The route

1 - Brehemont / Azay-le-Rideau / Montbazon

Your strolling route begins at Brehemont, a town in Tours recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A stopover village on the Loire à Vélo, it is also the starting point for the promising Cyclo Bohème for a dive into history, literature, the gems of the lands crossed and the omnipresence of unspoiled and poetic nature. The town is dominated by the Sainte Marie Madeleine church dating from 1843, and it has a long history marked by inland waterway transport and the hemp trade.

From Bréhémont, give free rein to your inner child by taking a link through the natural area of ​​the Indre shingles to reach the Chateau d'Usse who, according to legend, inspired Charles Perrault to write the tale Sleeping Beauty. At the end of this moment of reverie, return to Indre to embark on the Cyclo Bohème towards Azay-le-Rideau.

There, the choice is yours. Go back in time to the sources of our modern era by visiting the Maurice Dufresne retro-mechanical museum, a reading of our times through mechanical and industrial evolution. In search of romance and a beautiful garden, escape to the Islette Castle after 10 km of pedaling. Nestled in the heart of a green setting, this Renaissance castle, an ideal place for a picnic, was the nest, in the XNUMXth century, of the love affair between the sculptor Auguste Rodin and his talented student Camille Claudel.

In Azay-le-Rideau, don’t miss his castle which seems to float on the Indre, a jewel of the Renaissance, described by the writer Honoré de Balzac as a "faceted diamond", it is a must-see on your getaway. On leaving the town, immerse yourself in the world of the peasantry in the troglodyte valley of Goupillières, by visiting three farms ingeniously built in the tuffeau to protect against brigandage.

La Cyclo Bohème then invites you to discover the places of writing and inspiration of Honoré de Balzac who, in the 19th century, found in Touraine the ideal refuge far from the torments of Paris, offering him calm and long inspiring hikes for writing in particular. Lost illusions but also Lily of the Valley. It is in Saché that Saché Castle – Balzac Museum will allow you to discover the world of the famous writer.

Then follow in Balzac's footsteps towards Pont-de-Ruan, and let your imagination guide you as you read the extract from this letter written in Saché in August 1837 to Mme Hanska:"I picked up this letter at midnight before going to bed, my room that the curious already come to see here out of curiosity overlooks woods two or three centuries old, and I take in the view of the Indre and the little castle that I called Clochegourde. The silence is wonderful."

There are numerous references to Balzac along your route, proving that the tranquility of the route and its scenery has been inspiring for centuries and, above all, preserved.

You will soon arrive in Montbazon, a town where Artigny Castle, commissioned at the beginning of the 20th century by the perfumer François Coty, is today a hotel and restaurant which majestically dominates the valley.

2 - Montbazon / Loches

Between fauna, flora and meanders of the Indre, it is to the Middle Ages that Montbazon offers to take its guests thanks to its imposing fortress built by Count Foulques III of Anjou, known as Foulques Nerra, which history enthusiasts will also find during the stopover in Loches. Take the rue des moulins and discover houses from the 15th and 16th centuries, then the rue des Anges and let the charm work its magic. Before leaving Montbazon, you can in the footsteps of Balzac discover the three mills, one downstream at the foot of Artigny and two upstream.

Continue on your way towards Veigné, which has its origins in the Gallic era. Its church, which belonged to theCormery Abbey, which you will soon discover, was rebuilt in 1873 and still has its original stone bell tower dating from the XNUMXth century. Don't miss a look at the Veigné Mill, today a reception venue, before continuing the Cyclo Bohème towards Esvres-sur-Indre. You can discover there a Bollée wind turbine, maintained and restored. The Saint-Médard church is one of the oldest in the department with foundations dating back to 470.

On your route, you can see mills, castles and beautiful residences. Between beautiful restaurants and local products to be found on the many markets that will mark your route, epicureanism is within reach. In summer, guinguettes flourish on the banks of the Indre and aquatic activities can also distract you for a few hours from your cycles!

Saint-Paul Abbey of Cormery, whose remains date from the 5th century, is the pride of the inhabitants of Cormery and its very dynamic village centre is worth discovering before continuing your route towards Truyes, whose Saint-Martin church, built in the XNUMXth century, has an astonishing square bell tower with XNUMX floors of windows.

Towards Courçay and Loches, the rest of your itinerary invites you to dream, very close to the Indre, you enter a preserved natural universe, the sites inviting you to take a break are numerous to simply recharge your batteries. The picture-postcard landscapes of a peaceful France await you in Courçay, baptized by Balzac "little Switzerland of Tours". In this romantic setting, you continue towards Reignac-sur-Indre then Azay-sur-Indre, whose castles, as well as the Manoir de la Follaine, built in the 15th century, belonged at the end of the 18th century to the Marquis de La Fayette.

Last stop before discovering the Royal City of Loches et the small town of character Beaulieu-Lès-Loches, the crossing of the Indre at Chambourg-sur-Indre. A moment of relaxation awaits you at the Ile Auger before continuing towards Loches. Don't miss a few kilometers from Chambourg, a vestige called "Roman bridge", dating from the 15th century, which was once used to cross from one bank to the other.

3 - Loches / Châtillon-sur-Indre

When you arrive in Loches, take the time to discover thethe Royal City, City of Art and History, which is among the municipalities labeled “the most beautiful detours in France”, and Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Small town of character, labeled “Town and Crafts”The two municipalities are also connected by The Prairies of the King, classified as a Sensitive Natural Area, a green link between two beautiful historical, heritage, architectural, artisanal and also taste encounters with the presence of many local producers in the Loches region.

In Loches, the castle dominates the town, perched on a rocky spur and surrounded by ramparts conducive to immersion in the time of kings. Within the walls of the Royal City, the Logis du Château, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Ours, the keep, a thousand-year-old work of Count Foulques III of Anjou, known as Foulques Nerra, will satisfy your curiosity at the bends of the winding, cobbled streets that have retained all their charm. There, the history of France awaits you because many kings have stayed in Loches, and the loves of Charles VII and his favorite Agnès Sorel still seem to resonate. From the esplanade of the Logis or from the top of the keep, the whole city is open to you, revealing the thickness of the Loches forest in the background, and the Abbey of Beaulieu-Lès-Loches. Before going back down to the city center to meet the shopkeepers or craftsmen, you can visit the House-Museum of the painter Emmanuel Lansyer, student of Gustave Courbet.

Why not go through the Prairies du Roy to discover the Small Town of Character and its imposing abbey founded in the 63th century by Foulques Nerra, whose XNUMX-metre bell tower has been beautifully renovated. Many craftsmen have taken up residence in Beaulieu-lès-Loches and every year, the doors of the workshops open during the summer event Rues des Arts. The Cyclo Bohème continues towards Saint-Jean-Saint-Germain where, below the bridge, you will find an ideal picnic spot. On your route to Châtillon-sur-Indre, the castle of Saint Germain, whose keep dates from the 11th century, its park and gardens are open to visitors in the summer and by reservation the rest of the year. Continuing your route, which has already revealed a hilly landscape for a few kilometers, you will leave Touraine to enter Berry. Passing through the small town of Saint-Cyran-du-Jambot, take a detour of a few meters to discover its castle, which today houses an agricultural college and an equestrian center. The road is not very long before reaching Châtillon-sur-Indre.

4 - Châtillon-sur-Indre / Buzancais

Châtillon-sur-Indre is also a royal and medieval town whose monuments and the architecture of some houses are still witnesses. The peaceful alleys of the town invite you to wander. The Caesar Tower, remains of a fortified castle built in the 12th century by Henry II Plantagenet still dominates the town and offers a breathtaking view of the town and the countryside from its terrace. The Royal Logis and its keep built in the 13th century as well as the Romanesque collegiate church of Saint-Austrégésile built in the 12th century can also be visited. Before leaving, you can stop at the Priory of Saint-Martin-de-Vertou.

Between omnipresent nature, rolling landscapes, castles and beautiful residences, the road to Buzançais promises you more wonderful discoveries.

Le Stranger offers you a discovery of Chateau de l'Isle-Savary, built in the 15th century. This castle belonged to the governor of Quebec, Frontenac. The traces of Quebec will mark your route between Saint-Cyran-du-Jambot and Palluau-sur-Indre.

Arriving in Palluau-sur-Indre, the Chateau Frontenac stands out and dominates the town from its rocky spur. Visit the castle and its park in which the habitats of Amerindian settlers have been recreated. Then don't miss the Priory of Saint-Laurent whose crypt and frescoes cannot leave you indifferent.

In Saint-Genou, the adventure between history and reverie continues. Don't miss the Abbey of Saint-Genou, dating from the 12th century, as well as the lantern of the dead. You can also visit an old porcelain factory now converted into a museum at the instigation of volunteers. If you want to cool off and do some water activities before getting back on the road, head to the Saint-Genou lake.

The Indre will then be your guide to take you to Buzançais. In search of a little shade, you can find in Buzançais a rich heritage of trees, blue cedars of the Atlas, plane trees, lime trees, oaks, cypresses of Provence for some centuries. You can visit the Priory of Sainte-Croix, the Chapel of Saint-Lazare, the oldest monument of Buzançais, the Pavilion of the Dukes and the Church of the Sacred Heart.

Upstream from Buzançais, let yourself be tempted by a detour towards Argy. You can take it in the summer the Bas-Berry tourist train which provides an exotic connection between Argy and Valençay. In Argy, don’t miss the castle before getting back on the road.

Before heading towards Châteauroux, a second detour is suggested towards the land of 1000 ponds towards the Brenne Regional Natural Park. Wild, bucolic, routes in the heart of a preserved natural space await you. Up to Châteauroux, the route continues through Chapelle-Orthemale and Villedieu-sur-Indre in a rural and agricultural atmosphere.

5 - Buzancais / Châteauroux

Before heading towards Châteauroux, a second detour is suggested towards the land of 1000 ponds towards the Brenne Regional Natural Park. Wild routes in the heart of a preserved natural space await you.

Before returning to a more urban atmosphere, Villedieu-sur-Indre invites you to discover the Saint-Sébastien churchFor enthusiasts, the Golf du Val de l'Indre offers an 18-hole course on the former lands of the Château de Villedieu.

You will then approach the town of Châteauroux via a path marked out in the Saint-Gildas meadow in the heart of the Ebbes valley, a remarkable natural site appreciated by strollers and nature lovers. You will be seduced by the omnipresence of nature in the heart of the city. You will not be able to miss the emblematic Chateau Raoul which has dominated the Indre since the 10th century, it also gave its name to the city. A beautiful route then awaits you to discover the old town. Many monuments, parks and gardens enhance the walk. The visit offers you the Bertrand museum-hotel, the Cordeliers convent, the Balsan castle and park, the Saint-André church and the Notre-Dame church, the Belle-Isle Park. Take advantage of your stay to discover the local culinary specialties. Your itinerary then gives you an appointment with George Sand towards La Châtre.

6 - Chateauroux / La Chatre

Leaving Châteauroux, you quickly approach the Châteauroux state forest, whose inspiring crossing is suspended for a moment in the heart of the largest oak grove in France. In Ardentes, let yourself be charmed by the Romanesque church of Saint-Martin, its stained glass windows, its vault and remains of frescoes. A few kilometers away, it is the Saint-Maximin church in Jeu-les-Bois which will seduce you.

Then continue towards Lys-Saint-Georges, whose pond offers a preserved ornithological heritage to discover.

You will then enter a country of hedgerows, that of the 19th century novelist, George Sand. A country she called "the black valley", and which inspired many of her works. As you travel, you will meet the author, through the settings that served as the backdrop for several of her novels.

Before reaching Mers-sur-Indre, the place of inspiration for the novel The Devil's Pond, take the time to discover Lys-Saint-Georges and its 15th century castle, its 13th century church or the gardener's house which recreates the interior of a Berry peasant house in the 19th century. The valley of George Sand is before your eyes, then why not enjoy a Berry table to satisfy your taste buds before continuing the escapade.

A bucolic stop is essential at Moulin d'Angibault, one of the settings of the novel The Miller of Angibault by George Sand. Take advantage of a stopover in Vic to visit the church and its 12th century frescoes.

Your journey alongside the novelist ends in Nohant, which saw her grow up but also welcomed many artists in search of serenity including the composer Chopin who often stayed and hiked alongside the author. The place is said to have inspired many of her works. Don't miss a visit to the George Sand Estate, and let yourself be told about this woman and her times.

After this artistic immersion, continue your journey to La Châtre where new adventures and discoveries await you. To deepen your knowledge of George Sand, you can visit the Museum dedicated to her.

7 - La Châtre / Boussac

Under the influence of your pedals, the landscape will gradually transform and require some additional effort to satisfy your taste for travel. The bocage landscape will gradually leave room for the design of the foothills of the Massif Central.

Your first stopover takes you to Briantes, a town nestled in a natural setting, which also inspired George Sand. Its castle was the setting for the novel The Handsome Gentlemen of Bois DoréThis castle is private, and houses one of the oldest dovecotes in France dating from the 2500th century and which has XNUMX dovecotes, nesting boxes from the period, a number which illustrates the lordly power of the castle's owners.

On your route, the Gazeau Tower, a vestige of the 12th century, will stand out to you; it is the reflection of one of the oldest fiefdoms of the Sainte-Sévère castellany.

Before heading towards Sainte-Sévère, motivate yourself for your cycle ride which will start to warm up your calves by aiming for a stopover at Ligny leisure center where ski lifts, wakeboarding, golf or relaxation and swimming are on the agenda. The enchanting scenery will also support you throughout your journey.

Your route can continue towards Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, and this time, you have meeting with the famous director Jacques Tati who marked the history of the town by shooting his film Jour de Fête there in 1947. The history of this film and the filming is traced in the Holiday House through a staged show route. George Sand also paid homage to this village in her novels Mauprat et The Ringmasters.

 Don't miss the market hall dating from 1696 which hosts a market on Wednesday mornings.

To reach the source of the Indre, you will pass through Perassay, then into the Monts de Saint-Marien and you will reach your goal in Saint-Priest-la-Marche. You can extend the pleasure of a sporty, cultural hike, in the heart of preserved villages by joining The Creuse Bike Tour. So the enchantment will continue and The story of George Sand will continue to accompany you. Your route on small country roads between fields and forests continues until Boussac. His castle, built in the 15th century by Jean de Brosse, inspired George Sand to write Jeanne. The famous tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn were discovered in this castle and are now in the Cluny Museum. Take the time to lose yourself in the picturesque alleys of this town with a sumptuous past.

8 - Boussac / Chambon-sur-Voueize

Leaving Boussac, you head towards Toulx-Sainte-Croix before a slight incline that awaits sports enthusiasts. On the route, George Sand will also meet you at a place whose charm worked on her and the couple she formed with Chopin: The Yellow Stones, a place steeped in legends and offering an atypical setting composed of piles of imposing granite blocks at the summit of Mont Barlot. This site is listed and offers a breathtaking panorama of Berry, the Boussac valley and Bourbonnais.

Once this hiking trail is over, your route continues towards the highest point of the route, Toulx-Sainte-Croix at 650 meters. There, an amazing church cut in two will pique your curiosity as well as a lighthouse, tower which offers a panoramic viewpoint on the landscapes of Limousin, Auvergne and Berry which unfold before you. The Romanesque church is one of the oldest monuments in Creuse.

The route then continues in a natural setting conducive to disconnection before reaching Chambon-sur-Voueize, a stronghold of Romanesque art in Limousin. In Bord-Saint-Georges, the animal park of the Ferme des Clautres awaits animal lovers with more than 120 species sheltered on 40 hectares.

In Chambon-sur-Voueize, Sainte-Valérie Abbey, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, wins the approval of all tourists. A Roman bridge is crossed to span the Voueize, the medieval alleys invite you on a journey through history. Here ends the promise kept by your Cyclo Bohème.