At 499 metres long and with 20 arches, the Viaduc de l’Auzon makes a striking feature in Cluis. Hiking trails, Romanesque and medieval architecture, and a local pilgrimage tradition give your trip several distinct points of interest.

Hiking and Landscapes

A total of five hiking trails can be reached from the Cluis market hall. Before choosing a route, check the trail conditions and signage on site so you can plan your walk in line with the information provided. Circular Route No. 14 links the ruins of the Château de Cluis-Dessous with the large viaduct, which rises above the bocage landscapes of Bas Berry. It brings together two very different landmarks: the remains of a fortress and a major structure in the landscape. The market hall is the starting point for the five hiking trails; Circular Route No. 14 is one of them with a specifically described connection.

Fortress, Church and Architectural History

The Forteresse de Cluis-Dessous is listed as a historic monument and was built on a rocky spur bordered by the Bouzanne. Its features include an entrance gate with the remains of a drawbridge, a 12th-century keep, a perimeter wall, and residential buildings dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. These elements from different periods provide an overview of the fortress’s architecture and its later residential buildings. The trail connection to the ruins should be distinguished from possible access to the fortress itself.

The Église Saint-Etienne-et-Saint-Paxent can also be understood through its building phases: it was built before the end of the 12th century, its nave dates from the 13th century, and its side chapels from the 15th century. Jean Mauret created two abstract stained-glass windows, one in 1972 and the other in 1975. The church thus brings together early architectural history and a much more recent artistic design.

Manor House, Town Hall and Gardens

The Manoir de Cluis-Dessus can be visited by request at the town hall reception desk. If you plan to visit, confirm the arrangements in advance. Inside, an interior dating from the time of Louis XIII has been preserved, with decorated wood panelling, Aubusson tapestries and 17th-century paintings. The reception room at the town hall can also be visited by prior request to the mairie; it is furnished with 17th-century Aubusson tapestries. These are two separate visiting options, each requiring its own request, so plan them separately.

Behind the manor house and town hall are ornamental gardens designed by Gilles Clément, accessible from the street. The Cluis market hall adds a building in contemporary use to the historic sites: the restored 17th-century structure is made almost entirely of wood and is now used for markets, meals, exhibitions and other festive events. Its architecture, access and uses offer different reasons to explore the site, without requiring you to plan around a specific event.

A Religious Tradition

During pilgrimages to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Trinité, the statue of the Virgin Mary is venerated on the Sunday after Pentecost and on 15 August. If you would like to include a pilgrimage in your trip, confirm the arrangements for the relevant year on site. The chapel has Romanesque origins and was built in the 15th century, bringing together an older tradition and a later period of construction.

These different points of interest offer a range of ways to plan your trip: the circular route between the ruins and the viaduct, the architectural history of the fortress and church, or a visit to the manor house by request. Which ones you combine depends on the places you want to see and the access arrangements you plan for.

Discover more destinations: Niherne, Orsennes, Saint-Gaultier, Maurepas, Gargilesse-Dampierre, Azay-Le-Ferron, Dunet, Sarzay

For the broader travel overview: Indre.