Writers' houses in Touraine inspiring places!

Cross the threshold of the writers’ homes in Touraine, where every stone, every nook and cranny tells the story of the great authors who have shaped our literature. From the walls of La Devinière, where Rabelais’ laughter resounded, to the hushed salons of the Château de Saché where Balzac created his masterpieces, plunge into the intimacy of these literary geniuses. An invitation to travel to unique places where the inspiration of writers blends with the magic of heritage.

People and places Rabelais Museum - La Devinière

The presumed birthplace of François Rabelais, south-west of Chinon, La Devinière consists of several houses grouped around a square courtyard: a dovecote, a dwelling, the tenant farmer’s houses and the winemaker’s house. Above all, the garden opens onto a beautiful panorama where you can see the Château du Coudray Montpensier in the distance.

As well as visiting the grounds and discovering this truculent writer from the Renaissance, take the interpretation trail joining the abbaye de Seuilly can be accompanied by extracts from Gargantua and texts by contemporary writers focusing on the novel’s landscape, via a free sound app.

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Saint Cosme Priory, Ronsard's home

If the spirit of the place were to be summed up in a single word, “tranquillity” would seem to fit the bill perfectly. Indeed, for the 12th century canons, Saint Cosme is described as “a paradise on earth making it easier to reach true heaven“.

After a busy life, notably at the side of Charles IX during the Wars of Religion, Pierre de Ronsard was offered the prieuré Saint Cosme, just outside Tours, and that of Croixval, in the Loir-et-Cher region. On the banks of the Loire, where he would receive Catherine de Médicis among others, “the poet of princes and the prince of poets” would take pleasure in gardening, while continuing to correct and publish his works.

Some centuries later, take a stroll through 12 themed gardens, enjoy the events regularly organised within the Refectory, and of course delve into the life of the author of these few lines that echo in the memories of many:

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©Prieure Saint Cosmes La Riche 2030 Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033 2|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

Pretty, let’s go and see if the rose
Which this morning had bloomed
Her dress of crimson in the Sun,
Has not lost this vesper
The folds of her crimson dress,
And her complexion to yours likewise.

Around the writers' houses

Another writer's house The René Descartes Museum

Not far from the beautiful René Boylesve landscaped garden on the banks of the Creuse, this cultural venue shines the spotlight on a multi-hatted figure who was at once philosopher, mathematician and physicist.

Through the permanent exhibition of the Descartes museum house, the veil is lifted on the life of the creator of “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think therefore I am), well known to baccalaureate students for being the first certainty to resist methodical doubt: here we have the starting point of Cartesian thought.

Beyond the writings of René Descartes, the visit will be an opportunity for you to discoverthe clashing movements of thought in the 17th century (some believe, like Aristotle, that the sun revolves around the Earth, while Galileo defends a contrary view) but also many areas of history.

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In a nutshell about writers' houses in Touraine

Four writers, one unique territory

Rabelais, Ronsard, Descartes and Balzac have all left their mark on the literary history of Tours.

Homes steeped in living history

These preserved houses tell the intimate story of the great French authors.

Nature and culture intimately linked

Gardens, landscapes and architecture continue to inspire visitors.

The Balzac Museum Château de Saché

There are two great institutions in Saché: the Balzac Museum, and the Twelfth Century Inn restaurant. So you might as well kill two birds with one stone! In the heart of the Indre valley, enjoy the particularly peaceful and pleasant surroundings. You can then easily understand why Honoré de Balzac came here so regularly, beyond his desire to get away from Paris… and his creditors.

A hard worker, he was not going to change his habits on the spot: he would lock himself away to write for hours (3pm, 4pm in a row, especially at night), drinking in the coffee he loved so much. Here, he worked in particular on his novels “Le Père Goriot” and “Illusions perdues”, but he also drew inspiration from the surroundings to write “Le lys dans la vallée”. As well as Balzac’s work, a visit to the Château de Saché also reveals furnishings that take us right back to the 19th century. A great trip back in time!

A good idea: hire a bike in Azay-le-Rideau, take the Indre à Vélo for 7km to the museum, then after the visit, pedal on cycle loop n°17 ” sur les pas de Balzac ” (20 km).