A church with a 13th-century bell tower, four historic washhouses and equestrian tourism give Fontenailles several clearly distinct highlights. There is also a circular walking route through the town: at 9.4 kilometres and around three hours long, it calls for a dedicated block of time. Architectural and local history sit alongside a specific riding offer and a route with its own time commitment.
Saint-Fiacre: Tower, Restoration and Tombstones
Saint-Fiacre Church was restored in 1861. Its bell tower dates from the 13th century and is the only surviving original part of the church. The tower and the restoration therefore represent different phases of its architectural history: a medieval feature and a 19th-century intervention. Two 16th-century tombstones were located in the church; beneath them lay the remains of the lords of Meaux-Bois Boudran. This specific historical connection is also part of Saint-Fiacre’s history, alongside its architecture.
Four Historic Washhouses
Four historic washhouses remain in Fontenailles: Le Bézard, L’Orme, Glatigny and Fontenailles. The Fontenailles washhouse was converted into a leisure space in 1986 and continues to serve as a local gathering place. Unlike the church, where the focus is on the tower and restoration, the washhouse highlights a later conversion and an ongoing community role. The four named washhouses also give the local heritage several distinct points of interest.
Equestrian Tourism at La Randonnée
La Randonnée in Fontenailles is an equestrian tourism centre and riding stable specialising in ethological horse management. It offers rides for children and adults, as well as picnic rides. If you would like to include one of these options in your stay, confirm availability, booking and participation requirements directly with the provider; these may change. La Randonnée’s address is 1 route de Montereau à Glatigny, 77370 Fontenailles. Check the contact details before travelling.
A Circular Route with a Known Starting Point
The circular route “Balade branchée en Brie – Villefermoy”, section 1, passes through Fontenailles, is 9.4 km long and takes around three hours. It starts at the Ru Guérin reception area, at the junction of the RD12 and Route du Ru Guérin. This gives you a specific starting point to go with the approximate time required. The duration is only a guide; check route conditions before setting out.
Gardens, Vineyards and the Village Festival
The park and hunting grounds of the Château de Bois-Boudran in Fontenailles are laid out as an informal garden with lawns, ornamental meadows, groups of trees and individual clusters of trees. Combining open spaces with grouped and standalone trees, the grounds add a landscape perspective to the architectural and village aspects of the area’s heritage.
Fontenailles had vineyards until the end of the 19th century. The village festival is still held on the first Sunday in September. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the annual programme in advance.
Discover more destinations: Mouroux, Coutevroult, La Ferté-Gaucher, La Haute-Maison, Saint-Germain-Sur-Ecole, Ferrières-En-Brie, Chessy, La Chapelle-la-Reine
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
