Balzacien Hike - Rando Loire-Anjou-Touraine
Balzacien Hike
Thilouze

Balzacien Hike

Fauna
Flora
Forest
Heritage and history
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Between the Indre valley, woods and beautiful homes, the Sentier Balzacien (Balzac Trail) allows you to discover the places Balzac visited and which inspired "Le Lys dans la Vallée" and "La Pucelle de Thilouze".

Attachment

  • Sentier Balzacien - Thilouze - Saché - Pont-de-Ruan

    Credit: Sentier Balzacien - Thilouze - Saché - Pont-de-Ruan - Touraine Vallée de l'Indre

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Description

  1. Church of Saint-Antoine du Désert
    The bell tower, listed as a Monument Historique, comprises a base dating back to 1164 and an octagonal stone spire. The 12th-century nave and square ogival choir are illuminated by 12 stained-glass windows from the Lobin workshop in Tours (1871-1872). The exterior wall features 3 carved canonic dials.
  2. Lavoir du Pont de la Boulogne
    Located on the Pont Thibault stream, this washhouse may evoke a washerwoman's box.
  3. Panel featuring extracts from Balzac's La Pucelle de Thilouze.
  4. Old Roman road
    Still visible between Pont-de-Ruan and Thilouze, it linked Tours to Poitiers. It is known as the Grand Chemin or Chemin Ferré.
  5. Moulin Rouge wash-house
    Located on the Barres stream.
  6. L'Osier
    Used for basketry. The Salix Triandra "Noir de Villaines" produced by Saché's wicker makers is recognized as the best in the world.
  7. Château de Saché - Musée Balzac
    Place Alexandre Calder (departure from Saché) and Eglise Saint-Martin de Vertou
  8. In Saché, explanatory panels allow you to discover in greater detail the heritage features from n°8 to N°10.
  9. Tobacco kiln
  10. La Métairie
  11. Saint-Martin fountain
    An ancient devotional fountain already known to the Gauls, transformed into a drinking trough and washhouse, then used as a watercress plantation in the 20th century.
  12. Cloche d'Or dairy
    Established in 1898, this dairy has been called "La Cloche d'Or" since 1923, renowned for the quality of its cheeses.
  13. Auberge de la Corne d'Or
    Former 17th-century stopover inn for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
  14. Les Moulins Lambert (departure from Pont-de-Ruan)
    The Moulin Lambert was built in 1285. Moulin Gilet produced bread flour until 1959 and ice-cream loaves until 1972. Today, the site is brought back to life thanks to the efforts of a local association.
  15. Chapelle Sainte-Apolline
    Patron saint of dental surgeons.
  16. Hexagonal Oratory of the Holy Trinity
    Each pilgrim prays and then throws his or her oblong at the foot of the modest altar.
    Sacred fountain: on Holy Trinity Sunday, the sick came here in the hope of supernatural healing.
    Lavoir: dating from 1907, it retains its fireplace and brick-framed door.
  17. Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité
    The original church was founded by Saint Brice in 444 on the foundations of a Roman house. It was rebuilt in the 11th century, after the Norman incursions.
  18. Saint-Michel Cross
    Iron cross.
  19. Vineyard lodge
    Relocated here in 2004, it provided a sheltered place for farmers to eat and rest.
  20. Saint-Charles or Gibault cross
    Erected in 1928 for Saint-Roch's Day, the solemn feast of the Saint-Roch association, a mutual assistance society for farmers in Thilouze, under the patronage of Saint-Roch (stained-glass window in the church).
  21. Pont du Bourg public washhouse
    Built in 1885 on the Pont-Thibault stream, near the home of cobbler Lenay, to whom Balzac used to walk from Saché to have his shoes repaired.
  • Departure : Thilouze - Espace Saint-Antoine
  • Arrival : Thilouze - Espace Saint-Antoine
  • Towns crossed : Thilouze, Saché, and Pont-de-Ruan

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Altimetric profile

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