Nogent-le-Rotrou

Get in

Nogent can be reached via the A11 (Paris - Nantes) motorway, which passes 20 km south of the town. There are also regular trains from the Montparnasse station in Paris. Travel time by car from Paris is about 1 hr 45 min. Train can take a few minutes less (1 hr 30 min) if you take a regional express heading to Le Mans.

Get around

The town is small and it is easy to get around by foot. There is a limited urban bus service operated by Nosbus which is not particularly useful for the average tourist.

See

thumb|Château Saint-Jean.

The town is dominated by the heavily fortified walls and towers of the 12/13th century Château Saint-Jean, which sits atop a rocky promontory about 1 km south of the town centre. Giving a great view over 5 valleys, it's easy to see why the spot was chosen.

Do

Nogent is well-placed to visit the rolling countryside of the Perche

Percheval: early May. A celebration of the Percheron (draught horse) and the medieval roots of the town, centred around the castle.

Eat

The town offers about a dozen restaurants, half of them being pizzeria-grills. For more up-market fare there are several restaurants in the surrounding villages (up to 20 km away).

Brasserie de l'Hôtel de Ville, 30 place Saint-Pol. Right on the main square. Spacious, open late and the people are friendly. Food is served until about 22:00 and the bar stays open later. There is a full menu, offering choucroute, pasta, tartare, flammekeuche, mussels, etc. They also do snacks such as sandwiches, croque-monsieur, etc. The place is shut on Sunday evenings and Monday. Prices vary, with starters at about €6 main courses from €8 to €13 (Starter + main course + dessert + 50cl beer = €29). There is a fixed price lunchtime menu at €9.50 (as of 2010). Café Saint-Pol, 22 place Saint-Pol: Another bar/restaurant on the main square with meals at lunchtime and in the evening. (Steak with side salad + 50cl wine + cheese = €25). Shut on Sunday. There is a fixed price lunchtime menu at €9.50. The bar has started to sell the "local" Nogentaise beer. Casa Line, place Saint-Pol. Restaurant attached to the bar of the same name. Offers a variety of fare at a variety of prices with nothing being exhorbitant. The only "pure" restaurant on the place Saint-Pol and so the decor is more refined, even though the plastic chairs may not be to everybody's taste (Starter + main course + dessert + 50cl wine = €29). Le Picotin, 24 rue de la Herse: Between the place Saint Pol and the place du Onze Août. A pizzeria…

Drink

Most of the bars are in the centre of town, on the Place Saint Pol. Some stay open late, but closing times vary depending on business. Sunday evenings are quiet. As of 2010 there is a local beer, called "La Nogentaise" which is available in bottles of 75cl.

Brasserie de l'Hôtel de Ville, 30 place Saint-Pol: See in "Eat" above. Totally refurbished in February 2010 and 3 screens added (ahead of the football World Cup). Very pleasant setting. Café Saint-Pol, 22 place Saint-Pol: See in "Eat" above. Casa Line's, 33 place Saint Pol: The most "chic" bar in town in terms of decor. La Boule Verte, 8 place Saint-Pol: See in "Eat" above. Clientele spends most of its time on electronic darts machine. Le Cactus, rue Saint Anne (close to railway station):

Sleep

Nogent probably offers as many hotels as the centre of Chartres and it's far easier to park.