In Charentilly, two hiking trails of different difficulty levels wind through a rural landscape with remarkable architectural heritage. When planning, it is easy to distinguish the routes by their length, difficulty rating and trail markings. The Church of Saint-Laurent and the Manoir des Ligneries also offer specific architectural points of interest that shape the character of the area beyond its hiking trails.
Choose a hiking trail by length and difficulty
Le Chemin de la Petite Choisille is 7.2 kilometres long, rated easy and marked in red. It has a 1.1-kilometre variant. Le Chemin des Grandes Tailles covers 11.7 kilometres, is rated moderate and marked in yellow; its variant is 0.5 kilometres long. When choosing between the two trails, you can refer to these clearly stated differences: one is shorter and rated easier, while the other is longer and moderate. The different trail-marking colours also help you tell the routes apart.
The variants, with their respective lengths, are also part of the route selection. Check trail conditions before setting out and choose your route based on the information provided and your plans for the day.
Rural landscape and points of interest along the trails
Charentilly’s rural landscape includes around 500 hectares of high forest, interspersed with ponds, meadows and grain fields. Forest, bodies of water and cultivated land together shape the scenery. This information adds another perspective on the surroundings beyond the hiking trails: a stay outdoors is defined not only by a route’s length, but also by the transitions between these landscape features.
One trail passes the bridge over the Petite Choisille, as well as the washhouse and the Moulin Banal. In Rue du Moulin Moreau, a trail passes the former Moulin à foulon. These points connect route-finding with buildings and their past uses: the Moulin à foulon is specifically identified as a former mill building, while the washhouse and the Moulin Banal are other landmarks mentioned here. The Via Sancti Martini also passes through Charentilly.
Church of Saint-Laurent: building phases and stained glass
The Église Saint-Laurent has been listed as a historic monument since 6 March 1947. Among its notable features is a 13th-century stained-glass window with five panels, which is also classified as a historic monument. The church also has a wooden porch. The south wall of the nave and the flat east wall were partly rebuilt in the 13th century; the walls and gables were raised in 1746. The building therefore offers an opportunity to explore architectural features and alterations from different centuries without conflating their individual dates.
Manoir des Ligneries and fortified architecture
The Manoir des Ligneries was converted into a fortified manor house under a concession granted by Louis XII. Its listed features include moats, towers, turrets and loopholes. These give the manor house its fortified character and clearly distinguish it from the architectural forms of the Church of Saint-Laurent.
The present-day Manoir includes a 15th-century residential wing built of brick and stone, a 16th-century building with a cylindrical turret, and a cylindrical dovecote. The structures represent several architectural forms and periods: the residential wing is dated to the 15th century, and the building with the turret to the 16th century. Together with its fortifications, they form a distinct focus of Charentilly’s architectural history, different from the renovations and extensions to the church.
Discover more destinations: Avon-Les-Roches, Chouzé-Sur-Loire, Courcelles-De-Touraine, Sonzay, L'île-Bouchard, Savigné-Sur-Lathan, Tournon-Saint-Pierre, Saint-Antoine-Du-Rocher.
Return to the regional travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
