Major city · France
Nogent-le-Rotrou
Give Nogent-le-Rotrou one night, not a base: the castle and the old square fill half a day, then push on into the Perche.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowds in the Perche), Nov–Feb (grey and wet)
- Airports
- CDG · ORY
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Nogent-le-Rotrou is a small Perche town of about 9,700 people on the river Huisne, 150 km south-west of Paris and 50 km west of Chartres. Its one real sight is the 11th-century Château Saint-Jean, a fortified keep on a rock above five valleys. Trains from Paris Montparnasse take about 1 h 30 min, so it works as a single night or a stop on the way to Le Mans, not as a multi-day base.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Nogent-le-Rotrou, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime country town; the real risks are the steep walk to the castle…
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (TGV or RER into Paris, then Montparnasse to Nogent; allow 3–4 h door to door).
- Getting aroundThe town is small and walkable: the station to place Saint-Pol is about 15 minutes on foot, and the castle is about 1 km south of the centre, uphill.The town is small and walkable: the station to place Saint-Pol is about 15 minutes on foot, and the castle is about 0.6 mi south of the centre, uphill.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a bar€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beer50 cl in a bar€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, short hop in towncheck€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room€80 (≈ US$95)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€75 (≈ US$90)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €160 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (TGV or RER into Paris, then Montparnasse to Nogent; allow 3–4 h door to door) · ORY Paris Orly (Orlyval and metro to Montparnasse, then the train; allow 3 h door to door)
Weather and climate
Nogent-le-Rotrou: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C45°F
2°C36°F
11 rd
Feb
8°C46°F
1°C34°F
10 rd
Mar
12°C54°F
3°C37°F
10 rd
Apr
15°C59°F
5°C41°F
9 rd
May
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
9 rd
Jun
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
8 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
7 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
7 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
8 rd
Oct
16°C61°F
8°C46°F
10 rd
Nov
10°C50°F
4°C39°F
11 rd
Dec
7°C45°F
2°C36°F
11 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is small and walkable: the station to place Saint-Pol is about 15 minutes on foot, and the castle is about 1 km south of the centre, uphill. Nosbus runs a limited town service that is of little use to visitors. A car helps for the Perche villages and the surrounding restaurants.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
Train from Nogent-le-Rotrou to Chartres, about 40–50 min
Cathedral and old town; a half-day is enough.
Door to door: About 1 h
Regional express train toward Le Mans, about 45–55 min
Old town and the Plantagenet walls; a full day if you add the circuit.
Perche villages (Bellême, Mortagne-au-Perche)
cautionDoor to door: 30–50 min
Car, 20–40 min on D-roads
No useful bus; go only with a car.
Door to door: About 2 h
Train from Nogent-le-Rotrou to Paris Montparnasse, about 1 h 30 min
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in Paris instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Place Saint-Pol and the old centre
Bars, restaurants and the main square on foot; best for one night without a car.
Around the station (place de la Gare)
Cheapest rooms and the Bar-Grill de la Gare next door; 15 min walk uphill to the centre.
Rocade west (Rue de la Bruyère)
Chain hotel with parking by the ring road; only useful if you are driving on.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
- High
- €140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €75 | €75 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95 | €190 |
| Train Paris Montparnasse → Nogent-le-Rotrou, one way2 × €30 · check | €60 |
| Castle entry2 × €6 · check | €12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €37 |
| Trip total≈ €202 per person per day, bed included | €404≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Nogent excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a bar | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Fixed-price lunch menucheck | €11–21 (≈ US$13–25) |
| Starter + main + dessert + 50 cl wine | €25–35 (≈ US$30–45) |
| Beer, 50 cl in a bar | €4–7 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Local La Nogentaise beer, 75 cl bottlecheck | €6–9 (≈ US$7–11) |
| Taxi, short hop in towncheck | €8–15 (≈ US$10–18) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The castle sits on a rock about 1 km south of the centre: the walk up is steep, wear flat shoes.The castle sits on a rock about 0.6 mi south of the centre: the walk up is steep, wear flat shoes.
- Many restaurants and bars close on Sunday evening and Monday; plan dinner around that.
- Sunday evenings are quiet across the centre; check your hotel has food or eat before 20:00.Sunday evenings are quiet across the centre; check your hotel has food or eat before 8:00 PM.
- Rural buses are sparse; without a car, day trips depend on the train line to Le Mans or Chartres.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Nogent-le-RotrouNogent-le-Rotrou
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassies in Nogent-le-Rotrou; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in Paris.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Paris Montparnasse → Nogent-le-Rotrou, train: about €25–40 (≈ US$30–50) one way, about 1 h 30 min (check)
- Nogent-le-Rotrou → Chartres, train: about €10–15 (≈ US$12–18), 40–50 min (check)
- Taxi, station to place Saint-Pol: €8–12 (≈ US$10–14) (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-yay par KART)
- Où est le château ? — Where is the castle? (oo eh luh sha-TOH)
Service is included by law in French restaurants; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nogent-le-Rotrou. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds in the Perche), Nov–Feb (grey and wet) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CDG and ORY: last Montparnasse departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: place Saint-Pol, the station quarter, the castle and the Huisne banks.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Château Saint-Jean, Notre-Dame church, Percheval dates) and eat pages with last orders.
- Sunday and Monday closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.