Velles route: La Bouzanne and its open-air theatre

The starting point is at a car park on the edge of the D 40, near the church, at the foot of the FFRandonnée route sign. Follow the yellow markings for the route entitled: La Bouzanne et son théâtre de verdure.

(S/E) With your back to the sign, head north and turn right onto Rue du Chemin Creux, towards the stadium and the motorhome area. Continue along this street until you reach the aforementioned area, then continue along the path opposite and walk alongside a pond.

(1) Take the farm track on the left, ignore the track on the left and continue across the field. The track then becomes tree-lined.

(2) Follow a wide tree-lined path on the left, pass the path leading to the water tower and continue straight on to the Grand Pont farm.

(3) Carefully follow the D 14 to the left and at the crossroads, turn right onto the D 40 towards Châteauroux. Cross the bridge over the Bouzanne and continue to the entrance to Château Beauregard.

(4) Take the small D 115 road on the left. Pass the Courcenay silos and, at the end of a right-hand bend, continue straight ahead along the farm track that runs alongside a farm building.

(5) At the end of the track, at the southern end of the Étang du Verdin, be careful as there is no longer a clear trail: look for the post with yellow and green markings in the middle of a meadow, cross it straight ahead to the south-west towards a gap in the copse opposite. Once you reach it, a more clearly marked path appears and joins a wider one that runs alongside the Étang de la Porelle.

(6) When you reach La Motte, follow the small road until you reach the D 14. Cross it carefully and continue opposite on a farm track.

(7) At the next crossroads, turn left, walk along the right-hand side of a building belonging to the Grand Rat farm and follow the access road.

(8) Take the small road on the left, then carefully follow the D 14 on the right for 250 m.

(9) Turn left under a portico and continue to La Bouzanne. Walk along the right-hand side and continue along a grassy path. When you reach the houses of a housing estate, follow the access road to the right.

(10) Turn left onto the D 14, then right to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Wear sturdy shoes and possibly long trousers as the ground is uneven and the grass can be tall depending on the season.
A third of the route is on tarmac... and crossing the meadow at (5) is a bit of a gamble!

Velles:

• Beauregard Castle (15th century): it has been listed as a Historic Monument since 6 October 1933.

https://monumentum.fr/chateau-beauregard...

• Ruins of Courcenay Castle (15th century) (keep between (4) and (5))

• Château du Plessis (18th century)

http://www.chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.e...
http://www.leplessis.com/le-domaine-du-p...

• Vauzelles Castle (18th century)

http://www.chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.e...

• Saint-Étienne Church: the church has 12th-century stained glass windows.

https://patrimoine.centre-valdeloire.fr/...

• Boisé Manor (16th century)

http://www.chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.e...

• Calvary (crossroads between (3) and (4))