Day 3 : SAINTE-MAURE-DE-TOURAINE - CHENEHUTTE-TREVES-CUNAULT (102 on 290 km)
Les Hauts de Sainte-Maure is a XVI th century coaching inn looking like a small castle, with a flowered garden and a collection of old automobiles inside the outbuildings.
Before leaving Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, savour one of the local goat cheeses, the market glory of this town which is held under a magnificent XVII th century covered market.
You will cross the river Vienne at Parçay and its Roman church fitted with a XIIth century gate.
The Rivan castle deserves a visit. Built in the XIIIth century and fortified in the XVth century, it displays a harmony between the medieval and Renaissance styles.
In the Veude valley you will discover the shimmering coloured stained-glass windows in the Holy Chapel of Champigny. This piece of art made by the « passeurs de verres » ( glass messengers ) in the XVIth century represents some Passion scenes plus 34 portraits of the Bourbon-Montpensier.
Upon leaving Richelieu and its castle you will cross the Poitevin bocages then Loudun town and its streets lined with elegant private mansions built with stones from the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.
After having crossed the Dive canal you will find back the verdant banks of the river Thouet The river crosses the medieval town of Montreuil-Bellay with its narrow side streets, its old houses, its walls and the fortified doors, its austere looking castle.
The Brossay forest harbours the romantic ruins of Asnières abbey in a small valley. You will find back the charming village of Chênehutte in travelling down the hills covered with vines.
Favourite deals
All the circuit in PDF
