RICHELIEU/L'ÎLE-BOUCHARD/SAINTE-MAURE

Richelieu Île Bouchard Sainte-Maure

Contact details
Tourist office Azay-Chinon Val de Loire - L'Ile Bouchard
18 place Bouchard 37220 L'ILE BOUCHARD
Phone +33 2 47 58 67 75
https://www.azay-chinon-valdeloire.com

Office de tourisme de Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine
Les Passerelles, 77 avenue du Général De Gaulle 37800 Sainte-Maure de Touraine 
Tél. 02 47 65 66 20
www.azay-chinon-valdeloire.com

Vienne Valley: cultural heritage, fairy-tale gardens and Touraine goat cheese
The Vienne Valley with its forests, vineyards and farmed plains, is a hilly landscape, dotted with remarkable villages and gems of architecture. Richelieu, on the edge of the Poitou area, devotes itself to truffle farming and saffron cultivation. And in Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine they celebrate goat cheese.

Richelieu, « perfect town » et « Station verte » (Green resort)
This listed « perfect town » was built by Richelieu on an innovative plan of surprising symmetry at the same time as the château of which only a few parts remain. This “Station Verte”, surrounded by moats, is today a unique example of 17th century urbanism. Its vast park invites you to stroll in the shade of century-old chestnut trees. You can also reach Chinon by the “Voie verte” (track for all kind of none motorized activity as walking, skating, cycling – e-bikes are authorised), along the 19 km route that stops at Champigny-sur-Veude. This village is worth a detour for its spectacular “Sainte-Chapelle” with exceptional Renaissance stained glass windows.*

A medieval castle with enchanting gardens
In Lémeré, fourteen gardens enriched with monumental art works spread around the unique Château of Rivau. The interior of the edifice is lavishly furnished and combines historical objects with contemporary creations.

Medieval village and masterpieces of Romanesque art 
While the church of Saint-Nicolas in Tavant houses magnificent frescoes considered masterpieces of Romanesque painting, the story-telling carved capitals of the Saint-Leonard Priory in Île Bouchard are a remarkable example of Romanesque sculpture. Not far from the charming village of Avons-les-Rochers remain the spectacular ruins of the Roche Tranchelion collegiate church. From here you can reach the picturesque alleyways of Crissay-sur-Manse, one of the « Plus Beaux Villages de France » (Label: Most Beautiful Villages of France).  

Sainte-maure-de-touraine cheese and Chinon wine on the menu
The Courtineau Valley, dense with cave dwellings, can be discovered on foot or by bicycle, such as the famous Saint-James-Way which connects Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine to Antogny-le-Tillac. Along the way the exhibition spot Les Passerelles reveals all the secrets of the goat cheese with the rye straw in its middle, to be savoured with a glass of Chinon wine. White, red or rosé: these three colours can be enjoyed in the carved caves of La Sibylle, set up in a former tufa stone quarry in the heart of the Panzoult vineyard.