Sylvotherapy in Touraine Immerse yourself in the heart of the forest

The forests of Touraine whisper their age-old secrets to you. From ancestral forest baths from Japan to modern sylvotherapy practices, discover an experience where every step is an invitation to an inner journey.

What is a forest bath?

Walk slowly, breathing deeply of the invigorating undergrowth air. This Japanese practice, shinrin-yoku, invites you to immerse yourself completely in the heart of nature. This moving meditation, an integral part of Japanese preventive medicine since the 1980s, offers a rejuvenating break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Depending on the theme, the forest outings, which are open to all, guide you towards a natural calm, a reduction in the stress hormone, and a return to the essentials.

Meet the sylvotherapists

All this, discover it via a sensory escapade in the forest with Antony, sylvotherapist. Creator of Omtani. He offers a unique experience of reconnecting with yourself and nature. At a slow pace, we make our way through the trees, the scent of the undergrowth gently imbuing us with the surrounding environment. Deep belly breathing, typical of sophrology, soothes and develops the acuity of sensations.

Forest baths and Sylvotherapy at Sepmes

Extend the experience...

©Chinon forest|ADT Touraine - Jean-Christophe COUTAND-MEHEUT

In October

As well as sylvotherapy and forest walks, the undergrowth also has the advantage of becoming a larder! The Loches tourist office organises mushroom outings with specialists. And because sometimes things happen by chance, it’s not impossible to come across chestnut, walnut or hazelnut trees. To help you spot the different types of tree you’ll come across, the Genillé arboretum groups together and presents 80 forestry species from Western Europe.

Note also…

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The most beautiful forests in Touraine
While Touraine is home to many châteaux, it is also the department in the Centre Val de Loire Region with the most forest. So there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the woods. In the Loches state forest, for example, a 3.2km RandoCroquis trail, created with the help of the Office National des Forêts (ONF), lets you discover the forest and work on your artistic sensibilities through 5 landscapes to draw.
You can also choose to put away your paper and pencils and lose yourself in the labyrinth at Preuilly-sur-Claise or in the Candé estate, on the trail in the Shade of the Hundred-year-old Oaks. If you prefer to pedal, you can choose from the fifty or so signposted cycle routes in Touraine.
All cycling loops
Forest of Loches
©Forest of Loches|ADT Touraine - Loïc Lagarde
In the forest
©In the forest|David Darrault
The health benefits of trees
Breathe in the pure air of Touraine’s undergrowth, rich in naturally beneficial molecules. These plant giants release soothing substances that strengthen your natural defences and reduce your blood pressure. A simple two-hour walk in the heart of our woodlands is all it takes to feel their regenerating effects.
Contact with these centuries-old guardians boosts your vitality. Scientific studies confirm it: their presence improves sleep, boosts concentration and naturally reduces anxiety. Each essence reveals its own virtues: oak instils strength and grounding, while lime envelops you in its soothing gentleness.

The benefits
Natural reduction in daily stress
Boosting the immune system
Improved sleep and concentration

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©Domaine Lambert, cave touristique de l'AOC chinon. Cravant-les-Coteaux.|ADT Touraine / Jean-Christophe Coutand
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