Discover Benais through its vineyards, scenic viewpoints and Saint-Germain Church. The “La double vie du coteau” walking trail leads from the town centre to the edge of the forest; the grounds of the Conservatory of Old Plant Varieties and troglodytic cellars are also along the route. You can also explore the church’s historic details and wineries with different visitor arrangements. This offers a range of options for planning your trip: a walk, a visit to the church or wine experiences with specific arrangements to keep in mind.
The walking trail through the vineyards to the edge of the forest
The walking trail is around five kilometres long and takes approximately two hours. From the town centre, it leads through vineyards to the edge of the forest, past scenic viewpoints and along the grounds of the Conservatory of Old Plant Varieties. Troglodytic cellars are also along the way. The approximate duration is a useful planning guide for this particular trail, not an exact arrival time. Another route, “Au détour des Chemins de Saint-Martin en Bourgueillois”, also passes through Benais. The five kilometres and approximately two hours apply to the “La double vie du coteau” walking trail, not the other route.
Saint-Germain Church
Saint-Germain Church is open to respectful visitors; check the opening hours in advance. The choir features vaults dating from the early 13th century, known as Angevin or Plantagenet vaults. The church also contains a 17th-century altarpiece made of polychrome, gilded tuffeau stone. The vaults and altarpiece are two distinct historical features within the church. Their different dates help visitors appreciate the choir and its furnishings as separate aspects of the building’s history and art history.
Wine visits and visitor arrangements
The wineries also have different visiting arrangements. Domaine du Changeon offers wine reception and tastings Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; visits are available by reservation. Reservations apply to visits; the stated hours apply to wine reception and tastings. Confirm the hours and visitor arrangements in advance, as they may change. Domaine de la Cabernelle welcomes visitors to a traditional house above its tuffeau stone cellar. The vineyard covers 35 hectares of Cabernet Franc in the AOC Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellations and is farmed organically. Here too, it is advisable to confirm visitor arrangements in advance.
Planning your time
Château de Benais is permanently closed to visitors; check the visiting arrangements again before planning your trip. For planning purposes, there are different guidelines to consider: an approximate duration for the walking trail, specific hours for wine reception and tastings at Changeon, and opening hours for Saint-Germain to check in advance. Visits to Changeon are available by reservation. You can plan your routes and visits according to their respective time requirements and visitor arrangements.
Discover more destinations: Rillé, Céré-La-Ronde, Chisseaux, Dolus-Le-Sec, Monnaie, Paulmy, Saint-Patrice, Seuilly.
Back to the regional travel guide: Indre-Et-Loire.
