Étampes combines a distinctive architectural history with two circular walking trails for which distance and duration are provided. The keep, churches and a museum offer different cultural highlights; the trails also provide specific details to help you plan. During your stay, you can weigh up cultural attractions and a clearly defined walk.
The keep and the city’s history
The Tour de Guinette is a 12th-century keep and was part of the former royal castle of Étampes, which no longer exists. Its unusual four-leaf-clover-shaped floor plan is a rare architectural feature. The Tour therefore brings together two aspects: the history of the former castle and a distinctive floor plan. The Tour de Guinette is open daily year-round; the grounds are freely accessible, and admission is free. Check visitor information before your visit, as conditions may change.
The churches also tell the story of different periods in the city’s history. The Eglise Saint-Basile was built around 1020 at the behest of Robert II, to complement the Collégiale Notre-Dame-du-Fort by providing a place of worship for the local population. The Sibyls stained-glass window in the Collégiale depicts twelve pagan prophetesses from antiquity. The history of the Eglise Saint-Gilles goes back to 1123. At that time, the square was laid out with a wheat market established by Louis VI the Fat, and the first church of Saint-Gilles was built.
The Eglise Saint-Martin offers another architectural feature: its leaning tower is shaped like a comma. It was built on marshy ground, which caused it to sink. Those interested in historic buildings will find in Étampes not only structures from different periods, but also distinctive architectural features. Since January 2006, the city has held the “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” designation; it also has 26 listed buildings.
The museum and Hôtel Anne-de-Pisseleu
The Musée d’Étampes was founded in 1875. It displays 260 paintings, 358 sculptures and 3,000 prehistoric objects. Its collection ranges from painting and sculpture to prehistoric artifacts. Together with the historic churches and the keep, the museum offers another way to explore the city’s history and culture.
The Hôtel Anne-de-Pisseleu combines a present-day function with its architectural history: it houses the Étampes tourist office. The building was constructed in the 16th century for tax official Jean Lamoureux. If you plan to visit the tourist office for information, check the latest visitor information in advance, as services may change.
Circular walks and a cycling route
The two circular walking trails differ in distance and stated duration. The “Circuit randonnée - Ville d'Art et d'Histoire” starts and ends at Étampes station; it is 7 kilometers long and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. The “Circuit randonnée PR 27 - Sentier du Temple” starts and ends at the Tour de Guinette, covers 9.5 kilometers and takes 3 hours. It is marked in yellow. You can compare the distance and time required when choosing between the two routes. These details help you plan your walking day without having to assess one route against the other.
A separate route is described for cycling: it is 5 kilometers long, starts in the Saint-Martin district on Rue de Chauffour and heads towards Saint-Hilaire. This offers a different point of reference from the circular walking trails: here, the focus is on the cycling route, its starting point and direction, whereas the two circular trails are described by their start and end points and duration.
Horse riding as another activity
The Poney Club at the Île de Loisirs d’Etampes welcomes visitors year-round to enjoy horse riding. It offers 30-minute pony rides, which can be booked. As schedules and booking procedures may change, it is a good idea to check the latest details in advance. In Étampes, cultural discoveries, circular walks, a cycling route and horse riding offer different ways to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Villiers-sur-Orge, Vigneux-Sur-Seine, Saint-Germain-Lès-Corbeil, Milly-La-Forêt, Angerville, Igny, Orsay, Courances.
For the main travel overview: Essonne.
