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EAST
Overview Table
| Name | Top Picks | Exp. Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Apremont-sur-Allier | ||
| Sancerre | ||
| Yèvre-le-Châtel | ||
| Montigny-le-Gannelon | ||
| Lavardin | ☑️ | |
| Montrésor | ✅ | ☑️ |
| Chédigny | ☑️ | |
| Beaulieu-lès-Loches |
Apremont-sur-Allier
Apremont-sur-Allier offers one of the most peaceful settings in Berry, the historic region in central France. The village sits along the banks of the Allier, a wide and gentle river, with old houses covered in flowers and climbing plants.
The château, rising above the rooftops and the wooded riverbank, adds a sense of grandeur to the landscape. At its feet lies the floral park, with ponds, waterfalls, rare trees, colorful flower beds and small decorative structures creating a beautifully designed walk, almost theatrical in feel.
Sancerre
You can spot Sancerre from far away, perched on a rocky hilltop 312 meters above sea level. As you arrive, you discover a well preserved little town, with narrow streets, old squares and spectacular views over the vineyard covered hills.
Wine has been part of the town’s identity since Roman times. Today, the vineyards cover around 3,000 hectares. While exploring, make sure to stroll through the winemakers’ district around Rue des Pressoirs to soak up its unique atmosphere.
Yèvre-le-Châtel
Yèvre-le-Châtel overlooks the small Rimarde valley from a rocky spur. People come here for the striking silhouette of its medieval fortress, built in the early 13th century, with its fortified entrance, defensive walls and passageways.
Below, the village has a softer charm. Stone houses, flower lined lanes, a rose garden and contemporary sculptures add interest to the walk. Don’t miss Saint-Gault Church and the romantic ruins of Saint-Lubin Church, which bring a poetic touch to this compact and picturesque site.
Montigny-le-Gannelon
Montigny-le-Gannelon makes an impression as soon as you arrive along the calm river lined with hillsides. The château rises above the water with its long elegant façade, dramatic enough to make a memorable entrance to the village.
The village itself is tiny, hidden higher up near the château entrance, with part of it carved into the rock. You can look for the Rolland Gate and the church. The château combines 15th century sections with later additions, along with a park and lovely views over the valley.
Lavardin
In Our Expanded Picks ☑️
Lavardin is one of those villages where every turn seems made for wandering. Saint-Genest Church stands out with its square tower, wooden roof and above all its medieval frescoes, painted between the 12th and 14th centuries and hidden beneath limewash for centuries.
Above the village, the ruins of the castle recall its former role as a stronghold, built in successive levels to fit the landscape. There’s also a path that runs past houses carved into the rock and offers beautiful views of the rooftops, the church, the castle and the river.
Montrésor
In Our Top Picks ✅
Montrésor stretches above a small winding river that gives the village its intimate charm. Old houses, the collegiate church, the covered market and narrow lanes create a wonderfully harmonious setting that’s easy to explore on foot.
The château dominates the scene. Founded in the 11th century, it still preserves medieval remains, alongside a residence remodeled in the 19th century by an exiled Polish count. From the terraces, you can enjoy sweeping views over the village, the river and the surrounding green countryside.
Chédigny
In Our Expanded Picks ☑️
Chédigny is a garden village made for slow wandering. Its streets are lined with thousands of roses and perennial plants, so you’re not just walking through a village, you’re moving through what feels like a vast open garden.
The visit is especially beautiful when roses spill over the façades, walls and passageways. In the heart of the village, the priest’s garden brings together ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants, fruit trees and climbing roses. The atmosphere is wonderfully peaceful, filled with fragrance, color and the quiet of the countryside.
Beaulieu-lès-Loches
Beaulieu-lès-Loches is a very peaceful village, home to remains that are even older than those of neighboring Loches. Its main landmark is the former Abbey of the Holy Trinity. Impressive Romanesque features still survive, including a massive wall pierced with rounded windows, three chapels and a square tower topped by a spire. Nearby, Saint-Laurent Church preserves a beautiful Angevin vaulted ceiling.
WEST
Overview Table
| Name | Top Picks | Exp. Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Angles-sur-l'Anglin | ||
| Crissay-sur-Manse | ☑️ | |
| Richelieu | ☑️ | |
| Candes-Saint-Martin | ||
| Montsoreau | ||
| Béhuard |
Angles-sur-l'Anglin
Angles-sur-l’Anglin clings to the hillside above a small river, with old houses, steep little streets, and the ruins of a fortress perched on a rocky outcrop. The setting feels compact and incredibly picturesque, with pale stone buildings, gardens, bridges, and lovely views over the valley.
The Roc-aux-Sorciers site adds something truly unique. A sculpted frieze dating back around 15,000 years was discovered here. The original is protected, but a reconstruction lets you appreciate this prehistoric masterpiece, often described as the sculpture equivalent of Lascaux.
Crissay-sur-Manse
In Our Expanded Picks ☑️
Crissay-sur-Manse is a small village overlooking a quiet valley, surrounded by peaceful countryside. As you wander around, you’ll pass beautifully restored old houses, carved windows, little turrets, wrought iron balconies, wells, and ancient stone basins.
The castle, now in ruins, still has a strong presence. Part of it was built directly into the rock, with a chapel, outbuildings, and an underground network that once served as a refuge for the villagers. Walking through the village really feels like stepping back in time, without anything feeling staged or artificial.
Richelieu
In Our Expanded Picks ☑️
Richelieu is a very unusual town, almost as if it had been drawn with a ruler. You enter a perfectly regular layout, enclosed by old walls, with a long central street lined with orderly houses and two large squares at either end.
The town was created in the 17th century by Cardinal Richelieu to house his entourage near his vast château, which has since disappeared. Today, the park, the canal, a few surviving buildings, the Espace Richelieu, and the town hall museum help you understand the scale and ambition behind the project.
Candes-Saint-Martin
Candes-Saint-Martin sits where the Vienne and Loire rivers meet, in a broad and luminous landscape. Old houses cluster around the imposing Church of Saint-Martin, built on the spot where Saint-Martin is said to have died in 397.
Built during the 12th and 13th centuries and fortified later on, the church stands out for its richly carved porch and the remarkable details that have survived the centuries. From the village, head up to the viewpoint. The panorama takes in both rivers, the rooftops, the winding lanes, and the old boat landing.
Montsoreau
Montsoreau stretches along the Loire, close to the point where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet. Here you’ll find a village of pale stone, nestled between the cliffs and the river, with narrow streets climbing up toward the hillsides.
Built in 1450, the château has a rare feature, it almost seems to touch the water. The view over the Loire from the terrace is magnificent. Be sure to spend some time wandering through the old streets too, lined with houses dating from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, hollyhocks in summer, and passageways carved into the rock.
Béhuard
Béhuard is an island village on the Loire with a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. It feels like a world of its own, surrounded by water, sandbanks, trees, and ever changing light.
Walking around the island gives you a real sense of the close relationship between the village and the river. At its heart stands the Church of Notre-Dame de Béhuard, built against a rock, the only naturally protected spot during floods. Inside, the wooden ceiling resembles an upside down boat hull, a reminder of the dangerous lives once led by the river boatmen.
