Herbault lies in Loir-et-Cher where the open Petite Beauce meets the wooded edge of Gâtine Tourangelle. Blois is about 16.5 kilometres away, and the A10 and departmental road RD766 connect the surrounding communities. INSEE records 1,139 residents for the commune in the 2022 census, using the municipal boundary referenced on 1 January 2025. This is a dated population for the whole commune, not a count of the central streets alone.
A town shaped by its market
A local Agglopolys heritage account links Herbault’s eighteenth-century growth with Gaspard Dodun, who transferred the Landes market to Herbault and established a salt warehouse. The market helped the settlement serve farms and smaller communities around it, and the municipality still lists a Monday morning market. Confirm the current schedule and vendors before visiting. The same local history records the parish transfer from Jussay in 1790, a new church built during the revolutionary period, and Herbault’s former role as a canton seat until 2014. These are civic milestones in the documented history, not an origin legend.
Saint-Martin and the town centre
Saint-Martin church is the main architectural landmark in the older centre. Blois-Chambord tourism dates it to the late eighteenth century and notes that its interior was remodelled in a neo-Gothic style roughly a century later. The successive phases make the church a useful starting point for understanding the town’s civic core. Check current parish notices before planning to enter, as public access and services can change. Shops, civic facilities and places to eat nearby make Herbault a practical stop for a countryside journey as well as a short visit in its own right.
Les Prés Fleuris and the landscape
The municipality presents Les Prés Fleuris as a recreation area around a pond. Its listed amenities include paths, fishing, pétanque, a children’s play area, a City Park, picnic tables, a fitness trail and parking for up to four campervans. It can suit a quiet pause by the water, an active family outing or a short walk before continuing. Confirm fishing rules, access and seasonal closures with the town, and follow notices on site.
A marked walk and practical services
The tourism office’s Entre plaine et forêt route offers a documented way to explore the surroundings on foot: a 13.1-kilometre, medium-difficulty loop estimated at about 4 hours 20 minutes, starting at the church square. The listing says it is marked by FFRandonnée 41 and provides GPX and KML downloads. Check the latest route file, weather, access and ground conditions before setting out; published distance and marking cannot guarantee current trail conditions. Municipal information lists schools, commercial and artisan activity areas, shops and services; its directory and 2026 bulletin help identify specific providers. Hours, appointments and availability for the mairie, France Services, pharmacy, healthcare, food shops and restaurants should be confirmed directly. A compact visit can pair Saint-Martin with Les Prés Fleuris; allow half a day for the full walk.
