Discover Azay-sur-Indre: Romanesque Church and Historic Trails

Azay-sur-Indre is home to the Église Saint-Crépin-et-Saint-Crépinien, a rural church of Romanesque origin with a single-nave layout. Its Romanesque nave is connected to a Gothic choir; part of the Gothic roof structure has been preserved above the choir. Several successive wall paintings have been preserved on the interior and exterior walls: the oldest decoration, dating from the 13th century, features an imitation of ashlar masonry with double joints, as well as four superimposed funerary decorations dating from the 16th to the 18th century.

Other places under the same overarching destination include Le Louroux, Luzé, Cinais, La Membrolle-Sur-Choisille, La Tour-Saint-Gelin, Sainte-Catherine-De-Fierbois, Saint-Règle and Chédigny.

Culture and History

At the Château de la Folaine, the façades and roofs were listed as historic monuments by decree of 14 September 1949. The château consists of two wings positioned at right angles to each other and a rectangular tower at their shared corner.

The former chapel of the Ancienne métairie monastique de Bergeresse preserves traces of wall paintings. The entrance to the courtyard and the residential building of this complex were also covered by decree of 14

In the hamlet of La Follaine, attached to Azay-sur-Indre, the Moulin de la Follaine is first mentioned in writings from the 15th century. It can be visited on Heritage Days or by appointment.

The historical information emphasizes different aspects: at the church, the architectural form and wall paintings are the focus; at the Château de la Folaine, the architectural arrangement; and at Bergeresse, the former chapel and the listed parts of the buildings. The Moulin de la Follaine complements this series with its own chronological context and a separately stated visiting framework.

Hiking

The “La vallée de l’Indrois” hike is 13 km long, has an 8 km variant and passes through Chédigny, Azay-sur-Indre and Chambourg-sur-Indre. The different route lengths can be compared directly.

The “Randonnée d'Azay-sur-Indre à Chambourg-sur-Indre” hike can begin in Azay-sur-Indre or Chambourg-sur-Indre. It runs between the valley and plateau and is highlighted for its scenic and historical richness. The “La Fayette dans la vallée de l’Indre” hiking loop can begin in Reignac-sur-Indre or Azay-sur-Indre; the different starting points also allow for a direct comparison of the routes.

Several specific features can therefore be considered side by side when comparing the hiking options: the total length and variant of the Indrois hike, the possible starting points in each case, and the route between the valley and plateau. This makes it possible to distinguish the routes by distance, starting point and the described landscape context, without combining their details into a single route.

Cycling

The “La rose dans la vallée – Boucle vélo n°3” cycling loop runs as far as Azay-sur-Indre, where the Indre and Indrois rivers meet.

The cycling loop adds another type of route alongside the hikes. Its described reference point is the confluence of the Indre and Indrois rivers in Azay-sur-Indre; thus, the cycling route remains distinct in content from the routes mentioned between towns, the valley and the plateau.

To the overarching travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.