From Île Bouchard to Sazilly
La Vienne, un cours d'eau surprenant
La Vienne, un cours d'eau surprenant
L'Île-Bouchard

From Île Bouchard to Sazilly

Fauna
Flora
River and stream
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The Vienne is one of the main tributaries of the Loire.
The quality of its waters makes it an ideal host for migratory fish. Salmon, eels, shad and lampreys all live here.
Along this peaceful descent of the Vienne, you will find small villages and the typical landscapes of alluvial valleys; limestone hillsides or floodplains.

Description

  1. Ile Bouchard
    The bridges, emblems of the town, are the reason for the union in 1832 of the communes of Saint-Gilles (to the north) and Saint-Maurice (to the south). The Saint-Maurice district houses one of the oldest Romanesque buildings in France: the Saint-Léonard Priory, built around 1067. Nearby, the former station houses the Museum of Local Traditions.
  2. Sazilly
    The Church of Sazilly was built at the end of the 12th or the beginning of the 13th century on the site of a Gallo-Roman building; it belonged to the Abbey of Marmoutier. The square bell tower, whose spire had already collapsed by 1818, is later than the nave, as evidenced by the buttress and the cornice with modillions that runs along the southern eaves wall, both visible inside the bell tower. The restoration of the bell tower and the construction of a belfry to support the bells were completed in April 1999.
  • Departure : Île Bouchard - port Besnard
  • Arrival : Île Bouchard
  • Towns crossed : L'Île-Bouchard, Tavant, Panzoult, Sazilly, and Cravant-les-Côteaux

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:

Recommandations

SAFETY

• You must be able to swim at least 25 meters and be confident under water.
• You are required to wear a proper life jacket and shoes that will not slip off.
• Take care when approaching bridges and always take the marked channel
• Follow the instructions on this sheet and heed the warnings of  th hire crew.
• Weather conditions and water levels can be unpredictable. Information on this sheet is for guidance purposes only and is based on optimum conditions.
• Be cautious of cyanobacteria present in the Vienne River: learn more.

WATERWAY CODE

• Only disembark in designated areas. Do not try to land on the small islands and sandy banks where you could endanger ground-nesting birds.
• Many of the islands shown on the map are private property.
• Respect our wildlife: keep noise to a minimum.
• Do not litter. Take your rubbish home with you.
• Do not tie up to the marker buoys. They could be displaced and give misleading information.
• Be aware that other people use the waterway too.

REMEMBER : YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY

Access and parking

Parking :

Port Besnard is easily accessible from the D757

Report a problem or an error

If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here: