The best walks and hikes around La Tour-Saint-Gelin

L'Île-Bouchard is a commune made up of two suburbs, Saint Maurice and Saint Gilles, each on opposite sides of the Vienne. The two suburbs are connected by a bridge and separated by the island which gives its name to the city - Île-Bouchard.

Good starting point with parking and picnic.

The Sainte-Chapelle de Champigny-sur-Veude was built in Champigny-sur-Veude from 1499 and mainly during the first half of the 16th century; it is one of the seven holy chapels. The neighboring castle was unfortunately destroyed by Richelieu in 1635, who felt that it was overshadowing his castle which was under construction. Today, only the old outbuildings remain. One of the last vestiges is this magnificent royal chapel, saved by the Pope because it had the status of Sainte-Chapelle and housed the Holy Relics of the Passion of Christ. Founded in homage to Saint-Louis, it consists of a four-bay nave and a triumphal arch portico. The nave has 11 huge stained glass windows, each 8 meters high, whose remarkable stained glass windows retrace the life of Saint-Louis, from his coronation in Reims to his death. They were offered by Claude de Longwy to Louis II and Jacquette de Longwy for their marriage in 1538.

The Château de Champigny-sur-Veude was built from the 16th to the 17th century by order of Louis de Bourbon, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon. It has largely disappeared today, only the old outbuildings, the current "castle" and the Sainte-Chapelle remain. The original fortress was built in 1090 by Fulk IV of Anjou. In 1635, Cardinal de Richelieu, who had built a property nearby and who was worried about the superior influence on his castle, bought it and ordered the total destruction of the castle. Only the outbuildings and the Sainte-Chapelle escaped this destruction thanks to the intervention of Pope Urban VIII, who had officiated there a few years earlier. They constitute the remains that we can admire today.

A hiking trail takes you around the lake while a bird observatory helps you recognize the species that frequent the lake and its surroundings. The fish farming complex of Assay is made up of a large 33 ha pond, created at the beginning of the 17th century, as well as an 11 ha wetland made up of small ponds used for pike farming. Its large surface of water and the presence of a vast reedbed make it an important site for the nesting and wintering of birds. The adjoining wetland is home to remarkable flora and many protected insects such as the southern damselfish.

At the heart of an 8-hectare park, the Château de Basché, now a hotel, was built in the 16th century and extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family.

Champigny-sur-Veude is a very old village which was called Campiniacus in 1080. From this period dates the attachment of the parish of Champigny to the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Noyers which will keep the cure and the income until the end of the 15th century. Champigny also has its castle: it is made up of three main buildings forming a "U". The whole building is built in a Renaissance style, and is spread over two levels. The whole is surrounded by a moat supplied with water by the Veude.

Bought a few weeks ago, in February 2019, the Château de Basché is undergoing a transformation. Initially, Séraphine Maré-Keufer and her family rehabilitated it, to open guest rooms there. At the heart of an 8 hectare park, the Château de Basché, 660 m2 of living space, was built in the 16th century, then extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family. It had been unoccupied for ten years. “Basché is a building with a soul. We fell under the spell. But time has done its work since it was no longer inhabited. We had to clear the land and deal with water infiltration, especially in the toilets, ”says Séraphine. She acquired the premises, just two months ago, with her husband Alexandre and her mother Vinciane. “It’s a family crush. We have in common a long history of managing guest rooms in the Cher. We rolled up our sleeves to start restoring and bringing the various rooms up to standard, to open in early May. " Many projects. Three bedrooms have already been fitted out, one of which is 50 m². Ultimately, five are planned. Three group lodgings are in the process of being finalized. Registration for Gîtes de France is underway and the château will soon be on the lists of online booking sites. A reception room, which can accommodate up to 150 people, will be available at the end of 2019. Adjacent to the castle and forming part of the property, there is also a beautiful chapel, as well as stables. Séraphine plans to organize seminars, set up exhibitions or artist residencies. The shooting of a film is also scheduled for April. “In addition to the historical character of our facilities, our shaded meadows, our ponds and fountains, the proximity to historic sites make Basché an ideal holiday resort. " An entire program ! Opening of the guest rooms on May 1st. Count 90 € per night for 2 people, with breakfast. Contact and reservations at 06.68.89.52.77 or on the facebook page of the Château de Basché.