Candes-Saint-Martin One of the most beautiful villages in France

At the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, visit the village of Candes-Saint-Martin and its pretty white tufa houses with slate roofs. The golden sandbanks and traditional boats complete the scenery: from the north bank of the Vienne, you have one of the most emblematic viewpoints in the Loire Valley!

Visit Candes-Saint-Martin

Follow the short 3.5km route up to the aptly-named Rue du Panorama! Place de l’église, of course, admire the collégiale Saint-Martin and its Plantagenet Gothic architecture, while sitting on the terrace of the Auberge de la route d’Or. Opposite, discover the contemporary jewellery of Gabrielle Plasse, one of the craftswomen present in Candes-Saint-Martin like Intérieur Lumière and its sublime lampshades, or La Petite Forge Candaise and its knives. And while we’re on the subject of shopping, let’s also mention the herbalist shop Le Jardin des Envies, also located in the main street, which leads to the amazing Street Art Parc.

Candes-Saint-Martin walk

By canoe from the Vienne

From Chinon, embark with Chinon Loisirs Activités Nature and paddle to Montsoreau or Saumur, passing Candes-Saint-Martin. Another option: canoe hire offered by camping Terres de Belles Rives.

@tourainevaldeloire Stroll through Candes St Martin! 🌸 This listed village #plusbeauvillagedefrance is a real treasure of #Touraine. Take time to live as you stroll its flower-filled lanes and admire its majestic collegiate church. #pourtoi #food #fyp #magnifiquefrance #heritage #travel #village #ride #vacation #flowers ♬ Vacation – Dirty Heads

In Candes-Saint-Martin

Stay in the magnificent setting of the Château de Candes (several houses and suites, with access to a spa) or at the Terres de Belles Rives campsite, with an unusual night on a boat, for example!

Around Candes-Saint-Martin

Candes-Saint-Martin is right next door to another of France’s most beautiful villages, Montsoreau, located in the Anjou region and boasting a château dedicated to contemporary art. Together, they make an excellent stop-off point on the GR®3 and La Loire à Vélo cycle routes! Six kilometres further south, discover Fontevraud l’Abbaye and its impressive monastic complex. And of course, don’t forget to take a stroll through Chinon, a town of art and history. Between Candes-Saint-Martin and Chinon, push open the doors of Château du Petit Thouars (AOC Chinon wine estate) and Le Vazereau (cheese shop and educational farm).

The PNR Loire Anjou Touraine

Candes-Saint-Martin, along with Montsoreau, Fontevraud-L’Abbaye and Chinon are located in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional Loire Anjou Touraine.

Loire Anjou Touraine Regional Nature Park

A little history Old river port and the village of Saint Martin

At the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, the village of Candes-Saint-Martin naturally developed as a river port. During its heyday in the 19th century, Touraine wines, poires tapées (pears) and also cut stone passed through here.

Candes seems to come from “condate”, a Celtic term meaning confluence. The name has evolved over time, from Candata in the 5th century to Canda in 1205, Candes in the 17th century, and then Candes-Saint-Martin in 1949, in memory of Saint Martin, a former Roman legionnaire who cut his coat in two* to share with a destitute person.

He became a hermit, then bishop of Tours (where he founded what is now Marmoutier Abbey), but it was in Candes-Saint-Martin that he died on 8 November 397. The people of Tours then loaded his remains onto a gabare, to transport them to the Tours basilica. According to legend, as the boat passed by, flowers began to bloom on the banks, in the middle of autumn: it was the “summer of Saint-Martin”!

*The piece of cape he kept later became an object of veneration, and is the origin of the word chapel, the place where people came to see the famous cape!”