Chapelle de Vaudouan, banks of the Indre, Briantes from Montgivray

Departure from the car park, Allée Clesinger, near the Montgivray campsite.

(S/E) Go to the fork at the church, turn right, then take the second street on the left, Rue des Ribattes, towards La Châtre, and continue along this street. At the end of Rue Jean Jaurès, turn left onto Rue Jean Pacton, cross the D940 and continue along Rue Nationale until you reach a three-way junction with a fountain at no. 32.

(1) Continue straight ahead on Rue Nationale until you reach Place de la République.

(2) Cross it to the left, walk along the Palais de Justice on your right and arrive at Place Notre-Dame. Continue along Rue Henri de Latouche, walk along Place de l'Abbaye and continue straight ahead on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Abdon. Leave La Châtre and follow the banks of the Indre (lovely houses and gardens). Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroad.

(3) Turn left, then quickly right towards Vaudouan, and follow the D83 to the Notre-Dame de Vaudouan Chapel.

(4) Take advantage of a stop to visit this chapel with its beautiful paintings. Public toilets behind the chapel. Then continue on the D83 and reach a four-way intersection.

(5) Continue left onto Chemin des Terres Rouges. At the next crossroads, turn left and continue to the four-way crossroads at Pouligny-Saint-Martin.

(6) Continue left on the D36, then turn left towards Grand Receuil and reach the hamlet.

(7) Turn right, then left (D36), and continue to the next crossroads.

(8) Turn left towards Soult. Ignore the hamlet on the right and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, turn right, cross the bridge over the Indre, then turn left after Côte Perdrix and continue to a crossroad at the end of the C102.

(9) Continue left (D84), enter Briantes, and arrive at the junction with the^D83A, at the post office.

(10) Turn left onto the^D83A towards La Châtre and continue to No. 30 Route de Briantes.

(11) Turn right onto Rue des Thuyas and, at the end of this road, at a place called Les Tureaux, turn right again and arrive at Le Chêne.

(12) Turn left, continue along a track (easily passable despite being stony) and you will reach the tarmac road at No. 52.

(13) Turn left and continue straight ahead.

(14) Cross the departmental road with caution and continue straight ahead. Continue along the one-way road, Chemin de la Ville, then turn right. Cross the bridge over the Indre and turn right onto Rue du Pont aux Laies. Continue along Rue de la Fontaine and, at the fountain, turn left onto Rue Jean Depruneaux. At the end, turn right and follow Rue Venose to the end.

(1) Turn right and, taking the same route as on the way there, return to the car park on Allée Clesinger, near the Montgivray campsite (S/E).

A lovely bike ride for cyclists with electric bikes. The route is also suitable for regular bikes!

There are no particular difficulties except at the end, where you ride on a stony path for 700 metres, which can be done on foot.

The ride is fairly quick (2 hours for electric bikes plus breaks) and you have time to stop at La Châtre to enjoy the market square and its cafés, a little refreshment after your efforts.

(4) Notre-Dame de Vaudouan Chapel.