Rochecorbon, between vineyards and the Loire Little City of Character

At the gateway to Tours, discover this small town of 3,220 inhabitants, which joined the large family of Petites Cités de Caractère in 2019. Rochecorbon has plenty to attract visitors, especially wine lovers: it is one of the 7 communes in the Vouvray appellation.

Rochecorbon and the banks of the Loire

The town is part of the Inscription of the Loire Valley as a World Heritage Site. Climb aboard a traditional boat, and enjoy both the scenery and the knowledgeable commentary of the Rabouilleuse boatmen. Another pleasant prospect in fine weather: take a seat at the guinguette de Rochecorbon or accompany your children to the many attractions at Lulu Parc!

Rencontre avec Clément Sirgue et Gwen Le Bars, habitants de Rochecorbon [Gens du Val de Loire S2-06]

Terre Exotique

In a beautiful 18th-century mansion, Terre Exotique welcomes you to its shop specialising in peppers and spices, or to its restaurant. It’s also the epicentre of the international pepper festival, held every year in June.

But back to the world of wine with no less than 3 tourist wineries. Château Gaudrelle, Blanc Foussy, Marc Bredif line the road from Tours to Vouvray, to which we can also add domaines Le Capitaine and Bourillon Dorléans. As well as tasting the fine bubbles and still wines of the Vouvray AOC, discover the famous caves troglodytes, which lend themselves particularly well to the maturing of the various cuvées.

Beautiful hotels and restaurants also welcome you down the hillside, as does the garden of the Basses Rivières manor (which also has 3 guest rooms), open occasionally for visits. This property is organised around an elegant building, just like the neighbouring properties: the arrival of the train in Tours in 1840 brought a wealthy Parisian population who built beautiful holiday homes.

The must-haves in Rochecorbon

7 walking routes Visit Rochecorbon

Leave the banks of the Loire and head up the valley. Past the Café Corbon and its fountain, you come to the town hall, then in front of the church of Notre Dame de Vosnes. This is one of the most beautiful buildings to see, as is the Chapelle Saint George, built in 1028, the oldest Romanesque church in France. There’s also the Lantern Tower, one of the last vestiges of the powerful medieval fortified castle built from the 10th century onwards by its first lord, who went by the name of… Corbon. Add to that the vineyards, and you’ve got a picturesque setting to discover, for example by walking one of the 7 signposted footpaths.

Here are our two favourite trails: