In Perrusson, nature trails and ecclesiastical history offer two distinct areas of interest. The circular trails pass through varied landscapes; one begins and ends in Perrusson. The Prairies du Roy add an extensive wet meadow landscape to the nature theme. At the Église Saint-Pierre and the former Priory of Saint-Genest, historic traces span everything from medieval architectural history to an archaeological discovery from the 20th century. When planning your visit, you can first decide whether landscape, nature trails, or architecture should be the deciding factor.
Two Circular Trails, Different Landscapes
The “Sur le coteau de l'Indre” circular trail runs along the eastern slope of the Indre Valley. It passes through river meadows, fields, and forests, as well as hamlets and villages. The “Dans la campagne perrussonnaise” circular trail begins and ends at Place du 8 mai 1945 in Perrusson. It passes through forests, fields, open landscapes, geological features, and wet meadows.
Both trails pass through fields and forests. The first is defined by the eastern slope of the Indre Valley; the second is clearly rooted in the town by its starting and finishing point in Perrusson. This gives you the landscape and the named starting point as concrete criteria when choosing your route.
The Wet Meadows of the Prairies du Roy
The Espace Naturel Sensible des Prairies du Roy is a wet meadow landscape covering more than 240 hectares and extending across Loches, Beaulieu-lès-Loches, and Perrusson. The Prairies du Roy therefore extend beyond Perrusson. The marked discovery and interpretation trail is designed for independent visits; guided tours and nature workshops are also offered in July and August. This lets you choose between an independent visit along the trail and a seasonal program. If you are planning a guided tour or workshop, check the dates in advance.
Church and Priory: Architecture and Discoveries
The Église Saint-Pierre de Perrusson was founded in the 11th century by the monks of Cormery. The present building dates from the 10th and 11th centuries and was listed as a historic monument in 1926. The foundation and the dating of the present building refer to different aspects: one concerns the church’s origins, the other the construction period of the present building.
Only the walls of a polygonal apse remain of the former Priory of Saint-Genest. The remains of the chapel were listed as a historic monument by decree of 16 June 1928. An apse is the end section of a church building; “polygonal” describes its many-sided shape.
Next to the chapel of the former priory is a 16th-century well decorated with pilasters and mascarons. Pilasters are flat, pillar-like projections on a wall; mascarons are decorative mask or face forms. During the replacement of the flooring in the parish church of Perrusson, six aligned sarcophagi were uncovered in December 1973.
Discover more destinations: Berthenay, Beaumont-En-Véron, Seuilly, Rouziers-de-Touraine, Rivière, Sonzay, Assay, Ports
For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
