Champmotteux can be explored through two themes: long-distance hiking and architectural history. The GR® 655 and GR 111 pass through the municipality; the Église Sainte-Madeleine, the Ferme de Château Gaillard and the water tower offer distinct architectural and historical highlights. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up whether a hiking stage or the church, farm complex and former water supply system better match your interests. The information about the trails and buildings offers several starting points for planning.
Long-distance hiking: two routes through Champmotteux
The GR® 655 long-distance trail passes through Champmotteux. A 32.5-kilometre section runs from the footbridge over the Chalouette to Boigneville. This distance describes the length of the stage, not the time needed to complete it; it helps you gauge the extent of the hike but does not replace your own time planning. Check the route details before setting off. The GR 111 also passes through Champmotteux; its current route should be checked before hiking. The two trails provide different planning information: for the GR® 655, the section length and endpoints are specified; for the GR 111, the information is that it crosses the municipality.
Church and historic buildings
The Église Sainte-Madeleine is believed to date from the 14th century. Its Gothic choir is covered by a rib vault; the coats of arms of Michel de l’Hospital are painted on the keystone. In a rib vault, the ceiling surfaces are divided by intersecting ribs that meet at the keystone. In the choir, the vault’s construction and a specific heraldic detail are thus brought together. The south chapel also contains the tomb and effigy of Michel de l’Hospital. The church therefore combines the choir structure described above with a tomb in another part of the building.
The Ferme de Château Gaillard is a large complex of buildings arranged around an enclosed courtyard. Here, the interplay between the buildings defines the complex, rather than a single space such as the choir of the Église Sainte-Madeleine. This brings together two different scales of local architecture: a religious building with prominent details and a farm complex characterised by its enclosed layout.
Champmotteux’s water tower was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Chassin. It was used to store and distribute water brought in from elsewhere, as there were no rivers or springs in the municipality. Storing and distributing describe two functions: the water brought in was collected and then supplied onward. The tower can thus be understood both in terms of when it was built and by whom, and in terms of its role in the water supply. As a technical structure, it adds another aspect of local history alongside the church and farm complex.
Discover more destinations: Itteville, Saint-Chéron, Vayres-sur-Essonne, Bouville, Angerville, Vigneux-Sur-Seine, Ormoy, Lardy
For the main travel overview: Essonne.
