Saché : The Indre river and its artists
Saché

Saché : The Indre river and its artists

Heritage and history
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Follow the left and right banks of the Indre to discover Saché's rolling countryside, vineyards, wickerwork, woods and fields. In the heart of the village, you'll be able to admire a well-preserved architectural heritage.

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  • Saché : l'Indre et ses artistes

    Credit: Saché : l'Indre et ses artistes - Touraine Vallée de l'Indre

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Description

  1. Place Alexandre Calder
    Starting from the Place Calder and its "Totem" mobile, explanatory panels allow you to discover in greater detail the heritage features of numbers 1 to 5 and 7.
  2. Saint-Martin de Vertou church (12th and 13th centuries)
  3. Former presbytery
  4. 12th-century inn
  5. Tobacco kiln
  6. Former Saché priory (15th century)
    Opposite the tobacco drying shed, the former priory of the Abbey of Beaumont-Lès-Tours dates from the 15th century. A women's priory, it was abandoned in 1752.
  7. La Métairie
  8. Wicker
    Wicker is the annual offshoot of the willow tree. Saché produces around a third of France's wicker.
  9. Crossing the bridges
    The only passage from north to south of Saché was provided by the Chevrière ferry. It wasn't until the reign of Napoleon III that a wooden footbridge was installed. The wooden bridge, threatening to collapse, was replaced by a metal one in 1924.
  10. La Gouacherie
    The house of the Indre ferryman at "Port de la Chevrière" appears in archives as early as 1560. Semi-buried in the embankment, it was used by Calder as a painting studio from 1956 to 1976.
  11. The Green Mill at Basse Chevrière
    Known as the Moulin Vert (Green Mill) since the 1970s, it first appeared in texts in the 15th century. This mill was used by farmers on the north bank of the Indre. It also supplied flour to the nuns of the Relay priory, 2km to the north.
  12. Maison François 1er (former Calder workshop)
    This is a former winegrower's house. Calder took up residence here in 1954 and used the former barn as his studio.
  13. Maison Ray Sutter
    This restored country house dating from 1715 once belonged to painter and master glassmaker Ray Sutter.
  14. Atelier Calder du Haut Carroi
    Around 1970, Alexander Calder had the Haut Carroi workshop and house built. Since 1989, it has been a place of residence and artistic creation.
  15. Manoir du Bécheron
    Built in the 15th century, it was bought in 1925 by American sculptor Jo Davidson. He lived here until 1952.
  16. Moulin Rouge wash-house
  17. Château de Saché
    Château de Saché - Musée Balzac: built on a feudal motte in Renaissance style, it was completely transformed in the 19th century by its owner Jean de Margonne, who welcomed Honoré de Balzac here from 1825 to 1848.
  • Departure : Alexandre Calder square
  • Arrival : Alexandre Calder square
  • Towns crossed : Saché

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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