Through valleys and plateaux
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Ports-sur-Vienne

Through valleys and plateaux

Heritage and history
River and stream
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Ports is a typical Touraine town, situated at the confluence of the Vienne and Creuse rivers. Rich in history, its name bears witness to an ancient navigation route on the Vienne.
The village's history is directly linked to the production of tile, lime and electricity in the valley, anchored on an agricultural plateau long occupied by vines.

Description

  1. Eglise Saint-Martin
    Romanesque church of the Translation-de-saint-Martin, built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 15th century; it retains the original cul-de-four apse and part of the nave, whose walls are of small-scale construction. The former comb belfry (similar to that of Noyers) has been extended by a slate-covered construction. The 15th- and 17th-century bells are listed as Monuments Historiques.
    Cross Place Romain Rideau and take Rue des Jardins on your left.
  2. Rest area
  3. Digital public space
  4. The communal washhouse, fed by a spring, is below the château on your left.
  5. Ports castle, of military design, dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. What remains today is a rectangular dwelling with stone cross-vaulted windows, built over a vast barrel-vaulted cellar. Since 1956, it has been occupied by a workshop of internationally renowned artists who create and weave original tapestries that can be admired in their gallery at La Martinerie in Amboise.
    Before the château, turn right towards Les Cazeaux. In the hamlet, fork right and head downhill. Cross the D18 and go straight on towards the Vieux Port.
  6. Lime kilns, interpretation point.
    Continue along rue des Caves, take the 2nd right, cross the D18 and continue as far as Vienne.
  7. The tile factory used to be on your left. The Napoleonic cadastre shows the layout of this factory, with its numerous buildings. The location of this production facility was linked to the presence of a thick silt layer. This activity ceased at the beginning of the 20th century. Tile debris still grazes the surface of the ground. Continue along the hallage path.
  8. The drama of 1880, a point of interpretation.
  9. The lowering of the Vienne river, interpretation point on the Vienne river crossings.
  10. A10 bridge
  11. High-speed train line bridge
  12. The Maisons Rouges dam was built in 1920 to supply the Descartes paper mills. In 1948, EDF took possession of the dam. Following the 1994 Plan Loire Grandeur Nature, the concession of the dam to EDF was not renewed. The State announced that it would be demolished. Despite strong local opposition, the dam was levelled between June 1998 and April 1999. What remains today is an invert, which we can see at low water in summer.
    After the waste disposal site, turn left onto the D18, then take the track on your right towards Sauvage.
  13. La Veude de Ponçay
  14. Sauvage (hamlet of Pussigny). At the end of the hamlet, you can join the Pussigny path.
    On the D107 after the A10 bridge, turn right.
  15. Panoramic view from La Mélandière.
  16. La Boucaire, former fortified manor house, also known as La Boutière; the central part was rebuilt in 1644 by Jacques Deffray, King's advisor and controller of the Sainte-Maure octroy deniers. The rectangular dwelling is flanked by two square towers at opposite south-east-north-west corners.
    At the crossroads, go straight ahead.
  17. The vineyard lodge was once used for storing equipment, shelter and refreshments.
    Join the wood via the tree-lined driveway, then fork left and turn right at the exit.
  18. La Chopinière, panoramic view.
  19. Sports area and arboretum.
  • Departure : Place Romain Rideau
  • Arrival : Place Romain Rideau
  • Towns crossed : Ports-sur-Vienne and Pussigny

Forecast

Altimetric profile

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