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Tour of the Brenne (Vienne, Indre, Indre-et-Loire) |
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Starting from Le Blanc, in the "land of a thousand lakes," the trail crosses the heart of the Regional Natural Park via Rosnay and Saint-Michel-en-Brenne, where the landscapes of water and reed beds shelter exceptional bird biodiversity. History unfolds with every step, from the Carolingian abbey of Méobecq to the medieval town of Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. Heading south through Chaillac and Bélâbre, the terrain becomes more hilly. The architectural heritage reaches its peak at Angles-sur-l'Anglin, with its feudal castle overlooking one of the region's most beautiful valleys, and at Fontgombault Abbey, a Romanesque jewel still in activity. Between the banks of the Creuse and the Anglin, this journey leads hikers from village to village, from Ruffec to Tournon-Saint-Martin, amidst the wetlands and ancient stones of Berry and Poitou.
The Brenne, nicknamed the "land of a thousand ponds," is a unique aquatic mosaic stretching primarily across the Indre department, bordering the Vienne and Indre-et-Loire departments. Shaped by human hands since the Middle Ages for fish farming, this landscape of heathland, meadows, and reedbeds constitutes one of the most important wetlands in France. It is a sanctuary of biodiversity, home to the European pond turtle and thousands of migratory birds, observable from discreet observation points. The built heritage is equally remarkable, with gems such as the Abbey of Saint-Savin and the Château du Bouchet overlooking the Brenne estuary. Between the sandstone hillocks and oak-lined paths, history unfolds through old forges and charming villages like Mézières-en-Brenne.
Distance: 307km, Elevation maximum: 258m, Elevation minimum: 66m, Elevation gain uphill: 1949m
IGN Maps: Le Blanc - 1926E. Pleumartin La Roche-Posay - 1926O. La Trimouille - 1927E. Buzancais - 2025E. Mezieres-En-Brenne - 2025O. Saint-Gaultier - 2026E. Rosnay - 2026O. Saint-Benoit-Du-Sault - 2027E. Belabre - 2027O. Saint-Sulpice-Les-Feuilles - 2028E. Luant - 2126O.
| Le Bois d'Haut (Merigny): La Ferme du Bois d'Haut Guesthouse, 02 54 37 36 52, 06 80 45 18 11, Email Peasant room of full foot with independent entrance and private sanitary. Large room with 8 beds and large living room. You can, if you wish, share our meal and thus better know the inhabitants and the territory that you cross. |
    
25/01/28
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Nearby paths:
It is advisable to follow the beacons all along your hike and to bring you the 
