Church art, historic buildings and a hike with a specified distance give you different reasons to visit Cussay. Its architectural history spans the church’s predecessor building and a baptismal font dating from the 10th to the 12th century; the hike can be assessed by its length, difficulty level and estimated duration. This lets you decide whether to focus on local history or outdoor activity.
Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens Church and its furnishings
The neo-Romanesque Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens Church dates from the 19th century. It replaced an older church, built in the 9th or 10th century and restored in 1664. Its architectural history therefore spans several distinct periods: the medieval predecessor building, its restoration and the construction of the neo-Romanesque church.
The furnishings also reflect different periods. The stained-glass artist Lobin created and signed the choir windows in 1869. The church also houses a restored baptismal font dating from the 10th to the 12th century. The windows and baptismal font add two distinct historical reference points to the story of the building. Those interested in architecture will find more than a single style here: the building’s history, stained glass and an older baptismal font can each be considered separately.
Washhouses, a spring and a bread oven
The restored Pré Carré washhouse dates from the early 20th century and is located near a spring. A bread oven from the La Brangerie farmstead was built next to the washhouse. The oven is used every year at the Fête du pain at the end of August. The festival thus offers a recurring date to plan around; if you would like to take it into account, check the specific event date.
The Faucoude washhouse has a different history: it was converted into a watercress bed. Two distinct changes are therefore at the heart of these sites—the restoration of Pré Carré and the conversion of Faucoude. Their names help distinguish the two places, while the bread oven adds a specific use to the history of Pré Carré.
Hiking and countryside around Cussay
The hike “Marche active autour de Cussay par les Friches de Noizay” starts on Chemin de la Brangerie in Cussay. It is rated moderate, is 10.2 kilometres long and has an estimated duration of three hours and five minutes. These specific details give you a sense of the scale of the route; the stated duration is an estimate.
The Cussay municipal area is crossed by numerous streams and features ponds and wooded areas. One specific landscape feature is the pond on the Terrain des Prés. Playgrounds and picnic areas have also been created there. These details offer a different focus from the hike: here, attention is on a named place and its existing facilities, while the route’s distance and estimated walking time provide guidance for the hike.
Other traces of local history
Only remains of the former seigneurial castle of La Roche d’Enchaille have survived. In the hamlet of Le Puits, you can find examples of old troglodyte dwellings typical of the region. Both add other forms of built heritage to the history of the church and washhouses: here, the remains of a former seigneurial castle; there, dwellings characteristic of the region’s building style.
Discover more destinations: Chisseaux, Saint-Nicolas-Des-Motets, Rochecorbon, Chinon, Saint-Genouph, Neuvy-Le-Roi, Marigny-Marmande, Louestault
For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
