Hikes and strolls

Hiking at Azay-le-Rideau is an old story: we are on the GR3 Long-distance Hiking Trail, the oldest in France. This mythical route that takes you between the Loire and the castles passes right through the center of the small town. And all around Azay-le-Rideau, several marked paths will make you discover the Ridellois, its landscapes and its know-how.

The CG3 – The wild Loire on foot

It is at Villandry, after crossing the Cher, that the GR3, one of the longest French long-distance hiking trails, crosses our territory. First through fields, then along the orchards of Vallères, this path takes you to the heights of Azay-le-Rideau, with an unobstructed view of the town, its castle, its church and the Indre. You stroll through the streets of the heart of the city before crossing the Indre to go towards Chinon, passing through Cheillé and Saint Benoit la Foret. There, the GR crosses the magnificent national forest of Chinon, taking forest paths where, depending on the season, you can enjoy the shade of the trees, pick mushrooms or have the chance to see the animals of the forest rich in deer.

The other hikes

From Azay-le-Rideau, our territory is rich in hikes and magnificent walks with circuits for all levels.

Either on the heights of the city through the orchards to discover charming hamlets, with viewpoints over the Indre valley.

Or in the direction of Cheillé, on paths with beautiful residences, streams, with many cellars on the route, but also the church of Cheillé and in the forest of Chinon.

Or discover the country of the basket weavers in Villaines les Rochers, with a route through the countryside where you will discover troglodyte houses and many craftsmen working with wicker.

You also find trails in the undergrowth and in the Lys valley dear to Balzac up to Saché, mixing nature and literature.

Here is a small list:

• There once was wicker (5km), around Villaines-les-Rochers, capital of basketry, makes you discover wicker, basket weavers' workshops and troglodyte housing
• Pont-de-Ruan/Thilouze/Artannes-sur-Indre (13km) takes you from mill to washhouse, passing by architectural features and local products
• Rigny-Ussé nature path (1,5km) introduces you to flora and fauna around the fairytale castle
• Bréhémont, between Indre and Loire rivers (12km), route around this former port on the Loire for the transport of goods to the Atlantic or to Orléans
• The Lily in the Valley (10km) goes through the places described by Balzac in his novel
• Between forests and glades (11km), takes you through the Chinon forest, hunting ground of the kings of France since the Middle Ages, around Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt