Between Vienne and Chinonais
Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne

Between Vienne and Chinonais

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Today, river traffic has been replaced by major highways, but Saint-Germain was once an important passageway. Not far from the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers (at Candes-Saint-Martin), the passage between Saint-Germain and Port-Guyot (on the right bank) enabled false sauniers to avoid strict surveillance. After crossing the Veronese bocage, they rejoined the Loire.

Description

  1. Halfway up the slope, you pass deep excavations. The large blocks extracted were used to build the most noble residences.
    You then return to the heights of Saint-Germain to pass La Trochoire and La Roncheraie, two hamlets in the commune of Couziers nestling at the bottom of a dry valley. La Trochoire is an old manor house once used for sericulture. 

  2. View of the Véron bocage and the Avoine nuclear complex.

  3. Back in Falèche, head for the old Rassay windmill. From Haut-Rassay, you can see the overall silhouette of this cavier, which was in operation until 1945, but has lost its hucherolle and still preserves its massereau. From here, you reach the vineyards and farm of Château du Petit-Thouars.


  4. Climbing up the hillside riddled with troglodytic cellars, we skirt the château grounds to see a cylindrical dovecote topped by a lantern at the summit, with the elegant lines of Château du Petit-Thouars in the background.
  • Departure : Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne's church
  • Arrival : Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne's church
  • Towns crossed : Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne, Couziers, and Candes-Saint-Martin

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.
Impacted practices:
Aquatic, Land
Sensitivity periods:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Contact:

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