Montrésor: a listed waterside village worth seeing

A stroll through the village of Montrésor

Stroll through the ways with their medieval feel, framed by pretty preserved buildings. On Rue du Marché, you’ll pass by the Halle des Cardeux: until the 19th century, the village was a textile centre where wool was… carded, spun and woven. A small market is now held here on Saturday mornings. Opposite, take a break at the bakery and try the Montrésor macaroons, made from an authentic recipe from the Middle Ages. Further east, push open the door of the collegiate church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where three finely sculpted alabaster recumbents seem to watch over this Touraine Renaissance building. Near the wash-house, a mosaic lizard evokes the legend of Montrésor… which we’ll let you discover on the information panels! Finally, take the impasse Potocki to reach the entrance to Montrésor castle.

The path of legends

Montrésor - Région Centre-Val de Loire - Stéphane Bern - Le Village Préféré des Français

Montrésor, 2nd favourite village of the French

In 2015, following a regional selection, 22 villages were in the final to win the title of “Favourite Village of the French”, awarded by Stéphane Bern’s programme on France 2. Just behind Ploumanac’h (Brittany), Montrésor was awarded a fine second place!

Your stay in Montrésor

The Indrois balconies Emblematic view of Montrésor

File in the bord de l’indrois, a tributary of the Indre that will serve as a mirror to immortalise your time in Montrésor, thanks to some lovely photos. The view of the promontory on which the village is built is remarkable: the wash-house, the Renaissance château and medieval towers, the flat-tiled and slate roofs and the majestic cedars. The trail along the balconies of the Indrois is perfect for families, with explanatory panels offering a fascinating insight into the history and landscape of the area.
Further on, take a look at the vegetable plots that perpetuate the use of subsistence gardens of yesteryear: they were planted naturally close to the Indrois, to make watering easier. To the east, a footbridge links these gardens to the village: it was Count Branicki who had it built in 1870, by the Eiffel workshops!

Legendary evenings

In summer, the village of Montrésor comes alive with a number of events taking place in the courtyard of the château. Guinguette, night market, fireworks evening, open-air cinema, legends at the château…

To discover around Montrésor

In addition to the pretty medieval town of Loches and Beaulieu-lès-Loches (Petite Cité de Caractère), visit majestic buildings nestling in the heart of a large state-owned forest: the Chartreuse du Liget, the château-monastery of La Corroirie and the chapel of Saint-Jean du Liget. Together, they form an impressive monastic site. You can also take a refreshing dip in nature in the forest. A cycle route, the “Route des Trésors”, winds its way through these sights, all the way to the church of Saint-Martin de Nouans-les-Fontaines, home to Jean Fouquet’s piéta, an astonishing painting of exceptional dimensions. Along the way, take a photo break in Villeloin-Coulangé, where there was once a major abbey, now no longer in existence, but evidence of which can still be seen in the village streets. On foot, follow the signposted paths through the rolling green countryside. If you’re a family, the Pas-aux-Ânes hiking trail is just the thing for you: it’s fun for young and old alike. Finally, relax at the Chemillé-sur-Indrois leisure centre for a drink, picnic, swim or let the children play. If they still have a bit of energy left, they can try their hand at accrobranche at Clic Lac Parc Aventure!

Montrésor, Polish soil!

Behind the castle’s high walls, discover 1,000 years of history and a large collection of objets d’art. It’s worth remembering that a wealthy Polish count settled here in the 19th century. A Polish political refugee opposed to the Russian Tsar Nicholas I, Xavier Branicki bought the château and thousands of hectares of land. He was gradually joined by many of his followers. Even today, some streets bear Polish-sounding names, and the owners of the castle are direct heirs of the count.