The Vienne river's valley
Cravant-les-Côteaux
The Vienne river's valley
Medium
Difficulty4h30
Duration20,4km
Distance+203m
Positive Elevation-204m
Negative ElevationLoop
Course typeEmbed this item to access it offline
Description
- The village, with Saint-Léger church (1865), presbytery and washhouse (1870)
- Panorama, orientation table. Beautiful views over the Vienne valley and vineyards.
- The footpath joins the GR 48, said to be the route taken by Joan of Arc on her way from Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois to Chinon. Possibility of joining the Panzoult trails via the GR 48.
- Troglodytic houses: these surviving caves are once again in demand as living quarters.
- Water tower
- View of the old château: 14th-century fortress, altered at various times (private).
- Le Vieux Bourg :
- Covered wash-house
- The old church (9th to 12th centuries), listed as a historic monument. This harmonious edifice, built over the St-Léger fountain, is typical of early Touraine Romanesque architecture. Its nave is one of the few well-preserved examples of Carolingian religious architecture. - View of the 15th-century Tesserie manor house (private)
- View of the 15th-century Tesserie manor house (private).
- View of the Pigeonnerie farm.
- Entrance to the forest, a haven for birds, small and large mammals. Here you can admire beautiful old oak trees, forest orchids,....
- View over the Vienne river and part of the vineyards.
- Dolmen de Briançon: also known as "Gros Chilloux", a 15 m-long monument of Turonian sandstone, part of which is built into the houses.
- Departure : Cravant's Church
- Arrival : Cravant's Church
- Towns crossed : Cravant-les-Côteaux, Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, and Chinon
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Sensitive areas
Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
The site was designated in 2005 under the Birds Directive. The Park has been coordinating the site since 2010 (initially for the period 2010-2016, then renewed for 2016-2019 and 2019-2022), in conjunction with the CPIE Touraine-Val de Loire and the Indre-et-Loire Chamber of Agriculture.
The low valleys are largely covered by natural flood meadows, which are mown and/or grazed. These meadows form large complexes that are home to rare and endangered birds: corncrake, red-backed shrike, meadowlark, spotted crake, etc.
Certain sectors are characterized by a dense bocage network, with pollarded trees surrounding the meadows (Véron bocage): this is the home of the Common Fritillary, Natterjack Toad, Great Capricorn...
Finally, the banks of the Vienne and Indre rivers are occupied by alluvial woodlands and poplar plantations.
The low valleys are largely covered by natural flood meadows, which are mown and/or grazed. These meadows form large complexes that are home to rare and endangered birds: corncrake, red-backed shrike, meadowlark, spotted crake, etc.
Certain sectors are characterized by a dense bocage network, with pollarded trees surrounding the meadows (Véron bocage): this is the home of the Common Fritillary, Natterjack Toad, Great Capricorn...
Finally, the banks of the Vienne and Indre rivers are occupied by alluvial woodlands and poplar plantations.
- Impacted practices:
- Aquatic, Land
- Sensitivity periods:
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Contact:
Information desks
1 Rue Rabelais,, 37500 Chinon
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