The best traffic-free bike rides around Theillay

The parish church of Saint-Étienne was at the disposal of the Abbot of Jargeau. Of Romanesque origin, the building has a single nave on which are grafted a chapel to the north and south, a straight bay under the bell tower, supported by a sacristy to the north and a polygonal choir. The latter belongs to the 16th century. It includes a three-sided apse preceded by a straight bay. The whole, vaulted with ribs, is lit by five bays with flamboyant tracery similar to the two windows of the bay of the bell tower, contemporary with the choir. This has a square plan. Four pillars projecting strongly from the interior of the nave, receiving the four arches which carry all the masonry of the bell tower, accentuate the tripartite division of the interior volume of the building. The open door, in the north gutter wall, on the sacristy rebuilt in the 20th century, is surmounted by two pinnacles resting on sculpted bases framing an accolade. The lintel was once decorated with a coat of arms. The nave, Romanesque in its external volumes, was necessarily reworked from the 16th to the 19th century. It was probably originally a simple framed vessel whose gutter walls were supported on the outside by flat buttresses with slight projections. In the 16th century, the paneled barrel vault, still preserved in the attic, was hidden by ribbed vaults; the engaged columns which receive the ribs, as well as the corner buttresses visible on the facade belong to this campaign of works. Subsequently, a rectangular chapel was attached to the north wall; the south chapel, built in brick and cut stone, dates from the 19th century, as do the six windows with trefoil lintels illuminating the nave, the rose window pierced in the facade and the gallery installed at its back. A brick vault replaced the 16th century vault on the nave. The semicircular portal, extensively reworked, was formerly protected by a timber-framed porch. The three parts of the building are clearly differentiated in the exterior elevation of the building. The nave, not very high, as well as the choir, with its more slender roof, are dominated by the silhouette of the bell tower. Square in plan, it has four levels punctuated by dripstones; the upper level is pierced with two twin bays per face. The bell tower is crowned by a timber spire. The Sauvegarde de l’Art Français granted aid of 50,000 F in 1993 for the repair of the exterior masonry.

Garden created in the 1930s, on the former grounds of a Benedictine abbey, in an "Art Deco" style by Eugène-Henry Karcher, with the presence of industrial materials of the time, concrete, steel and ceramic, on an area of 6000m² between the Berry canal and the Yèvre.

Behind this impressive gate is one of the most beautiful estates in Salbris, with at the end of this avenue the private castle of Rivaulde, all brick and half-timbered. It was built in 1524 and then belonged to the lords of Ferté-Imbault. It belonged to the painter Toulouse-Lautrec in the 19th century, who sold it to the Schneider brothers, who had the castle rebuilt by the architect Coulon, then nicknamed "little Vaux-le-Vicomte". Henri Schneider did not see the end of the work in 1902 and it was his wife who made it her main residence.

Let yourself be charmed by this magnificent castle with a history as rich as its architecture. Built in 980 on an old leveled mound, it is the largest brick castle in Sologne and one of the oldest. It was partly destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries, notably during the Renaissance, and saw illustrious people pass through, including Joan of Arc. Jacques d'Estampes, the first Marquis de la Ferté-Imbaud was ambassador to England and Marshal of France. With his wife Catherine-Blanche de Choiseul, they particularly marked the history of this castle. It is now possible to visit it and privatize it for events.

If you are looking for a city with rich history, beautiful environment and vibrant culture, you should visit Vierzon. It is located at the confluence of five rivers, including the Yèvre and the Cher, and is surrounded by a magnificent forest of 7,500 hectares. You can discover the heritage of Vierzon by visiting its museums, such as the Vierzon Museum, which presents the arts of fire and ceramics, or the Museum of Agricultural Machinery and Rurality, which presents agricultural machinery and rural life. You can also enjoy cultural events and festivals that take place throughout the year, such as Flower Power Week in October or the Jazz Festival in June. Vierzon is also an important railway hub, connecting Lyon, Nantes, Paris, Limoges and Toulouse, allowing you to travel to other destinations easily. Vierzon is a town that will surprise you with its charm and diversity.

Mehun-sur-Yèvre Castle was built in the 12th century and was the residence of several kings and queens of France, including Charles VII who died there in 1461. You can admire the architecture of the castle, which combines elements medieval and Renaissance, such as towers, ramparts and mullioned windows. You can also stroll through the magnificent French gardens which surround the castle and offer stunning views of the town and countryside. The castle is also a museum dedicated to Charles VII and his reign, where you can discover the history of this place and its role in the Hundred Years' War. Classified as a historic monument, the castle is a must-see for any history and culture lover.

Castle built during the 1st quarter of the 9th century whose ruins allow you to see how it has evolved over time. Charles VII often took his court there. It was also in Mehun-sur-Yèvre that he handed over his letters of nobility to Joan of Arc in 1429, and where he died in 1461.

One of the 96 locks of the Berry canal, now downgraded. 2.70m wide, these locks could accommodate so-called "small berrichons" boats 27.50 m long by 2.60 m wide maximum. The shovel at the Vèves lock was replaced in 2020 to better regulate the water flow.