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The royal and military college and 12th-century gardens of Thiron-Gardais – Boat trip
an escapade of heritage, historic gardens and boat trips on the little Venice of Beauce
1 day
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Transport
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Price upon request
Groups
All-inclusive prices for small and large groups
With guide
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French
English
Other languages on request
English
Other languages on request
A cultural and bucolic day at the gateway to Perche and Beauce
Just one hour south-west of Paris, the Eure-et-Loir offers an elegant and original getaway, combining history, heritage, gardens and waterways. This program combines the discovery of the royal and military college of Thiron-Gardais with that of Bonneval, a charming medieval town nicknamed “the little Venice of the Beauce”. With its ancient monastery, museum, landscaped park and electric boat trip, this day offers a complete immersion in an authentic and surprising region.
Designed with groups in mind, this tour is the perfect combination of guided tour, stroll and unusual discovery.
Thiron-Gardais: a major heritage site with medieval origins
The Thiron-Gardais site has its roots in 12th-century religious history. The page recalls that it was originally an ancient monastery dating back to 1122, later succeeded by the college founded in 1630 by Henri de Bourbon-Verneuil, natural son of Henri IV. The establishment was designed to teach languages, arithmetic, geography, fencing, dance and botany, attracting students from Perche, Beauce, Paris and neighboring provinces.
This historical depth gives the visit a real depth, between monastic heritage, educational ambition and regional influence.
The royal and military college: an elite school under the Ancien Régime
In 1776, under the aegis of Louis XVI and with the help of the Comte de Saint-Germain, the establishment became one of twelve royal and military colleges in the kingdom. The aim was to provide young boys from noble but ruined families with a solid education in keeping with their rank. The page also recalls a famous anecdote: in 1778, Napoleon Bonaparte was admitted to the college, but eventually chose to join his brother Joseph at Brienne. It also recalls that Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, future governor of the Bastille, was educated there.
This prestigious past gives the site a strong heritage and memorial value.
A heritage renaissance led by Stéphane Bern
After the Revolution, the college closed in 1793. The building then underwent a long period of dormancy before being reborn thanks to Stéphane Bern, who bought it in 2013 and then undertook major restoration work. The page explains that it took three years to restore the building to its former glory, before the inauguration of a museum in 2016, housed in the former classrooms and dedicated to the history of the college and the abbey.
Today, this exemplary restoration allows visitors to visit a place that has been saved and passed on, and which has become a leading heritage destination.
A museum in the old classrooms
The museum features a wealth of objects collected by Stéphane Bern, bearing witness to the daily life of the residents and the fascinating past of the royal and military colleges. The page mentions in particular:
- A portrait of Louis XVI
- A portrait of the Comte de Saint-Germain
- A uniform worn by the King’s students
- A reconstructed classroom
- A portrait of a 19th-century cadet
- The crosier of Saint Bernard, from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Chartres
This tour brings history to life, and provides a better understanding of the site’s educational, military and symbolic functions.
The historic gardens: a restored green setting
The program also highlights the site’s gardens, restored with the help of landscape architect Louis Benech. Surrounding the abbey church, this landscaped ensemble breathes new life into an ancient setting, while preserving its character as a haven of peace. The page shows that some trees still date back to the Ancien Régime, while others have been added to enrich the park. There’s also a labyrinth, one of the oldest greenhouses in the region and other landscape features that make this a particularly pleasant stroll.
This vegetal dimension gives the excursion an elegant, soothing breath of fresh air.
Bonneval: the little Venice of Beauce
After Thiron-Gardais, the day continues in Bonneval, south of Chartres. The page presents this stopover as an unusual way to discover the town, thanks to a boat trip through the village nicknamed “Little Venice of the Beauce”. This nickname comes from the abundance of water in the heart of the commune, which gives Bonneval a singular and particularly seductive physiognomy.
This contrast between medieval heritage and the gentle waters of the sea makes Bonneval a highly original stopover, ideal for rounding off the morning’s cultural visit.
An electric boat trip along the canals
One of Bonneval’s great attractions is the opportunity to explore the town in a different way, aboard an electric boat. The page describes this ride as an original and soothing way to discover the town’s history, and one that is particularly popular with children. At the helm of the boat, visitors cruise the canals in a green setting, meeting ducks and enjoying a privileged view of the banks and monuments.
This river trip adds a real sensory dimension to the excursion and reinforces its convivial character.
A medieval village along the river
Bonneval, once known as Bona Vallis, has grown over the centuries, while retaining many defensive features dating back to the Middle Ages. The boat trip and free time allow you to admire :
- Successive washhouses
- The viaduct built in 1865
- The impressive Porte Saint-Roch
- The King’s Tower
- Gothic Notre-Dame church
- The former Saint-Florentin abbey, founded in 857 and now a hospital center
The charm of the narrow streets, bridges and old buildings completes this discovery of a city as picturesque as it is patrimonial.
A complete experience combining history, nature and the good life
Combining Thiron-Gardais and Bonneval makes for a particularly well-balanced day. In the morning, visitors immerse themselves in the religious, educational and heritage history of a carefully restored royal and military college. In the afternoon, they discover a more contemplative water village, where a boat trip provides a light-hearted change of scenery. This complementarity is what makes the program so interesting.
The tour takes in :
- An exceptional historic site
- Restored gardens
- A medieval city along the canals
- An original boat trip
An ideal excursion for groups
The page specifies that this is a 1-day program, offered as a group package, with guide and all-inclusive price for small and large groups. This makes it a perfect outing for associations, groups of friends, extended families or companies looking for a convivial cultural day out.
Alternating between museums, gardens, medieval heritage and waterways guarantees a pleasant pace and a wide variety of experiences.
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Questions fréquentes (FAQ)
Why visit the Royal Military College of Thiron-Gardais?
A visit to the Collège Royal et Militaire de Thiron-Gardais is an exceptional opportunity to discover a site that combines several strata of French history, from the 12th-century monastery to the educational establishment founded in 1630 and transformed into a royal and military college under Louis XVI. A visit to the museum, housed in the former classrooms, provides an insight into the life of the students, the educational ambitions of the time and the importance of the site as a heritage site. The restored gardens add an elegant and soothing landscape dimension to the experience.
Why is Bonneval nicknamed the "Little Venice of the Beauce"?
Bonneval is nicknamed the "Little Venice of the Beauce" because of the abundance of water in the heart of the town and the canals that run through it. This aquatic network gives the town a very special atmosphere, rare in this part of the Eure-et-Loir region, and makes for an original way to discover it by electric boat. This nickname reflects both the town's scenic charm and its strong identity, with its medieval heritage, canals, bridges, washhouses and peaceful walks along the water.
Why link Thiron-Gardais and Bonneval on the same tour?
Combining Thiron-Gardais and Bonneval on the same tour offers a well-balanced day of monumental heritage, history, gardens and river discovery. Thiron-Gardais provides the historical depth, museum visit and charm of a large restored site, while Bonneval offers a gentler, more contemplative and original experience thanks to its boat trip. This complementarity makes the program particularly attractive for groups, as it alternates cultural moments, walks and relaxation in two very different but coherent universes.
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