Ecuelles

If, today, the village harmoniously blends with the urban character of its neighbours Moret-sur-Loing and Saint-Mammès, it was, in former times, the actual frontier between the Ile de France and Burgundy. The frontier was marked by a cross at that time.

Apart from the 12^th century Church Saint-Rémi, few monuments have survived in the village. The Ravannes Manor House, demolished and rebuilt times and times again between the 5^th and the 19^th century, can, nowadays, only be seen on engravings in local history books, mentioning there the stay of a king of Poland Stanislas Leszczynski in 1725! The only remains of the manor house are a water feature with a cascade and a surrounding wall. The only actual period building still intact is the bridge over the Orvanne River, built in the reign of Francis 1^st.

From the 18^th century, the village developed around activities linked with inland navigation on the Loing canal, with, notably, the ceramics factory which manufactured the tiles for the Paris Metro.

The heart of the village has been ideally preserved for walks and the discovery of the canal. The township offers theme-based discovery trails. You can enjoy a walk or a bike ride along the towpath enjoying its peace and tranquility. But if you care for greater adventure, be aware that the “Cycle Route” linking norway to Santiago de Compostela runs through the village.

Episy

In the 18th century, Episy was highly renowned .The most famous botanists came to collect plants for the King’s herbaria, which can still be seen in Paris at the Natural History Museum.

Today the tradition has continued.
Still little-known, though designated a “Site of Special Scientific Interest”, the Episy Marsh offers visitors, both experts and novices, a diverse range of flowers and herbaceous species dating back to the Ice Age, viewed from a boardwalk.

Built along the Loing Canal with its old washhouses, Episy not only enjoys its tranquility, the village is also proud of its leisure facilities.

Take your maiden flight or hot air balloon trip from the flying club, watch a farriery demonstration or even go across country riding - come for a change, Episy is expecting you !

Montarlot

Away from the main roads, nestling in the Orvanne valley, Montarlot offers visitors the tranquility of villages well aware of their beauty. Numerous contemporary artists have indeed chosen to live and work here. In Montarlot there are no showy and commercial galleries but local artists open their studios every weekend where you can view their work and discuss it with them. Very close to Moret-sur-Loing, Montarlot has preserved an authentic character tinged with an artistic spirit. Come and see it for your own pleasure

Moret-sur-Loing

The Royal Square, the City Walls, the 12th century Keep are proud of their medieval origins and shape the architecture of the old city.
Though most of the 1356 meters of walls and the twenty towers have disappeared over the years, the two gateways, Porte de Bourgogne and Porte de Samois, magnificently attest its medieval past.

The majesty of the gates, the bridge and the banks of the River Loing as that of the Church Notre Dame make Moret an exceptional site for history enthusiasts, dedicated walkers and painters. While strolling through the centre of town, you will discover superb Renaissance façades, the House of the Barley Sugar, a speciality of the nuns of Moret-sur-Loing since the 17th century or even the house and tomb of Alfred Sisley, the “Moret Impressionist”, who was the first to capture the majesty of light over the city.

Numerous tourists come and see the sites painted by Sisley and these sites have been preserved: the Bridge over the Loing, immortalized by the painter ,the Church Notre Dame, the dominating Keep, the towpaths…To those who come from town or villages nearby, come and enjoy a guided tour and don’t hesitate to wander in the narrow streets or along the banks of the river, before enjoying a meal at one of the best restaurants in town.

Enjoy rowing a boat or have a walk, canoe down the river, reach Moret by boat, arriving at the port of call. The “Point Sisley”, the Local Museum, the Bicycle Museum will welcome you. And don’t forget the Festivals: the nature Festival and the paradisio festival – in May and August/September - .

The heart of Moret keeps beating.

Veneux-Les Sablons

A gateway to the Forest of Fontainebleau, Veneux-Les-Sablons is closely linked to the history of the Imperial City nearby.
Veneux features an architecture typical of the Gâtinais Region with houses built of blocks of sandstone from the forest. While walking along 10km of narrow alleys -old rural paths- you will discover numerous vegetable gardens, a local trait which has disappeared in many of the surrounding villages.

Besides a past rich in memories of famous visitors, such as the painters Alfred Sisley and Camille Varlet, Veneux-Les-Sablons offers visitors special events : the
Cheese and Wine Fair every first weekend of September, a market every Saturday morning as well as environment discovery trails designed by the
Association -Les Maisons du Bornage - .

Veneux-Les-Sablons also boasts a Buddhist Temple, where Dagbo Rimpoché, one of the most important Spiritual Masters of the Buddhist Church in the world resides and officiates.