Sleeping Beauty's tour
Rigny-Ussé

Sleeping Beauty's tour

Fauna
Heritage and history
River and stream
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Nestled on the edge of the forest and bordered by the River Indre, the charming village of Rigny-Ussé is the starting point for this short walk. Before setting off, take time to admire the beautiful Château d'Ussé, which inspired Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty.


Then walk along the main street and cross the river to reach the banks of the Loire. Enjoy a beautiful view of the royal river and its exceptional landscapes, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Description

1. The Château of Ussé
On the edge of the dark and mysterious Chinon forest, dominating the Indre valley from its high white silhouette, Ussé, the Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, is the very symbol of the medieval castle for daring lords and ladies, poets and fairy tales. The terraced gardens were designed by Le Nôtre, creator of the gardens at Versailles. The adjacent early 16th-century collegiate chapel boasts a magnificent porch.

2. The village of Rigny-Ussé
To provide a link between the Château and the village centre, there is a 1km heritage interpretation trail through the village. A nature trail also starts from the Château car park. In a bucolic setting by the water, it invites you to discover the sights of Rigny-Ussé. You can also explore the Espace Naturel Sensible des ‘Bardeaux de l'Indre’, named after the former marshlands, which are divided into branches that flow into the Indre.

3. Notre Dame de Rigny church
Dating from the 12th century, this church has a single nave with three ribbed bays. The crossing supports a large square bell tower. In the middle of the crossing is a cavity in which a spring gushes out. Excavations have uncovered several successive cemeteries, the oldest of which dates back to the 9th century. Disused since 1860, the church is gradually being renovated thanks to the efforts of a local association that also offers tours and concerts in summer.

4. The Loire 
The last wild river in Europe, the Loire is fascinating. For a picnic or a picturesque break, you can admire an exceptional natural and landscape heritage listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

5. Notre-Dame-Des-Eaux oratory
This small monument just beyond the Pont Neuf was built just after the 1846 flood. The niche houses a modern plaster Madonna. On one side, two flood marks are carved into the tufa stone.
  • Departure : Ussé chateau
  • Arrival : Ussé chateau
  • Towns crossed : Rigny-Ussé and Bréhémont

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:
Impacted practices:
Aerial, Aquatic, Land
Sensitivity periods:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJul
Contact:

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