"Moret-sur-Loing" a Moret-sur-Loing Travel Page by pedroswift

On the ancient main road from Paris to Lyon, Moret grew up at the ford used to cross the Loing River. During the Middle Ages the river was crossed via a bridge which was later protected by a fortified town. Two fortified gates remain well preserved at either end of the main street (Rue Grande): in the east the Burgundy Gate and at the west the Samois Gate. No prize for guessing where the roads through these gates lead.
There are buildings with waterwheels offset on small islands in the stream along the main bridge over the Loing. They are former tannery and grain mills re-built as houses after being damaged in modern times.
The River Loing flows into the Seine a few kms north of Moret and the town provides a port for pleasure boats at the junction of the river and the canal system traversing western Burgundy.

Much is made of Alfred Sisley, the impressionist painter who chose not only to paint scenes in the area but to live the last years of his life here. Amis d'Alfred Sisley keep his memory alive and hold art shows. It is recommended that you seek the house in which he lived and his burial site .

Napoleon Bonaparte has a connection. On the night of 19 March 1815 he spent his last night on the road here on his way back to Paris after escaping from Elba. The next day was the start of the one hundred days culminating in Waterloo.

Moret boasts architectural features worthy of a visit. The Castle Keep, Notre-Dame Church, Francois 1er Facade and timbered houses are all worth a visit.
The Keep gets a mention when you visit the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte which was built by Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV, the Sun King's finance minister. When Louis visited the chateau he was so jealous he arrested Fouquet. He was imprisoned in the Keep in 1664 by the King. The legendary musketeer D'Artagnan was part of the garrison guarding him.