Rocks and Woods of Southern Seine-et-Marne

La gare de Nemours-Saint-Pierre est située sur la ligne Paris-Clermont-Ferrand. A moins d'une heure de train (50 min pour les directs et 1h05 pour les TER omnibus). Elle bénéficie du Pass Navigo et Imagin’R (zone 5) et d’un parking de 372 places.

This mediaeval town on the banks of the Loing is a charming little provincial town. This site bears witness to a long past from prehistoric times to the present day, including its rich medieval period...Today Nemours still has all the charm of an old town with its picturesque lanes and château on the banks of the Loing. There are signs of human occupation dating back to the Palaeolithic era as evidenced by the discovery of remains from that time. In medieval times, the first Lord of Nemours was Orson in 1120. His son-in-law, Gauthier de Villebéon (Gauthier I), gave permission for the château and Saint Jean-Baptiste church to be built. The town was burned down in 1358 during the Hundred Years War. As capital of the Gâtinais region, the town prospered throughout the ensuing centuries. On 7th July 1585, the Treaty of Nemours was ratified in the château, forbidding Protestant worship services and excluding Henri de Navarre from the line to the throne (the future Henri IV). In 1789, Pierre Samuel Dupont was Member of Parliament for Nemours. 10 years later, he left France for the United States where his son, Eleuthère Irénée, created the multinational firm Du Pont de Nemours. In 1800, the town lost its prefecture, which was moved to Fontainebleau. Still a rural town at the end of the Second World War, little by little it gained more economic importance in the region with its population growing at the same time. The château Built in the 12th century, the castle was the main part of the defence of the fortified town. To begin with, the castle’s original vocation was to provide a resting place for Lords returning from the Crusades. Altered in the 15th century by the Duke of Nemours who turned it into a residential building, and again in the 17th century, since when the château’s appearance has remained unchanged. Inside one of the turrets of the tower, there is a magnificent Chapel on two levels. Saint Jean-Baptiste church Saint Jean-Baptiste church was built in 1170 at the request of Gauthier I of Nemours. The church was destroyed in the town's fire in the 15th century, and rebuilt between 1445 and 1555. The choir dates from this reconstruction period. In 1850 and 1890, the interior of the church was developed with stained-glass windows and a master altar dedicated to Saint Jean-Baptiste. The Ile de France prehistory Museum Open to the public since 1981, the museum shows the prehistory of the Paris region in a building by the architect Roland Simounet. Opening up onto a wooded park and a rocky massif, the rooms are organised around for interior gardens that reconstitute the flora of the quartenary period in the Ile de France. This museum, which was recently listed as a "Historical Monument of the 20th Century", presents the Prehistory and the Protohistory of the Paris region, from the appearance of man to Gallo-Roman times. There are two possible visits. The first circuit, for educational visits, presents the daily life of Palaeolithic age hunters, farmers and breeders in the Neolithic period and then an introduction to bronze and iron metalworking. The circuit can then be completed with a second one dedicated to archaeological sites, stratigraphic geology and comparative typology of tools. A 20 minutes audio-visual presentation is made in interaction with the Pincevent archaeological ground moulding. Guided tours and workshops available for school groups daily except Wednesdays: learning to use tools, fire, throwing sticks. Themed workshops for single-class school groups: themes: habitat, food, fire, and tools. Special programmes scheduled on events days.

A building that is particularly well conserved from the second half of the 12th century, the Nemours chateau has escaped several demolition projects.Originally the main part of the defences of the medieval city, it was transformed in the 15th century by the Duke of Armagnac then in the 17th century by the Duke of Orleans. Finally, and the beginning of the 20th century, a group of local artists led by Justin-Chrysostome Sanson (1833 – 1910) started the restoration of the old chateau. Reorganised from 1972, the collections include pieces of Gallo-Roman and Merovingian archaeology, sculptures and religious works and examples of popular arts and traditions. A particular place has been set aside for everywhere from the revolutionary period, nineteenth century paintings and sculptures and twentieth century stamps.

Gare SNCF, ligne R Paris-Gare de Lyon - Montargis.

Walks in the heart of a national forest.Poligny is a charming village where life is good, located 30 km from Fontainebleau. Nestled in the heart of the Nanteau-Poligny state forest, the 1,500 hectares of woodland are ideal for family walks or sporting activities. Within the wood, the ground changes, the trees are more spaced out and reveal rocks subjected to erosion and the passing of time. Then, behind a hillock, the field of vision opens up and reveals a vast expanse of fine sand... The Sea of Sand. Forbidden to motorised sports, it is the ideal place for hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and orienteering. In particular, the 6 unmarked hiking trails allow you to enjoy an exceptional natural setting. It is also possible to eat and sleep in the village to soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the village. The church of Saint-Firmin, built in the 15th century, is typical of the architecture of the Gâtine region. Inside, you can see references to various Christian saints as well as a magnificent 18th century altarpiece, which has been registered as a Historic Monument since 1981.