Across fields and through woods above the Lys Valley

Starting from the Manoir de Vonnes, cross plateaus and undergrowth on the right bank of the Indre.
A priory, Calder's studio and the hillside above the Indre valley offer beautiful views of Saché.

Details

14083825
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 53 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 100 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 51 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Pont-de-Ruan (37260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.269426° / E 0.56542°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1723ET, 1823SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park on the Route de l'Auberdière, along the Vonnes woods.

(S/E) Take the small road that branches off the RD 84, to the right as you descend from the Manoir de Vonnes, and follow the Ruisseau du Taureau to reach the hamlet of L'Auberdière.

(1) Turn left towards the Ruisseau du Taureau stream.
At the top of the hamlet, leave the tarmac road and take the path that climbs up, runs alongside the woods, crosses a plain, then runs alongside a wood (on the left). You will come to a crossroads with four perpendicular directions.

(2) Enter the woods via a path on the left. Continue to the Priory of Relay, located at the bottom of a small valley.

(3) In front of the priory porch, climb up to the right towards the D 356, joining it at the Croix des Quarts.

(4) Cross it and continue along the path opposite. Walk along the edge of the woods, then enter them by taking a small winding path slightly to the right. You will come out onto a wide lane.

(5) Turn left onto it. Reach the edge of the woods. Continue straight ahead, walking alongside the houses of Baulay. You will then come to a small road; turn right to reach the hamlet of Le Verger.

(6) Take the path on the left. At the end of the path, turn left until you reach a small wood. Cross the small wood to the right, then come out onto a beautiful viewpoint over the Indre Valley. Descend towards the Indre Valley, leaving the vineyards on your left. You will reach a Y-shaped crossroads above the village of Bécheron.

(7) Turn left, cross a road at the hamlet of Carroi. Follow the path that passes under Calder's workshop. Join the Basse Chevrière road.

(8) Turn left onto it and enter a wood, then leave it on the right to walk alongside the Château de La Chevrière farm. You will then come to a large oak tree.

(9) Continue straight ahead along the edge of the woods, then rejoin the RD 84 and turn left to reach the Manoir de Vonnes car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 61 m - Car park - Manoir de Vonnes
  2. 1 : km 1.13 - alt. 59 m - L'Auberdière
  3. 2 : km 2.36 - alt. 87 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.77 - alt. 79 m - Prieuré de Relay (Pont-de-Ruan)
  5. 4 : km 3.34 - alt. 90 m - The Croix des Quarts
  6. 5 : km 4.23 - alt. 92 m - Forest path
  7. 6 : km 5.32 - alt. 94 m - The Orchard
  8. 7 : km 6.58 - alt. 68 m - Above Bécheron
  9. 8 : km 7.65 - alt. 70 m - Basse Chevrière crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.3 - alt. 92 m - Large oak tree
  11. S/E : km 9.73 - alt. 61 m - Car park - Manoir de Vonnes

Notes

Between (6) and (7), in this vast panorama, you can see Saché below, the Château de Valesnes on the opposite side of the valley, and Calder's former studio on the left.
Between (9) and (S/E), enjoy beautiful views of the Manoir de Vonnes, home of the heroine of Honoré de Balzac's "Lys dans la Vallée".

Worth a visit

(S/E) The Manoir de Vonnes, a listed historical monument, is remarkable for its ornate dormer windows and monumental fireplaces. It is open to groups all year round by appointment and offers guided tours during the summer. We recommend making an appointment; contact details can be found on the Manoir de Vonnes website.
(3) The Priory of Relay is a former dependency of Fontevraud Abbey.
Between (6) and (7) The Calder workshop hosts artist residencies.
Visits are possible during Heritage Days, thethird weekend in September.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Yannard56
Yannard56

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No particular difficulties.
Take care if there has been heavy rain in the days leading up to your visit. This can sometimes slow you down (impassable paths), especially in the forest.

Machine-translated

User 26370233

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike through woods and fields with panoramic views of the Indre Valley. Beautiful stones along the way

Machine-translated

Emmelle37
Emmelle37

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A bit too much tarmac, especially at the beginning. Very pleasant wooded sections in warm, sunny weather. Best avoided after heavy rain (many difficult sections, paths sometimes flooded).

Machine-translated

Ciolkovitch Alexandre
Ciolkovitch Alexandre

Hello, during this hike above the Lys Valley, we lost a pair of red-framed glasses. If you find them, please call 06 33 23 36 31. Thank you in advance.

Machine-translated

Sylmich37
Sylmich37
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A hike alternating between views of fields and passages through the undergrowth (just a priory and two or three houses, but nothing incredible). Very monotonous, so this walk is best suited to contemplative types or for chatting with friends without being disturbed by visual attractions
Oh yes: along the route, there are lots of hunters' watchtowers, where you can admire their frugal creativity and a certain penchant for plastic.
Less than three hours without walking fast. We did it on 10 November and didn't meet anyone. Just a jogger.

Machine-translated

Grégoire Berthelot
Grégoire Berthelot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

accuracy and quality of monitoring

Machine-translated

Marc37
Marc37

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Hike very true to the description.
Pleasant, easy, very few hills,
Alternating between shade and open areas,
Very few hikers.
Superb Touraine countryside,
Impossible to get lost, map and directions accurate.
Less than 3 hours.
Accessible to beginners.
I recommend it!!!
Marc

Machine-translated

cpoupard
cpoupard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in the hills of Indre, with beautiful views. The stream at the start of the hike was completely dry on 7 August 2022. Enjoyable picnic under an oak tree in front of Relay Priory.

Machine-translated

hbiero
hbiero

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied route
No signposts, the description and GPX track are sufficient.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.