Joué-Lés-Tours: Nature, Trails and Culture

Joué-Lés-Tours can be explored through a range of themes: ponds and woodland, trails along the Cher and Petit Cher, historic buildings, and exhibitions and performances. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which focus matters most for your stay. The places and route details below can help you match your interests in nature and culture to the time you have available.

Ponds, woodland and river scenery

The Étangs de Narbonne area covers 30 hectares. Two ponds, connected by the Piole stream, lie in an area that is 80 percent wooded, with calcareous grasslands as well. The ponds are open to the public and have walking paths, information panels and picnic areas. Water, woodland and open calcareous grassland together shape this natural area.

The Bocages de la Gloriette lie on the northern edge of the municipality of Joué-Lés-Tours. The Cher and Petit Cher run through the area, which is also on the Loire à Vélo route. Environmental education activities and rides in a Toue Cabanée are offered there. If you would like to include one of these activities in your plans, check the current programme or availability in advance.

Routes to suit your time and interests

The Sentier du Lac et Val de Cher links Lac des Bretonnières, with its water sports and leisure facilities, to Parc de la Gloriette. The trail runs along the banks of the Cher and Petit Cher. For planning purposes, the 15-kilometre route with a variant is listed as taking 3 hours 45 minutes; the 19.7-kilometre route to La Gloriette is listed as taking 5 hours. The longer route therefore has a stated walking time that is 1 hour 15 minutes longer.

The route in the Morier-Rigny-Pont-Cher district offers a different time commitment. It highlights 11 notable places and can be completed in about two hours. At Pont-Cher, it can be divided into sections. This makes it possible to plan this walk differently from the longer routes on the Sentier du Lac et Val de Cher.

If you are looking for a different kind of activity, Parc de la Rabière has an orienteering course. At Gadawi Park Aventure, you move from tree to tree on courses at different heights and levels of difficulty, protected by a continuous safety line. Six ziplines cross the lake, and there are numerous other games. Opening times and available courses may change, so it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.

Architecture, exhibitions and performances

The Parcours du Patrimoine Jocondien invites you to discover or rediscover notable places in the town centre. Access arrangements may vary from place to place. Architectural highlights include the « art déco » houses on Rue Gallieni: their symmetrical façades are decorated with bricks and faience tiles characteristic of the Art Deco style.

The Portail de la Marbellière is an original, surviving gateway with a curved pediment. It has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments since March 1947. La Frazelière was formerly known as Petite Rabière and has borne its current name since 1903. Its Versailles-inspired architecture features triangular pediments and a slate roof. Since March 1947, the southeast and northwest sections of the façades, along with the roofs and the garden door, have been listed as historic monuments.

The auditorium at Espace Malraux has 1,013 seats and can host theatre, dance, classical, hip-hop and other music performances. Its varied programme for all audiences also includes exhibitions, fairs and meetings. As the programme changes with the season, check the latest announcements for specific dates.

At Galerie du Parc, artists can exhibit works in painting, sculpture, photography and arts and crafts. Admission for visitors is free of charge, and the exhibition programme may change. This gives you a range of options when planning your trip: longer walks, nature activities, historic architecture and changing cultural programmes.

Discover more destinations: La Membrolle-Sur-Choisille, Luzé, Reignac-Sur-Indre, Richelieu, Noyant-De-Touraine, Noizay, Thilouze, Nazelles-Négron.

See the full travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.