The department 91 Essonne is not well known yet surrounding Paris and well worth your while to pay attention to what it has to offer. One of my highlights of coming here is the town of Dourdan, and I like to tell you a bit more about its other things to see or curiosities of Dourdan!!! This is a split update of an older post. The town of Dourdan is in the Essonne dept 91 of the Île de France region of my belle France, about 44 km from Paris.
The road A10 passes on the north of town before the tolls of Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines (that I always avoid lol!). You have the better road D836 crossing the town west to east and onwards to Etampes and Rambouillet. Also, the D838 goes up to Versailles and the D116 with a beltway going to Arpajon. Parking is best on the street near the marché or market. You have good train service on the line RER C and the TER Centre Val de Loire that passes by here destination of Vendôme or Châteaudun, without stops from the gare Paris Austerlitz.. There is a train station in town as well as the Dourdan-La Fôret servicing the RER C as terminus.
In the Saint Germain d’Auxerre Church, you can see a funerary slab adorned with the effigy of Guillaume de Chatillonville, which served as a bridge over a ditch under the French revolution. It was returned to the Church after being recovered by the local Dourdannais. The shrine of the relics of Saint Félicien in precious glass and metal which was offered by Marguerite-Louise d’Orléans, Grand Duchess of Tuscany in 1695 is displayed every 9th June. Portraits of the priests of the Church since the French revolution, in particular that of Father Gautier, complete the decoration. The organ, built in 1870. The first bronze bell melted in 1599, the second, named Germaine, was cast in 1778 in bronze. A chest in the sacristy is dated 1733. The Church was used as a prison during the French revolution and was brought back to Catholic service by 1795. The church is right next to the market.
The Hôtel-Dieu with the Chapel of Saint Jean l’Evangéliste or St John the Evangelist. In 1220 was built the Hôtel-Dieu, destroyed and rebuilt from 1766 with the Evangelist Chapel mentioned in 1340. Modified in 1852 and 1885, it served as a hospital until 1970. Now it is a retirement home.
The Hôtellerie Blanche de Castille is a 3 star hotel totally renovated in 2016. It is just 5 minutes on foot to the Musee du Chateau, the Halles, and the church, It is about 40 minutes from Roissy CDG airport. A bit of history tell us that it was built on a former mansion of the 17C, purchase by the family Védye and sold again in 1781 by the family Le Boistel, It continues to change hands for several generations of different families finally ceded to the city of Dourdan that ordered demolished, In 1969 the Hostellerie Blanche de Castille opened and kept the wonderful staircase you see by the entrance.
The Dourdan tourist office on its heritage : https://www.dourdan-tourisme.fr/Chateau-et-patrimoine
The official Hôtellerie Blanche de Castille : http://hotel.hotel-blanchedecastille.fr/
There you go folks, another jewel very close to Paris and on the off the beaten path, worthty of a visit indeed. And you will be glad you visit the Royal town of Dourdan , and the wonderful things to see here all within walking distance. Hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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