A striking change in shape on the bell tower, historic furnishings and a trail passing two ponds offer different ways to discover La Ville-Aux-Clercs. The heritage of Église Saint-Barthélemy can be explored through its architecture and dated objects; La Grande Borne adds a chapel, a former hospice and a history of its own. Repère Sauvage is also a hotel and restaurant set on a 42-hectare estate where nature, fauna and flora are preserved.
Bell Tower and Historic Furnishings
At a height of 20 metres, the bell tower of Église Saint-Barthélemy changes from a square to an octagonal shape. Octagonal means having eight sides. A dome, campanile and lantern crown the tower; it is considered a case study for schools of architecture. The sequence of changing shapes and crowning features makes its design a clear point of interest for architecture enthusiasts.
The church preserves furnishings classified as historic monuments: a polychrome wooden corpus of Christ dating from the 17th century, two oil paintings from the 17th century, a tombstone dated 1674 and a bronze bell dated 1580. The two precisely dated pieces are 94 years apart; the corpus and paintings also date from the 17th century.
The tower and its furnishings offer two distinct cultural and historical perspectives: the tower draws attention to its form and structure, while the objects invite interest in their type and date. The focus thus shifts between architecture and individual pieces preserved by the church.
La Grande Borne and Its History
La Grande Borne comprises a chapel and a former hospice dating from the 19th century. A historical presentation there featured the former Château de la Gaudinière, which no longer exists, and its owners, Augustin Marie Mathieu Stanislas de La Rochefoucauld and Marie Adolphine Sophie de Colbert de Chabanais. Both were involved in the construction of La Grande Borne.
On 21 September 2025, a free guided tour of the architectural heritage took place at La Grande Borne from 2 to 4 p.m. The chapel was exceptionally opened to visitors for this event.
Landscape and Accommodation
The yellow trail of the Chemins pédestres de La Ville-aux-Clercs passes the Étangs du Milieu and du Souci. Unlike the bell tower, a single building, the trail takes in two ponds along its route. This offers a specific connection with the landscape alongside the area’s architecture.
Repère Sauvage is a hotel and restaurant set on a 42-hectare estate where nature is preserved and fauna and flora are part of the surroundings. If you are considering Repère Sauvage as a place to stay, check current availability and accommodation details before booking.
Discover more destinations: Mennetou-sur-Cher, Selles Saint Denis, Saint-Laurent-Nouan, Ouchamps, Avaray, La Marolle-En-Sologne, Blois, Saint-Viâtre
For the regional travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
