Senonches is a working town at the edge of a remarkable forest landscape in the Perche. The commune had 3,045 municipal residents in the 2023 census. Its appeal comes from the close fit between daily town life and the woodland around it: a medieval castle now interprets forest history, marked trails begin beyond the streets, and the lake sits close to shops. This is a place for a measured visit, with time for both the old centre and paths outside it.
A castle tied to the town
The first written mention of Senonches castle appears in a charter from the early twelfth century. The municipal history says Hugues II had it built on the site of an earlier ruin and rebuilt it around 1140, together with fortifications around the settlement. The surviving entrance tower, fragments of wall and part of the curtain wall make the medieval outline tangible without suggesting that the whole fortress remains. The castle later served practical purposes: it housed a boys’ school and then a kindergarten before the municipality entrusted it to an association in 1974. Restoration prepared it for visitors.
Today the château-musée, called Forêt d’Histoires, uses interactive displays to explain forest ecology and the changing relationship between people and woodland. It is a useful introduction for families before heading outdoors. The forest is not merely scenery: municipal accounts describe centuries of hunting, timber gathering, charcoal production for ironworks and small-scale use of woodland resources. A timber-floating canal was built between the Benette and the Avre in the second half of the eighteenth century.
Walks, water and a living market
More than 4,000 hectares of forest surround Senonches. The town points visitors toward a short, accessible ONF nature trail of about 600 metres, with ten interpretive stations, as well as longer marked circuits. These routes pass through woods, streams and ponds rather than a single staged attraction. Check the local hunting calendar before setting out, keep to marked paths and remember that some woodland is privately owned.
Closer to the centre, Arthur Rémy lake offers a quiet stop and is used for fishing; ask the local visitor office about current permits and conditions. Friday morning brings a different encounter: the municipal market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with food traders alongside producers and other stalls. The municipality describes Senonches as an activity centre for the wider Forêts du Perche community, with shops, health professionals, craftspeople and other services. That everyday role makes the town a useful base for a longer Perche stay.
Getting there and planning a visit
Regional RÉMI buses serve Senonches on routes 10 toward Chartres and 25 toward Dreux. By rail, the nearest practical station is La Loupe, about ten minutes away by car, on the TER corridor linking Paris, Chartres, Nogent-le-Rotrou and Le Mans. Confirm the day’s bus and train schedules, connections and return services before travelling. A town visit pairs naturally with the castle museum and a forest walk; allow extra time if combining several circuits.
Senonches in three films: heritage, local life and the surrounding landscape
France 3’s regional report explicitly frames Senonches through its château, pond and forest. That combination reflects how visitors can connect the historic centre to the landscape in one outing. It is a dated regional feature, so use it for orientation rather than current schedules or opening information.
The National Forestry Office’s title links the Senonches forest with timber and traditional construction. It adds a material-culture angle to the town’s woodland story, alongside the municipal interpretation centre. This film will interest visitors curious about how managed forests supplied building materials and shaped local work over time.