Les Montils

This stronghold of the County of Blois, known as "Les Montils", appears in charters from the 12th and 13th centuries. But the oldest settlement is that of Thérouenne, a Gallic village to the west of the town, now known as "Les vieux Montils". Situated on the Roman consular road linking Blois to Montrichard, on a hill bordered by the Beuvron to the south and the Cosson to the north, it became a fortified place in the 12th century, then a small castle that welcomed royal and noble families until the end of the 17th century. All that remains of the château today is a cylindrical keep with a remarkable central well, elements of the triple enclosure of the outer fortifications and a monumental gate.
Today, the town covers an area of 927 hectares, at an altitude of between 62 and 101 meters, and has a relatively young population of 1949 (820 in 1826). It is located in the Cheverny AOC zone for wines and the Selles-sur-Cher AOC zone for goat cheeses. It boasts a range of shops and services, including a medical center and pharmacy, a post office and a restaurant, all located in the center of the village. L'Artouillat is also home to a number of small businesses. Together with the neighboring towns of Monthou-sur-Bièvre, Ouchamps and Valaire, it manages the Espace Beauregard, a sports and entertainment venue with one of the largest capacities in the department. Numerous associations enliven the daily lives of the people of Monthou-sur-Bièvre, some of which have been in existence for several decades.

Tourism

The commune, richly wooded on its outskirts, stretches from the hamlet of La Haye through the village to Les vieux Montils. It has retained its agricultural potential, with two vineyards and a market garden at La Haye. Numerous paths, some of them signposted, enable you to enjoy bucolic walks and discover the various aspects of the local environment, protected by a biodiversity conservation program.
The village includes a group of old houses (rue du Vieux Porche) on the site of the former royal castle, in the middle of which stands the spectacular 16-metre-high keep. The Porte des Montils, dating from the same period, can still be seen, set into the ramparts that also support the Maison Dieu, built in 1286 by Alix de Bretagne to help the town's poor (private).
The "Musée d'outils anciens et d'art populaire" brings together over 1,200 objects from the local rural world and other regions. It is an ideal place for historical documentation on the town and region.
The church, rebuilt in 1873, retains only the side door and stone statues from an earlier church.
The bridge over the Beuvron has been mentioned since the 13th century. It adjoins a traditional wash-house and is close to footpaths along the Beuvron.
The Pays des Châteaux Tourist Office relies on the Mon'ti Train association which, in addition to providing tourist information, offers picnic tables, children's games and a miniature railway circuit on a communal site that carries many passengers from Easter to All Saints' Day. Site: montitrain.canalblog.com

A campervan site on the route de Seur accommodates 45 vehicles near the Beuvron.

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