Savonnières Douce France

Between Tours and Villandry, Savonnières is one of the most beautiful stages on the Loire à Vélo cycle route. Ride along the north bank of the Cher to admire a picture-postcard landscape, peaceful and bucolic. “Douce France”, sang Charles Trenet…

Savonnières At the foot of the hill

Facing the Cher, observe the built front of white houses with slate roofs. It perfectly complements the pretty church of Saint Gervais Saint Protais, built in the XIIᵉ century, whose steeple stands parallel to the tall trees on the hillside. Enjoy the beautifully designed porch, in the style of saintongeais Romanesque art. This is the setting for the birds, whose flight you can follow as they fly past the traditional boats on their way to the dam. They too seem to enjoy the view!

VISIT THE PÉTRIFIANTES GROTTES!

Dive into a fascinating world of limestone concretions. A curiosity to be discovered at 14°, a temperature much appreciated during the summer heat peaks!

©Petrifying Caves of Savonnières|ADT Touraine - JC COUTAND

Not to be missed in Savonnières

Savonnières and the Cher A port, a dam, a bypass river...

The existence of a port seems to date back 2,200 years. At that time, amphorae of Roman wine arrived here. But over time, many other goods were transported: sarcophagi, stones, harvests, cattle… If transport eventually dried up, come on board with the enthusiasts who have revived the activity of the river dockyard and the port: just upstream from the dam, a pretty flotilla of traditional boats gives you a hankering for elsewhere.

From April to December, treat yourself to an hour or two outing with the bateliers du Cher, sometimes enhanced by tastings! Drink in the words of the guide at the helm, who will take pleasure in evoking the characteristics of the boats present (the toue “La pucelle”, the pillard “Le Gaillard”…), but also the different fish, or the bypass river. Recently built, it allows the passage of large migratory species such as eels, large shad and sea lamprey.

The boatmen of the Cher

Extend the experience

©Loire by bike in Savonnières|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

A tourist destination

Rent bikes from Onlycamp La Confluence campsite, and cycle along La Loire à Vélo to Tours and the châteaux of Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Islette and Langeais. As for cycle route 14, it will take you to… the end of the world! Yes, that’s the name given to the little beach where the Cher and Loire rivers meet.

On foot, follow the randonnée on the hundred steps trail (5.9km), which will take you through the hillside. Longer, a 13km discovery trail takes in the agricultural plateau (meadows, forest, corn seed fields…), the Futembre drink (a meander of the Cher), then the alluvial plain.

And if all that has whetted your appetite, the Maison Tourangelle, the Auberge du Pont, the Guinguette “La Soupette à Mémère” and two bakeries will provide for your hunger.

ON THE AGENDA AT SAVONNIÈRES

The spring hike in April, the water festival in May, the festivities on 14 July, the big flavours market on the first Thursday in August, an “Expo d’Enfer au Paradis” at the beginning of September, the weekly market on Saturday mornings… are all great opportunities to come and stroll around Savonnières!