Our favourite places

Around our gîtes

• Montrésor, listed among the most beautiful villages in France and nicknamed “little Poland”. Its château, furnished and full of treasures, has belonged to a Polish family for generations; the church houses the magnificent tomb effigy of Imbert de Bastarnay. From Pamoja, walk there (2 km) along the old railway line and discover the remains of the old Roman aqueduct.
• Chartreuse du Liget, near Montrésor. A beautiful medieval monastery, built by Henry II Plantagenet in atonement for the murder of Thomas Becket.
• Jean Fouquet’s Pietà, church of Nouans-les-Fontaines. A stone’s throw from the Ancienne Poste, one of the masterpieces of the great Renaissance painter.
• The Château de Montpoupon, Céré-la-Ronde. A very beautiful château and its hunting museum.
• Loches and Beaulieu-lès-Loches, 15 km away. A town of art and history: the royal city with its keep, its royal lodge and the collegiate church of Saint-Ours, and pretty lanes to stroll through. Beaulieu-lès-Loches, right next door, is also well worth a visit.
  Tourist office
• Saint-Aignan, on the Cher. A pretty town with a beautiful church and its crypt, and a playground on the banks of the Cher with a view of the château.

The great châteaux of the Loire

• The Château de Chenonceau. Our favourite “big” château: a fascinating history and sublime architecture, spanning the Cher.
• The royal Château d’Amboise. A really interesting guided tour. On Friday mornings, the Amboise market is one of the biggest in the area.
• The Clos Lucé, Amboise. Leonardo da Vinci’s last home, where he lived as the guest of François I. Not to be missed: the models of his inventions, in the house and in the park.
• The Château de Chambord. François I’s colossal château, a splendour not to be missed.
• The Château de Cheverny. Hergé’s inspiration for Marlinspike Hall, with its Tintin exhibition and its pack of hunting hounds.
• The Château de Valençay. Talleyrand’s château, fully furnished, with a large park, a mini-farm and a maze: children love it.
• The Château de Blois, 60 km away. The best introduction to the Loire châteaux, home to seven kings and ten queens of France. Just opposite, the House of Magic is very popular with children.
  Website
• The Château de Beauregard, Cellettes. A fascinating visit, with its gallery of 327 portraits telling the history of France.
  Website
• The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, 45 km away. Its château and its famous International Garden Festival.
  Website
• Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau and Langeais, west of Tours. The gardens of Villandry, one of the jewels of the region; Azay-le-Rideau, a Renaissance masterpiece set on the Indre; and Langeais, the château of Balzac’s Duchesse de Langeais.
  Villandry
• The royal fortress of Chinon, 77 km away. This is where Joan of Arc met Charles VII.
  Website

Towns and villages

• Tours, 60 km away. A town of art and history: Saint-Gatien cathedral, the Place Plumereau and its half-timbered houses, the basilica of Saint-Martin and the priory of Saint-Cosme, home of the poet Ronsard.
• Bourré, near Montrichard. A village riddled with 400 km of tunnels: the Cave des Roches, a mushroom farm and underground town, and the Troglo-dégusto of the Domaine des Tabourelles, a quarry visit followed by a tasting.
• Montrichard, on the Cher. A pretty medieval town with its keep and old houses.
• Crissay-sur-Manse, Candes-Saint-Martin and Angles-sur-l’Anglin. Three of the most beautiful villages in France, about an hour away.
• Le Grand-Pressigny, in the south of Touraine. A very good museum of prehistory.

• La Maison de Pays, Montrésor. A good selection of objects and products made in the region.
• The Château de Montrésor shop, Montrésor. Typical Polish objects, in memory of the château’s history.
• Mure Miel, Loches, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. A small shop that showcases local craftspeople.
  02 47 92 95 40
• La Céramique Lochoise, Loches. The shop of a ceramics workshop: beautiful pottery and porcelain.
• The Kimpel-Lézé gallery, Loches, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. Original jewellery made on site, and local artists.
  Website

• The Loches market, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. A large and beautiful market in the streets of the town: local producers, goat’s cheeses, charcuterie, flowers… Park near the station or the Agnès Sorel centre, the town centre fills up quickly.
• The Montrésor market, Saturday mornings, under the Halle aux Cardeux. Tiny but perfect: Touraine black hens, farm cheeses, local wines and vegetables.
• The Villeloin-Coulangé grocery, Villeloin-Coulangé. The essentials, in a small grocery run by the very friendly Xavier. He also sells bread and pastries baked on the premises. You can order products in advance and he will deliver them before you arrive: proxi.villeloin@orange.fr – Tel: 02 47 92 61 05 
• The butcher’s counter of the Montrésor grocery, Montrésor. Local meat. Try the famous Montrésor rillettes!
• The Beaugrand bakery and patisserie, Montrésor. Speciality breads and delicious pastries, with macarons as a speciality. Remember to order a few days ahead for large groups.
  02 47 92 64 02 · Website
• La Ferme de la Duterie (Michel Devault), Beaumont-Village. Cheeses, yoghurts and milk jam made on the farm. Visits and workshops for children.
  02 47 94 37 56 · 06 07 34 84 25 · mdevault@wanadoo.fr
• Corinne Mary’s farm, Chemillé-sur-Indrois. Touraine black hen, free-range chickens, rillettes and ready meals, Limousin veal and beef.
  02 47 94 33 20 · 06 70 63 76 95 · earl.mary16@gmail.com
• Abeilles et Cervidés, Beaumont-Village. Honey, mead, honey vinegars, fallow deer meat and charcuterie.
  Website
• La Laiterie de Verneuil, Verneuil-sur-Indre. A cooperative of local farms: milk, butter, cream, cheeses and yoghurts.
  Website
• La Confiserie Hallard, Loches. Home-made lollipops, sweets, nougats and fruit jellies. You can visit the workshop, tasting included!
  02 47 91 91 97 · Website
• La Brasserie La Pigeonnelle, Céré-la-Ronde. Craft beers made from organic cereals.
  Website

• Elixile, winegrower. Tastings at the winegrower’s, Alexandre Hassan, or at your gîte. 06.67.67.00.53 . Website
• Flaveurs de la Terre, Loches. A wine merchant full of good advice, with a lovely rooftop terrace. He organises tastings and short courses on local wines.
  7 rue Balzac, Loches · 02 47 59 08 91· Website
• Domaine de la Renaudie, Mareuil-sur-Cher. One of our regular cellars, for its Albert Denis cuvée.
  02 54 75 18 72 · Website
• Domaine du Haut Bagneux (Jean-Christophe Mandard), Mareuil-sur-Cher. We love his Chenin Blanc.
  02 54 71 53 35 · Website
• Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Montlouis-sur-Loire. One of the most renowned cellars in the region.
  02 47 45 11 11 · Website
• The Monmousseau cellars, Montrichard. A visit of 15 km of tunnels dug into the tufa stone, and a tasting.
  Website
• The Vouvray winegrowers, Vouvray. Many estates open their cellars: phone before you go.

Each service is arranged directly with the provider.

• Corinne Arnould, our cook. Complete meals (starter, main course, dessert) delivered to the gîte, for you to reheat yourselves. The same menu for the whole group, for example: courgette loaf, Thai prawns with rice, home-made tiramisu; or chicory salad with apples and raisins, pork with prunes and apricots, chocolate cake. Our guests love it!
  06 80 47 94 77 · corinne-arnould@orange.fr
• Le Café en Fleurs, Montrésor: take-away meals to enjoy at the gîte.
  lecafeenfleurs@gmail.com Website
• Dordinaire, Nouans-les-Fontaines. Home-made, healthy and sustainable take-away dishes, by Thierry Defins and Valérie Huyghe. contact@dordinaire.fr Website
  11 bis rue Victor Hugo, Nouans-les-Fontaines
• Aux Mille et Une Saveurs d’Aïcha. Very good, original cooking that blends culinary styles: a real treat, our guests love it. Aïcha also gives cooking classes, for adults and children.
  02 47 23 55 80 · rachidi.aicha@wanadoo.fr · Website
• Christelle Royauté, caterer. She prepares your meals and also gives cooking classes.
  06 63 44 83 39 · royaute.christelle@orange.fr
• Un Arôme 2 Chefs. Caterer, private chef and cooking classes.
  07 61 45 37 37 · contact@unarome2chefs.com · Website
• Meal baskets from the Villeloin-Coulangé grocery. Xavier prepares baskets delivered free of charge to the gîte, before or when you arrive: breakfast, dinner, barbecue, paella menu, Touraine menu… You can also order drinks, charcuterie, local wines and cheeses. proxi.villeloin@orange.fr, tel. 02 47 92 61 05.

• Le Café en Fleurs: a very pretty restaurant run by the charming Loïc and his partner Mélodie. Refined, local and original cuisine. Can be booked exclusively for your events. Take-away meals. Website
• Le Café de la Ville, Montrésor. A bar-restaurant at the foot of the château, with a lovely view from the terrace.
  02 47 92 75 31
• Le Moulin de Chaudé, Chemillé-sur-Indrois. On the other side of the lake, opposite Pamoja: gourmet cuisine at reasonable prices, and a terrace on the lake with a view of the gîte.
  02 47 92 71 31 · Website
• Le Carpé Diem, Chemillé-sur-Indrois. Near the beach and the playground, a terrace with a lovely view of the lake, where the sunset is magical. Very good cooking with local produce.
  02 47 92 77 79 · Website

• Le Comptoir, Loches. Good cooking, popular with the locals.
• La Galerie B, Loches. A former art gallery turned restaurant: fresh produce and original dishes.
  02 36 05 45 32 · Website
• L’Hôtel de France, Loches. A classic restaurant in a pretty setting, a safe bet.
  02 47 59 00 32 · Website
• L’Estaminet, Beaulieu-lès-Loches. One of the last “vintage” bistros, in its original decor.
  02 47 59 35 47
• Le Bacchus, Saint-Aignan. A lovely terrace on the market square.
  02 54 75 10 75 · Website
• L’Amaréna, Saint-Aignan. A very good pizzeria, often full: book ahead.
  02 54 75 47 98

• La Promenade, Le Petit-Pressigny. A Michelin-starred restaurant, 40 minutes’ drive away, with a remarkable sommelier.
  02 47 94 93 52 · Website
• L’Auberge du XII^e siècle, Saché. A Michelin-starred restaurant in a genuine medieval inn, where Balzac was a regular.
  02 47 26 88 77
• L’Auberge Saint-Fiacre, Veuil, near Valençay. A very good restaurant in a charming village.
  02 54 40 32 78 · Website

These local facilitators can come and run a workshop or an activity directly at your gîte, for your family, your friends or your team. Contact them directly to arrange your session.

• Aurélie Lavalade, workshops for parents. Themed group workshops for parents, combining discussion, input and practical tools, based on the work of Catherine Dumonteil-Kremer. (in French)
  aurelieparentalite37@gmail.com
• Aurore Livernet, plant colours, workshop-shop in Montrésor. An illustrator, she makes her own colours from dye plants and shares her know-how: making plant-based inks, creating watercolour palettes, colour walks and parent-child “magic painting” workshops.
• Lucie Gourdault-Montagne, theatre and sophrology. An actress and Caycedian sophrologist, she offers theatre and sophrology workshops, linking body work with acting.
  06 87 20 75 70 · lucie.sophrologie37@gmail.com
• Jérôme Poret-Lecoeur, art knife-maker, Montrésor. He hand-crafts unique knives in his workshop, and offers courses to make your own knife.
  06 31 58 35 71 · contact@jplcoutelier.com
• Elixile, wine tasting, Mareuil-sur-Cher. Alexandre Hassan, an independent winegrower from the Cher valley, comes to the gîte for a tasting of his wines. He farms 6 hectares of vines without weedkillers, using native yeasts, and works with eight grape varieties (Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Côt, Pineau d’Aunis, Chenin, Sauvignon…).
  06 67 67 00 53 · contact@elixile.fr
• Cooking classes with Christelle Royauté. 06 63 44 83 39 · royaute.christelle@orange.fr

• Around Lake Chemillé-sur-Indrois, Chemillé-sur-Indrois. A superb waymarked trail that passes an 11th-century mill and some caves (take a torch).
• The old railway line, from Chemillé to Montrésor. On foot or by bike, with the remains of a Roman aqueduct along the way.
• The Pas aux Ânes pond, on the road to Loches. A very beautiful pond, with picnic tables and a pretty walk.
• The Orfond trail, Loches forest. A signposted walk of about an hour in the forest.
• The magnificent national forest of Loches

• Beauval Zoo, Saint-Aignan. One of our favourite outings. Allow a whole day!
  02 54 75 50 00
• The Haute-Touche zoological reserve, Obterre. A huge wildlife park to explore on foot or by bike.
  02 54 02 20 40
• Michel Devault’s educational farm, Beaumont-Village. Caring for the animals, milking, making yoghurt and butter.
  02 47 94 37 56 · 06 07 34 84 25
• The Confiserie Hallard workshop, Loches. A mouth-watering visit, followed by a tasting.
  02 47 91 91 97
• Lakeside fun, Chemillé-sur-Indrois. Supervised beach, playground and a walk along the water.

• Clic’Lac Aventures, Lake Chemillé-sur-Indrois, next to Pamoja. Treetop courses, giant trampoline and a zip line over the lake: thrills guaranteed for young and old.
• Canoes and pedal boats, Lake Chemillé-sur-Indrois. Hire at the leisure centre, near the supervised beach.
  02 47 92 77 79
• Cultu’Raids Concept offers lots of activities and bike hire
• The Annabelle pony club, Sennevière. Lessons and rides on horses or ponies. Book well ahead.
  02 47 94 71 71
• The Haras de Muralis. Rides on horses, ponies or in a carriage.
• The Loches-Verneuil golf course, Verneuil-sur-Indre. A course open all year round.
  02 47 94 79 48
• The Naturéo aquatic centre, Loches. Indoor pools and the first natural swimming pond in a French aquatic centre.
  02 47 91 34 55
• Omtani, forest therapy and forest bathing with Antony, in the Loches forest, for a complete disconnection. Antony also offers a “cacao ceremony” (which we have not tried).

Writers

• Honoré de Balzac. Touraine is everywhere in his work. “Ask me no more why I love Touraine”, he wrote in The Lily of the Valley, set between Saché, Pont-de-Ruan and Artannes. He wrote part of Father Goriot and Lost Illusions at the Château de Saché, now the Balzac museum. Langeais inspired The Duchess of Langeais, and Tours The Vicar of Tours.
• François Rabelais, born near Chinon. He made his native land the setting for the adventures of Gargantua and the Picrocholine War.
• Pierre de Ronsard, Saint-Cosme priory, La Riche. The poet was prior of Saint-Cosme, where he died and is buried.
• Charles Perrault. The Château d’Ussé is said to have inspired the castle in Sleeping Beauty.
• Alfred de Vigny, born in Loches in 1797. He sang the praises of Touraine, “the garden of France”.
• René Descartes, born in Descartes. His birthplace is now a museum devoted to his life and work.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Chenonceau. He stayed at the château, then owned by the Dupin family.
• George Sand, Nohant, about an hour away. You can visit her house, which was so dear to her.
• Hergé, Cheverny. The château inspired Marlinspike Hall, Captain Haddock’s home.
• Anna Gavalda, Loches. In Hunting and Gathering, she takes Paulette and Camille to the Lansyer museum in Loches.
• Gonzague Saint Bris, born in Loches. Raised at the Clos Lucé, he founded the literary festival La Forêt des livres, at Chanceaux-près-Loches.

In film and on television

• Peau d’âne (Donkey Skin), Jacques Demy, 1970. Partly filmed at Chambord, with Catherine Deneuve.
• Le P’tit Curieux, Jean Marbeuf, 2004. Filmed in Loches.
• Catch Me If You Can, Steven Spielberg, 2002. The final scene takes place in Montrichard, where the hero’s mother comes from… even though it was filmed elsewhere!
• Thierry la Fronde, a cult French TV series from the 1960s. It was set at the Château du Moulin, in Lassay-sur-Croisne.

And a local figure: the actor Jacques Villeret was born in Loches in 1951.
Not forgetting Philippe Bouvard, creator of “Madame Bellepaire de Loches”, a character often heard on the French radio show Les Grosses Têtes!