Chanceaux-Près-Loches combines an annual literary event with church art, a history of craftsmanship and a protected landscape. When planning your visit, first consider whether you are travelling for an event or want to get to know the area through its various historical and landscape themes. La Forêt des Livres has a regular place in the annual calendar; Église Notre-Dame, the tileworks and the designated natural areas offer other perspectives.
Literature and the August event
La Forêt des Livres takes place every year on the last Sunday in August and marks the start of the literary season. Admission is free, and the event is open to everyone. Writers and readers come together for literary events, discussions and book signings. If you are planning your trip around the festival, Sunday is the key date. Exact dates and the programme may vary from one edition to the next, so check the details before travelling. The event offers a different focus from a visit devoted mainly to the history of the church or industry.
Église Notre-Dame: architecture and art
The Romanesque-inspired Église Notre-Dame is open to visitors; check the latest visitor information before your visit. The church contains two noteworthy features: the main bell, called Marie, was restored in 2015. It also houses the 17th-century painting La Sainte Famille avec Catherine d’Alexandrie, which is protected as an object. Here, you can see both a restoration with a specific date and a work of art with its own protected status. Anyone interested in church art will find these two clearly datable details alongside the building’s Romanesque inspiration.
The tileworks and its production
The tileworks adds a chapter in industrial history to the church art. Tilemakers operated it until the First World War; it ceased production around 1915. The kiln was used to make roof tiles, bricks, floor tiles and natural lime. The range of products shows the different materials manufactured there, while the approximate closure date of 1915 puts its history in context. At the tileworks, production takes centre stage—a different way of exploring local history from looking at the church and its paintings.
Château, valley and protected areas
The village lies in a valley and has a relatively modest château. In Chanceaux-Près-Loches, the classified site Château, parc, village et vallon de la Chantereine encompasses the château, park, village and Chantereine valley. It was classified on 16 June 1994. Its name brings together several features of the built and natural landscape, offering a broader perspective than a visit to a single building.
Part of the commune also lies within the Champeigne Tourangelle Natura 2000 site. Its designation was based on the protection of nine bird species of European importance associated with open landscapes: the Little Bustard, Eurasian Stone-curlew, European Golden Plover, Hen Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Short-toed Snake Eagle and Red-backed Shrike. If you are planning a detailed route, check the boundaries of the site beforehand. The Natura 2000 area covers only part of the commune.
Cycling
For cyclists, La Tangente Gourmande is a specific point of reference. This signposted route is 32 kilometres long and connects Loches with Saint-Jacques à Vélo and Le Louroux. Among other things, it gives you the opportunity to discover restaurants in Chanceaux-Près-Loches and Le Louroux. The distance and named connections provide a concrete framework for planning your own ride; check current route conditions before setting off. This means you can make cycling a distinct focus of your trip, alongside literature, church art, industrial history and landscape.
Discover other destinations: Epeigné-Les-Bois, Jaulnay, Montrésor, Trogues, Orbigny, Mazières-De-Touraine, Beaumont-Village, Yzeures-Sur-Creuse.
For the regional travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
