I believe that my father's family came to the United States from Courville-sur-Eure, a little town 24 km west of Chartres. My husband and I will be in France in June and I would like to visit my ancestral home. Can anyone tell me what I might find there?
When I used to travel very often between Chartres and Nogent-le-Rotrou, I always passed this town on the train. Never got off though. Maybe one day.
I did find this online:
In addition to the old 15th century corbelled houses still visible in the old town center, which give it a real cachet, Courville has major heritage elements. This is the case of the parish church of Saint-Pierre, protected as a historical monument since 1907. The building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, rebuilt on the basis of a first place of worship, and has a sculpted frame. with quite remarkable paneling (beams, runners...). The most beautiful of its kind in the department according to a former architect of the Bâtiments de France… The Gothic-style architecture is also beautifully crafted, two side chapels forming a Latin cross plan. However, it is the exceptional quality of its furniture that is now the celebrity of the church. This was for the most part acquired in 1792 during the sale of national property, proof of the prosperity of the town at the time! There are thus stalls to be admired, a triumphal arch in polychrome wood, a number of altarpieces, paintings and wooden statues, some of them monumental (one meter high).
In a very different register, a wind turbine dating from 1902, rue Masselin was also entered in the Inventory. Designed by the engineer Lebert who had acquired the patents of the Bollée company, 20 m high, it operated a hydraulic pump to supply water to the asylum in the town. Although its propeller has disappeared, this machine in the shape of a metal pylon remains exemplary of the wind turbines of the time.
Finally, let us also mention the carved limestone door from the old Saint-Nicolas church (16th century) which was then integrated into the hospital and the contemporary mural fresco which now adorns the water tower.
On the cultural side, frequent events (meetings, readings, exhibitions) are offered at the "L'Eure de lire" media
In terms of "nature" sports and recreation, it is possible to book a tennis court at the local club.
For hiking enthusiasts, the banks of the Eure offer great potential. Ponds dot parts of the valley, offering a rich biodiversity, and we also notice sometimes old mills. These landscapes can be explored on foot but mountain biking trails have also been set up along the banks. All the landscapes call for bucolic serenity, not to mention possible incurs