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Pithiviers

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City
—°3910
Pithiviers (France)
ℹ️

Practical info — Pithiviers

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • The famous local cake comes in two versions (fondant and feuilleté); try both to find your favorite.
  • Check the Transport Museum (AMTP) schedule in advance to see when the historic steam train is operating.
  • Parking is usually plentiful along the tree-lined 'Mail' boulevards that ring the historic center.
  • The Saint-Salomon church's architecture is best appreciated from the quieter side streets.

🍽 Food

🍽
Gâteau de Pithiviers

Buy this famous almond cream pastry fresh from any patisserie in the town center.

🍽
Pâté de Pithiviers

A savory, regional meat pie available at traditional local charcuteries.

🍽
Pithiviers Fondant

The iced version of the cake topped with candied fruits-well-suited with a coffee.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Saturday Market

Held at Place des Halles, offering a wide array of fresh local produce from the Loiret.

🛍
Local Patisseries

The best place to buy the authentic Pithiviers cake to take home as a souvenir.

🧘
Essonne Riverside

A calm walking route along the small river that borders the town.

🧘
Botanical walks near the museum

The green areas close to the Transport Museum offer a peaceful retreat away from the center.

Highlights of 2026

3

Pithiviers lies in the heart of the agricultural Beauce plain and is best known across France for its distinct culinary heritage. The town gave its name to the “Gâteau de Pithiviers”, a traditional round pastry made of puff pastry and rich almond cream that dates back to the 17th century and remains a staple in local bakeries. The town center is dominated by the Church of Saint-Salomon-et-Saint-Grégoire, featuring a 50-meter-tall slate-covered spire that serves as a landmark across the flat surrounding landscape. Railway enthusiasts often visit the local transport museum, which maintains a collection of narrow-gauge steam locomotives and operates heritage rides on a preserved stretch of track during the summer. Historically positioned at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, the town maintains a strong market tradition, most visible during the bustling Saturday farmers' market. The vast fields of sugar beet surrounding the town also make it an ongoing hub for the French sugar production industry.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C3471114182019161274
Rain mm554854477160585845656267

Geography

Population
9,659
Coordinates
48.17190, 2.25190

Facts

  • Population: 10,097 residents (2021 data).
  • Area: The city covers 6.94 km².
  • Specialty: The Pithiviers cake dates back to the 17th century.
  • Transport: The Pithiviers museum railway opened in 1892.
  • Saffron: Pithiviers is considered the historical capital of French saffron.
  • Monument: The Church of Saint-Salomon-et-Saint-Grégoire partly dates to the 11th century.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Pithiviers (9)

Saint Salomon Church⛪ religious

A significant 13th-century Gothic church, known for its tall bell tower and valuable religious artworks inside.

Pithiviers Memorial🏺 historical

This memorial site honors the victims of the Pithiviers internment camp during the Second World War.

Bellecour Park🌿 nature

A vast municipal park surrounding the ruins of Bellecour Castle, handy for walks and relaxation in a green setting.

Château de l'Ardoise🏰 castle

Château de l'Ardoise is a castle structure located in the city of Pithiviers.

Château de Denainvilliers🏰 castle

Château de Denainvilliers is a notable castle situated in Pithiviers.

Manoir de la Taille🏰 castle

Manoir de la Taille is a recognized historical castle located in Pithiviers.

Théâtre du Donjon🎭 culture

Théâtre du Donjon is a performance theatre in the city of Pithiviers.

Église Saint-Denis et Sainte-Mesme⛪ religious

Église Saint-Denis et Sainte-Mesme is a place of worship located in Pithiviers.

Église Saint-Aignan⛪ religious

Église Saint-Aignan is a religious place of worship in Pithiviers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pithiviers culinarily famous for?
For the Pithiviers cake, a traditional pastry with a delicious almond filling.
What is the Transport Museum?
A museum with historical steam trains; rides are offered on a narrow-gauge railway.
Is there a WWII memorial?
Yes, a memorial site commemorates the Pithiviers internment camp and the Holocaust victims.
Which church should be visited?
The Church of Saint-Salomon-et-Saint-Grégoire, known for its elegant spire and organ.
How far is Pithiviers from Orléans?
The town is about 45 km northeast of Orléans and can be reached in 45 minutes by car.
Pithiviers: where is it located?
Pithiviers is located in Centre-Val de Loire, France.
Pithiviers: what is there to see?
Highlights include Saint Salomon Church, Pithiviers Memorial, Bellecour Park.
Pithiviers: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Pithiviers: why is it worth visiting?
Pithiviers lies in the heart of the agricultural Beauce plain and is best known across France for its distinct culinary heritage.
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