Grez-sur-loing

The village of Grez occupied in the Middle Ages, an important place between the road announced by the royal terminals to flower of lily all the miles and the river of Loing, ways by which forwarded the goods bound for Paris: wood, stones of Grez, cereals.

From the medieval village remain the Church and the ruins of the Tower of Ganne classified as a historic buildings in 1887 and arched cellars with remarkable staircases.

At the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century Grez-sur-Loing was marked by the presence of artists came to study with the French painters Masters.
This is why Grez became one of their favourite place. Mrs Fernande Sadler, painter, archaeologist and writer preserved memories of this artistic life.

She was the Mayor of Grez between 1945 and 1947, she asked his friends to offer some of their paintings to decorate the walls of the Town hall. It is now a rich collection thanks to the gifts of artists.

• Pension Laurent
  Au 124 bis, rue Wilson. Today a private property, the Pension Laurent or Hotel Beauséjour welcomed from 1860 artists came to study in Grez. It was bought at the end of the years 1880 by the American painter Francis B.Chadwick and his Swedish wife Emma Löwstadt-Chadwick, who continued to welcome artists.
• Impasse du Loing
  This way leads to the river Loing was called Alley of the Bargemen. It leds to a small and active river port during the Middle Ages until the 17th century. A quay and some stones of an old dock remains of these times. This port allowed food transport to Paris by the river Seine.
• Rue Kuroda Seïki
  This is in this street that Japanese great painter Kuroda Seïki resided with his model, Maria Billault, during 3 years.
• Place Jolivet
  On this place, the former cemetery of Grez was located.
  A commemorative tablet specifies that Laure de Berny, Dilecta of Honoré of Balzac, rests there. The great writer made many stays in La Bouleaunière, Mr. de Berny's property.

Located on the road to Moncourt, a 1,8 km circuit is recommended for the children.
Many picnic areas.

This is also an observation spot for flora and fauna : many sedentary birds, like hérons, foulques, hairy grèbes and migrating birds.