The best walks and hikes around Sammarçolles

Good starting point with parking and picnic.

The Rabelais Museum is housed in La Devinière, a 15th century country house where François Rabelais was born. Rabelais was a monk, doctor, writer and botanist. La Devinière is the only museum dedicated to François Rabelais. It consists of four remarkable buildings: the main building (15th century), a dovecote, troglodyte caves, a winegrower's house, as well as a garden and a vineyard.

It is the site of a Roman camp dating from the Iron Age which, until its demolition, was a unique megalithic site in the region of Chinon. Apart from the few large boulders and stones left behind, the different colored heather growing in the area is the most striking visual highlight.

Built in 1095, this former priory was transformed into an abbey five years later, in 1100, by the Benedictines. The village of Seuilly being the birthplace of the famous French Renaissance writer and doctor, François Rabelais, it is not surprising that he began his studies in this abbey.

A hiking trail takes you around the lake while a bird observatory helps you recognize the species that frequent the lake and its surroundings. The fish farming complex of Assay is made up of a large 33 ha pond, created at the beginning of the 17th century, as well as an 11 ha wetland made up of small ponds used for pike farming. Its large surface of water and the presence of a vast reedbed make it an important site for the nesting and wintering of birds. The adjoining wetland is home to remarkable flora and many protected insects such as the southern damselfish.

At the heart of an 8-hectare park, the Château de Basché, now a hotel, was built in the 16th century and extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family.

Bought a few weeks ago, in February 2019, the Château de Basché is undergoing a transformation. Initially, Séraphine Maré-Keufer and her family rehabilitated it, to open guest rooms there. At the heart of an 8 hectare park, the Château de Basché, 660 m2 of living space, was built in the 16th century, then extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family. It had been unoccupied for ten years. “Basché is a building with a soul. We fell under the spell. But time has done its work since it was no longer inhabited. We had to clear the land and deal with water infiltration, especially in the toilets, ”says Séraphine. She acquired the premises, just two months ago, with her husband Alexandre and her mother Vinciane. “It’s a family crush. We have in common a long history of managing guest rooms in the Cher. We rolled up our sleeves to start restoring and bringing the various rooms up to standard, to open in early May. " Many projects. Three bedrooms have already been fitted out, one of which is 50 m². Ultimately, five are planned. Three group lodgings are in the process of being finalized. Registration for Gîtes de France is underway and the château will soon be on the lists of online booking sites. A reception room, which can accommodate up to 150 people, will be available at the end of 2019. Adjacent to the castle and forming part of the property, there is also a beautiful chapel, as well as stables. Séraphine plans to organize seminars, set up exhibitions or artist residencies. The shooting of a film is also scheduled for April. “In addition to the historical character of our facilities, our shaded meadows, our ponds and fountains, the proximity to historic sites make Basché an ideal holiday resort. " An entire program ! Opening of the guest rooms on May 1st. Count 90 € per night for 2 people, with breakfast. Contact and reservations at 06.68.89.52.77 or on the facebook page of the Château de Basché.

Old hill on which was probably erected a Roman oppidum of which there is no vestige. The place is however worth the detour for its many varieties of heather.