At the Sainte-Catherine lock, a cycling route along the Canal d’Orléans passes through Pannes.

Cycling and Waterways

In Pannes, the Scandibérique forms part of EuroVelo 3, which connects Trondheim in Norway with Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The lock locates the cycling route along the Canal d’Orléans in the town; the endpoints of EuroVelo 3 show the route’s wider reach. When planning your cycling trip, you can keep the specific point of reference in Pannes distinct from the longer connection. The Canal d’Orléans also offers walkers and anglers a peaceful place to relax. The water is therefore not just a point of reference for the cycling route, but also a setting for quiet activities along the canal.

Church, Bees and Local History

The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens was founded in the 7th century by Ferrières Abbey. After the Hundred Years’ War, its nave was rebuilt by the beginning of the 16th century; the flamboyant west portal is part of this building history.

The Maison de la Ruche et des Abeilles du Gâtinais is housed in the former Pannes railway station. Its collection includes beehives and objects related to bees, as well as honey and Gâtinais honey. The museum also explores the importance of bees in history, traditions and beliefs. The Maison is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The subject of bees thus offers a cultural and historical perspective distinct from the church’s architectural history.

The municipal washhouse also has a clearly documented building history: it was built in 1850 and altered and extended in 1881. An archaeological site in Pannes included an enclosure wall, six wells, three lime kilns, three temples and bath complexes. Separately, a silver eye-shaped votive offering bearing a dedicatory inscription was discovered in a pit in Pannes; it had been offered by Prisceia Aviola, a Roman citizen.

Market and Nature

The Marché de Pannes takes place year-round on Sunday mornings at Place Patton and Rue Marcel Donette; the market has seven traders. If you’d like to include the market in your stay, check the date in advance, as schedules can change. This lets you match a recurring market to your travel dates without assuming a particular market day.

Between the Bézonde, the Solin and the Limetin, Pannes has a rich and well-preserved natural heritage. Together with the opportunities for walking and fishing along the Canal d’Orléans, this offers a nature-focused perspective alongside the cycling route and local history. The different themes can shape the focus of your trip without needing to be combined into a fixed itinerary.

Getting to Pannes

Pannes can be reached by car via the A77, the D 2007 and the D 2060. If travelling by train, go via Montargis station; from there, continue by TAO bus or REMI coach. Check the timetables for your travel day so you can factor the onward journey from Montargis into your plans. There are two different options: the road connections listed above, or a train followed by a bus journey.

Discover more destinations: Cernoy-En-Berry, Faverelles, Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Mesmin, Ligny-Le Ribault, Orléans, Amilly, Lailly-En-Val, Pithiviers.

For the overall travel guide: Loiret.