Discover Descartes

Descartes offers several highlights to help you plan your trip: the history of René Descartes, museums and historic churches, walking tours, and cycling and hiking routes. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether you prefer a focus on cultural history or time to explore on foot and over longer distances.

Cultural History and Museums

The Musée Descartes is housed in René Descartes’ birthplace, which partly dates back to the 16th century. It focuses on the philosopher’s life and work and provides a historical and cultural overview of the Renaissance and the 17th century. Since 17 September 2003, the museum has held the French designation Musée de France under French heritage protection law.

The Espace Muséal brings together three museums in three purpose-built buildings. They are dedicated to three exceptional people born in the town. The Espace also includes a Micro-Folie: this digital museum uses tablets to showcase thousands of artworks from national and international collections. This offers a range of ways to explore art and local history, from a philosopher’s life and work to digital presentations of artworks.

The churches also tell the story of different eras. The former church of Notre-Dame de la Haye is classified as a historic monument. It was founded in 1104 as a chapel for La Haye Castle, and remnants of Romanesque wall paintings have been preserved. Saint-Georges is the oldest church in Descartes and was built in the 12th century. The Grenier à Sel was built in the 17th century on Descartes’ former parade ground. Another trace of the town’s history is its paper mill: founded in August 1857, it produced various types of paper, including printing paper, extra-thin paper and paper for administrative use. Descartes Tourist Information Office is located in a former railway station building.

Walking Tours and Routes

La Cartésienne is a walking tour that lets you discover Descartes. Information panels and reading tables along the route explain the town’s attractions. The Sentier de bourg is also a walking tour, but without a set route; information panels introduce visitors to Descartes’ heritage. Both routes explore local history, but use different forms of interpretation.

For planning by distance, there are two more options: the circular route in the Bois de la Roche Bellin is 8 kilometres long. The Voie Verte du Sud Touraine covers 42 kilometres, starting in Descartes and ending in Tournon-Saint-Pierre. It is suitable for cycling, hiking and mountain biking. The routes therefore differ both in length and in the activities explicitly listed.

Gardens and Leisure

The public Jardin René Boylesve covers about 15,000 square metres and is situated within the former grounds of a castle. Its rare or exotic trees include a sequoia, ginkgo and persimmon, planted in the 19th century. The garden also has a small animal park. The gardens, trees and animal park offer a different focus from the museums and historic buildings.

The Descartes aquatic centre has six pools, including a 25-metre pool, as well as a current channel, a slide and an outdoor whirlpool. Opening times and the availability of facilities may change. If this is important to your plans, check current visitor information in advance.

Weekly Market and Canoeing

A weekly market is held every Sunday morning on the site of the former fairground. As dates may change, check the latest information before your planned visit.

The Club canoë-kayak de Descartes rents out canoes for two hours, half a day or a full day, and provides transport to the starting point. The service may be seasonal, so check availability for your dates in advance. The different time options make it easier to fit canoeing into your day's plans.

Discover more destinations: Langeais, Chambourg-Sur-Indre, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Rivière, Monnaie, Sorigny, Limeray, Dame-Marie-Les-Bois

For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.