The best cycling routes around Marçay

A must-see: the Happy-culteurs of Champigny sur Veude (the station).

Atypical castle certainly but inaccessible to obtain the same point of view as that of the shared photos. The visit of this castle is possible but paying. 8€ which are certainly worth it. You still need to be aware, and know that your bike must remain in the parking lot during this period.

Atypical castle abandoned then taken over since 2017! The vegetation has regained its rights and leaves unusual views!

The Rabelais Museum is housed in La Devinière, a 15th century country house where François Rabelais was born. Rabelais was a monk, doctor, writer and botanist. La Devinière is the only museum dedicated to François Rabelais. It consists of four remarkable buildings: the main building (15th century), a dovecote, troglodyte caves, a winegrower's house, as well as a garden and a vineyard.

It is the site of a Roman camp dating from the Iron Age which, until its demolition, was a unique megalithic site in the region of Chinon. Apart from the few large boulders and stones left behind, the different colored heather growing in the area is the most striking visual highlight.

Built in 1095, this former priory was transformed into an abbey five years later, in 1100, by the Benedictines. The village of Seuilly being the birthplace of the famous French Renaissance writer and doctor, François Rabelais, it is not surprising that he began his studies in this abbey.

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.