Between Claise and the hillsides

The yellow-marked trail starts opposite the Claise, on Place des Saules. The discovery of Palaeolithic tools and Gallo-Roman remains in the surrounding area attests to the very ancient occupation of the commune's territory.

(S/E) Cross the stone bridge to reach the Grotte and Fontaine Saint-Marc on the other side of the river, considered among the most beautiful in Touraine.

(1) Cross the bridge again, then turn right and walk along the Claise. Take the stairs on the left towards the old station and its railway line, which linked Port de Piles to Le Blanc.

(2) Return to the village via Avenue de la Gare, once lined with two cafés, a grocery store, a clog maker, a coaching inn and a wheelwright. Turn right onto Rue Principale, then right again at the roundabout.

(3) After the cemetery, continue on the path on the right. You are now on the Grande Randonnée 48 hiking trail, marked in white and red, which connects Limoges to Chinon.

(4) At the road (D366), turn left and then right. Follow a slightly sloping path that passes through the undergrowth and joins a small road at a pylon. Turn right to reach a plateau, where the view of the Claise valley is magnificent. The municipality continues to maintain agricultural activities today through the cultivation of cereals, fodder and livestock farming.

(5) Continue straight ahead at the crossroads.

(6) At a place called La Croix Marchand, you will see a large forest located in the municipalities of Chambon and Boussay. Turn left, then left again at the junction at Les Hautes Turinières. Enter a copse.

(7) Turn right at the edge of the woods. Continue for about 200 metres, then turn right onto the path and continue straight ahead.

(8) At the road, turn left to return to the village. You will walk alongside the river, the railway line and a limestone hillside. If you visit in spring, you can admire many varieties of orchids. In the past, a local stone called Touraine tuffeau was quarried here. This chalk was used in most of the buildings constructed nearby.

Look again at the Claise on your right. This river was lined with no fewer than 68 water mills. Its low flow and the presence of aquatic vegetation encourage fish to thrive, much to the delight of anglers.

At the cemetery roundabout, turn right. You are nearing the end of your walk. Be sure to take a stroll around the Town Hall and Post Office square. Admire the 12th-century church dedicated to Saint-Médard, the presbytery, a former tithe barn, the dovecote and a well, all of which bear witness to the skills of our ancestors.

Then head to Place des Saules (S/E).

The Saint-Marc Cave and Fountain are ranked among the most beautiful in Touraine.
Its spring was renowned for curing eye problems. Overlooking the fountain, you can see a calvary whose lower part is reminiscent of the grotto of Lourdes. An important pilgrimage took place here until 1971.
The old railway station and line that connected Port de Piles to Le Blanc.
Inaugurated in 1885, two passenger and parcel trains ran daily on the line. Then, between 1950 and the 2000s, it was used by a train that transported stone.

Grand-Pressigny Museum of Prehistory
The main tourist attraction in southern Touraine, the Museum of Prehistory, housed in the Château du Grand-Pressigny, presents collections and the expertise of the great blade cutters at the end of the 3rd millennium BCE.

Preuilly-sur-Claise
The town has a rich heritage, as evidenced by its 11th-century abbey church, whose bell tower is covered by a Burgundian-style roof with glazed tiles.

Poterne Museum.

Cycling circular loops

Whether you're cycling with family or friends, there are numerous circular cycle routes to choose from, allowing you to explore the surrounding countryside and its heritage by bike.

24% of the Indre-et-Loire department is covered by woodland, mainly oak and pine; over 90% of these forests are privately owned.