Through Valleys and Plateaux
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Maillé

Through Valleys and Plateaux

Heritage and history
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The village of Maillé, although marked by its recent history, has been occupied since Neolithic times, and various populations subsequently settled here, as attested by the presence of dolmens and Gallo-Roman sites. Maillé didn't really come into its own until 1791, when an ancient neighboring fiefdom became part of the parish of Argenson.

Description

  1. In the village, take a look at the listed Saint-Martin church. Built in the 11th century, its Romanesque façade and double-arched porch date from the 12th century. It was enlarged in the 15th century with a seigniorial chapel and ogival choir with flat chevet.
  2. Maillé's tragic history is marked by the massacre of 124 of its inhabitants and the destruction of most of its homes on August 25, 1944. The village has been completely rebuilt, which explains the presence of some older houses.
    Once past the wooden calvary, you can see the 17th-century wall of the Château d'Argenson.
  3. After the small hamlet of “Les Doucets”, old houses blend with more modern dwellings.
  4. As you climb the slope in front of you, you can see the Château d'Argenson behind you. Listed as a Monument Historique, this private 17th-century château still boasts a circular dovecote, a church, a praetorium, a presbytery and two pavilions.
  5. Following the path, take in the beautiful panoramic views to reach La Delletière and its fine traditional buildings.
  6. A little further on, the view extends to the Manoir de Roziers and its cylindrical 16th-century dovecote.
  7. A little further on, the view takes in the Roziers manor house and its 16th-century cylindrical dovecote.
  8. Before crossing the A10 bridge, you can approach a vineyard lodge in a curious location, in the middle of cereal fields. This situation bears witness to the change in agricultural activity and the trend towards smaller vineyard plots.
  9. At “Les Raudières”, take a short detour to the dolmen de la pierre fondue (known as the “Bommiers dolmen”). Very well preserved, its table has been broken off and is now cantilevered from the rest of the dolmen.
  10. You now pass through the hamlet of Les Bommiers, with its tightly-packed stone houses and pretty vineyard.
  11. On your right, at the end of a narrow path, is the Pierre Percée. This 4-metre-high menhir has the unusual feature of an oval opening at its center. Tradition has it that boys and girls used to come here to exchange flowers, and thus considered themselves bound by an oath.
  12. Once you've left the forest, you're back to a view of farmland and farms.
  13. At the station, you cross the railway line through the tunnel, to find yourself in the center of Maillé, where a visit to the Maison du Souvenir is a must.
  • Departure : Salle des Fêtes
  • Arrival : Salle des Fêtes
  • Towns crossed : Maillé, Pouzay, Noyant-de-Touraine, and Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine

Forecast

Altimetric profile

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