In Vallères, village history and landscape go hand in hand: the village is laid out around the Church of Saint-Martin, while walking trails, rolling landscapes and protected natural areas also draw the eye beyond the village. The À travers-toi Vallères loop trail starts and ends in the village. Its information panels highlight the local heritage, including in the village centre and at Place de la Mairie and Place de l’Église.
Around Saint-Martin: architectural history and village character
The Church of Saint-Martin is an old building that has been altered several times over the centuries. It forms the centre of the village, while traditional farmsteads, tuff stone houses, mills and hamlets typical of Touraine shape its rural character. Visitors interested in Vallères can therefore look beyond a single building: the church, residential and farm buildings, and hamlets all represent different aspects of local architectural and village history.
Street names also point to former uses. Rue de la Bufeterie is named after a building that served as the commune’s oil mill until 1950. In Rue de la Corderie, ropes, sacks and tarpaulins were made from hemp in the building that gave the street its name. Hemp cultivation was widespread in the Loire Valley until the beginning of the 20th century.
Other historical features include the surviving foundations of the terraced grounds of Château de Fouchault and the façade of the partially preserved chapel. L’Artivière was formerly a fief of Villandry and originally a hunting meeting place; workshops for working flint have been found on the property. These details add architectural and land-use history to the picture of the village, without implying any current use of or access to the sites mentioned.
Waterways, trails and landscape
The landscape around Vallères includes forests, meadows and farmland. Several small waterways cross the area and contribute to its local ecological diversity. The Vallée du Vau takes its name from the stream Le Vau, which is fed by springs and a fountain of the same name. The Loire is nearby and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For walks and outdoor activities, the trails, rolling landscape and protected natural areas offer different ways to explore the surroundings. If you are planning a hike, check local trail conditions for your travel dates. This allows you to plan around the conditions at the time, rather than assuming a walking time or a specific level of difficulty.
Wine tradition and the Saint-Vincent custom
Vallères is one of the six communes covered by the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau wine appellation. The appellation applies to white and rosé wines. The Confrérie Saint-Vincent de Vallères is also part of the local wine and food culture: since 1758, it has promoted and passed on this heritage. Its representative wine cellar is in the Vallée de Mortaise in Vallères.
The main Saint Vincent celebration includes a ceremony, a meal and an induction ceremony. The Confrérie holds it in Vallères every year on the first Sunday in February. If you would like to plan your trip around this celebration, check the details for the current edition. This gives wine enthusiasts a specific date to keep in mind; those more interested in architecture or nature will find other ways to shape their stay among the buildings, landscape features and trails described here.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Laurent-De-Lin, Loché-Sur-Indrois, Langeais, La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin, Ingrandes-De-Touraine, Betz-Le-Château, Tours, Saché.
For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.
