Agnès Sorel hike
Cheillé

Agnès Sorel hike

Heritage and history
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Between river and forest, come and discover Cheillé, its remarkable oak growing in the south wall of the church and the legend surrounding Agnès Sorel's passage through Cheillennes.

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  • Circuit Agnès Sorel - Cheillé

    Credit: Circuit Agnès Sorel - Cheillé - Touraine Vallée de l'Indre

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Description

  1. Church and oak tree
    The church of Saint-Didier, patron saint of grape-pickers, dates from the 12th century and was remodeled in 1770. Inside, there are 40 tombstones and a beardless polychrome wooden Christ. Outside, a two-hundred-year-old oak tree grows in the buttress of the south wall, contributing to the singularity of this place.
  2. Troglodytic cellars
    Still used as dwellings, these caves are carved out of tuffeau (Touraine limestone). The commune has over a hundred caves scattered throughout its territory. Their number, shape and functionality make them unique in Touraine.
  3. Château de la Roche
    This 16th- and 17th-century château belonged to the Abbey of Turpenay (St-Benoît-La-Forêt). It stands on the edge of the ancient Tours-Chinon Roman road. The Château, still surrounded by vines and orchards, is a winery open to visitors (by appointment only).
  4. Vineyard lodges
    These were used by winegrowers to have lunch under cover while working in the vineyards.
  5. Chemin de Jeanne d'Arc
    Old road leading from Chinon to Tours, used by Joan of Arc before crossing the Indre at the Port Huault ford on Tuesday, April 5, 1429.
  6. Château de la Cour au Berruyer
    Formerly a 12th-century fortified castle, the present building dates from the 16th century. It comprises a bailey, a forecourt and the castle platform itself, which opens onto a walled garden and was once surrounded by a moat. The seigniorial dwelling dates from the Henry II period. It is a large, rectangular, two-storey building with mullioned dormers and deteriorated gables. King Charles VII and his favorite Agnès Sorel stayed here. Legend has it that the walking stick Agnès Sorel planted in a clump of trees before going to confess her sins at the Château de la Cour du Berruyer had time to take root. The "Buis d'Agnès Sorel" was struck down by lightning in the middle of the last century. (Visitable only between July and September)
  • Departure : Parking du Vieux Chêne
  • Arrival : Parking du Vieux Chêne
  • Towns crossed : Cheillé

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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