Authon-du-Perche combines a historic townscape with opportunities to explore the Perche countryside in different ways. The historic walking tour focuses on the history of several places; nearby, routes lead through sunken lanes, forests and pastureland. This lets you decide how to balance local history and nature experiences during your stay, without having to squeeze both into a single itinerary.
Townscape and Cultural Heritage
The historic centre of Authon-du-Perche is laid out concentrically along the slopes of the hill. Its history dates back to the 16th and 19th centuries; in the past, the town centre was surrounded by ditches. This layout gives the town a clear historical theme, distinct from the routes through the surrounding countryside.
The Church of Saint-André houses a 17th-century monstrance made of gilded silver. It is classified as a protected cultural object. A Protestant temple also stood at the corner of rue Basse and ruelle de la Croix-Blanche, where it was in use from 1606 to 1685. The site of the Saint-Lubin chapel also reflects a long history of religious construction.
Since 2024, the historic walking tour has included a total of 23 information panels about the history of Authon-du-Perche, Soizé and Saint-Lubin-des-5-Fonts. Its subject therefore extends beyond the history of the town centre to include three place names. If you are particularly interested in cultural history, you can make the walking tour a focus of your trip.
Countryside and Routes in the Perche
The Site de la Goguerie is a nature and leisure area in the hills of the Perche, amid gently sloping meadows and close to the town centre. It offers convenient access to a fishing pond. Its proximity to the town, meadowland and fishing pond give this place a different character from the historic centre.
The Saint Lubin-des-Cinq-Fonts walking route passes through sunken lanes in the bocage and along forest paths to a place where five springs once flowed with waters reputed to be beneficial. The name of the hamlet of Saint-Lubin-des-Cinq-Fonts also refers to the area: it derives from Saint Lubin and the many springs nearby. The route, springs and place name are thus part of a shared local history, while the route also offers a close-up view of the bocage countryside.
The “Bois et châteaux” mountain biking route in Authon-du-Perche offers a different perspective. It runs through forests and pastureland. The differences are clear when choosing a route: the walking route passes through sunken lanes and along forest paths to the springs, while the mountain bike route is defined by forests and pastureland.
Walking Tour and Planning
The “Authon-du-Perche au fil des siècles” historic route is accessible by bus from Nogent-le-Rotrou on line 44. For your journey, it is worth including this line’s timetable in your plans. Families and children can also take part in an interactive game on the “Piste & trésor” app in connection with the route.
At the 13th edition of “La Rando du Facteur” in 2025, as in previous years, there were three organised routes of 5, 10 and 13 km. This describes what was offered at that edition; it does not specify a current event date.
If you are looking for a hotel in Authon-du-Perche, you can first decide which side of the destination you want to shape your stay: local history and its information panels, or the routes and countryside of the Perche. This lets you choose a destination based on your specific interests before looking for a suitable hotel.
Discover more destinations: Nogent-Le-Rotrou, La Chaussée-D'ivry, Morainville, Saint-Jean-de-Rebervilliers, Saint-Lucien, Charonville, Saint-Lubin-de-la-Haye, Saint-Germain-Le-Gaillard.
For the broader travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.
