sundials mark their passage, and it is easy to understand what inspired them ! Not far from Orléans, Yèvre-le-Châtel is one of “France’s Loveliest Villages.” In the middle of the Beauce region and on the way to the Loiret Rose trail, it brings together a mysterious and gentle blend between medieval history and contemporary art. Take a leisurely stroll along its ever-flowering lanes to discover the castle’s lower courtyard, its elegant stone houses, and the churches of Saint-Gault and Saint-Lubin, or why not wander through its rose garden. Imbued with natural poetry, between architectural heritage and outdoor works of art, the village, nestled as it is in farmland, gives rise to curiosity and emotion.