Chinon and the Vienne river valley
Cravant-les-Côteaux

Chinon and the Vienne river valley

Heritage and history
Vineyard
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Description

  1. On the hillside
    The old village, with its wash-house and pre-Romanesque church, is a peaceful, harmonious sight. On the hillside, a number of isolated hamlets are home to some remarkable houses, the finest feature of which is the white tufa stone. Admire the view over the valley and the vineyards.

  2. Sainte-Radegonde Chapel
    The semi-troglodytic Chapelle Sainte6Radegonde is built around a well dug into the rock in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It is decorated with murals, including a ‘royal hunt’ from the late 12th century. From the hillside, enjoy the exceptional panoramic view over the town of Chinon and the Vienne Valley.

  3. The fortress of Chinon
    The Royal Fortress of Chinon is famous for being the place where Joan of Arc first met the Dauphin Charles (the future Charles VII) in 1429. Take your time to discover this interactive and entertaining site, with its rich programme of events and exhibitions.

  4. Chinon, a medieval city
    Chinon has an exceptional built heritage. The presence of Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century, followed by that of Charles VII in the 15th century, led to the development of the town and the construction of medieval houses that can still be seen today. Take a break in the town centre and visit rue Voltaire, one of the main thoroughfares of the medieval town.

  5. In the heart of the vineyards
    Cravant owes its fame to its Chinon appellation wine. Along the way, don't hesitate to stop off at one of the many wineries for a tasting of this ‘purée septembrale’.
  • Departure : Cravant-les-Coteaux
  • Arrival : Cravant-les-Coteaux
  • Towns crossed : Cravant-les-Côteaux 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.
Impacted practices:
Aquatic, Land
Sensitivity periods:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Contact:

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