Cravant-les-Côteaux
Easy
4h
20,4km
+201m
-203m
Loop
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Description
- The village with the church of Saint-Léger (1865), the presbytery and the wash-house (1870).
- Panorama, orientation table. Beautiful views over the Vienne valley and vineyards.
- The footpath joins the GR 48, which is also thought to be the route taken by Joan of Arc on her way from Sainte-Catherine de Fierbois to Chinon.
- Troglodytic houses: these remaining cellars are once again in demand as homes.
- Water tower.
- View of the old château: 14th-century fortress, altered at various times (private site).
- Le Vieux Bourg :
- Covered wash-house
- The cemetery with its beautiful avenue of centuries-old yew trees
- The old church (9th and 12th centuries), listed as a historic monument. This harmonious edifice, built over the Saint-Léger fountain, is typical of early Romanesque architecture in Touraine. Its nave is one of the few well-preserved examples of Carolingian religious architecture.
It also features two Merovingian pillars and a fresco depicting allegiance to Notre-Dame. Visit with charge. - View of the Tesserie manor house, 15th century (private).
- View of the Pigeonnerie farm.
- Enter the forest, a haven for birds, small and large mammals. You can admire beautiful old oak trees and forest orchids...
- View over the Vienne valley and part of the vineyards.
- Briançon dolmen: also known as the ‘Gros chilloux’, a 15m-long monument of Turonian sandstone, part of which is built into the houses.
- Departure : Pierre Alliet square
- Arrival : Pierre Alliet square
- 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:
Recommandations
In the forest
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