A Gallo-Roman aqueduct carried water from the spring at Athée-sur-Cher to Caesarodunum, present-day Tours; its remains can be seen in two places in Véretz. Alongside this trace of the town’s history, the Cher, the Château de Véretz and three walking options of varying lengths shape a stay here. When planning, the differences in walking time and difficulty are particularly useful: you can choose between an easy cultural trail and a challenging route lasting several hours.
On the banks of the Cher
Véretz lies on the banks of the Cher, about 10 kilometres from Tours. The stretch of river at Véretz is the middle Cher, between Noyers-sur-Cher and Tours. The Cher is canalised and has 16 locks. This places Véretz in context both in relation to Tours and along the course of the river.
Château and aqueduct
The Château de Véretz was a fortress in the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance it was converted into a stately residence, and it was rebuilt in 1836. It is currently privately owned.
Remains of the Gallo-Roman aqueduct, which carried water from the spring at Athée-sur-Cher to Caesarodunum, present-day Tours, can be seen in the park of the Château de Véretz and at the entrance to the Jardins des Isles. The aqueduct traces add an older connection between the spring’s location and ancient Tours to the history of the château.
Walking trails by time and difficulty
The Sentier des Lavandières is an easy, history-focused walking trail covering 5.5 kilometres; it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to walk. It passes the house and grave of Eugène Bizeau. The route thus combines a walk with a specific site of local cultural history.
The Sentier de Bacchus is considerably longer and more challenging: it is 15 kilometres long and takes about four hours. On the section through Véretz, the GR41 follows the same route as the regional long-distance trail and the historic walking trail in the Valley of the Dames de Touraine. Another short walking trail is called “futreau”; it is 10.5 kilometres long, moderately difficult and takes about two hours.
The three walking options differ clearly in the effort required: about 1 hour and 15 minutes for the easy Lavandières trail, about two hours for the moderately difficult “futreau” walk and about four hours for the challenging Sentier de Bacchus. Check the route details locally before setting out.
Cycling along the Cher
The “Cœur de France à vélo” cycling route runs along the north bank of the Cher and passes through Larçay and Azay-sur-Cher, as well as the Véretz area. It offers a different planning option from the walking routes described and connects the river setting with several place names along the route.
Hotels for your stay in Véretz
If you are looking for a hotel in Véretz, first decide what you would like to focus on: exploring the town’s history, planning a walk or taking the cycling route along the Cher into account. Check the availability of your chosen accommodation when booking.
Discover more destinations: Louestault, Montbazon, Huismes, La Châtre, Chargé, Courcelles-De-Touraine, Saint-Paterne-Racan, Rigny-Ussé
For the overview of the wider area: Indre-Et-Loire.
