Vallères – Heritage, Wine and Landscape

Vallères combines a rural village character with local history and wine-making traditions. The village is laid out around Saint-Martin Church; forests, meadows, farmland and small streams add to its character. If you are looking for a hotel in Vallères, this combination offers a guide to what you might focus on during your stay: village history, landscape and wine-making traditions.

Church, Village Character and History

Saint-Martin Church is an old building that has been altered several times over the centuries. At the same time, it is a focal point of the village layout: Vallères is arranged around the church. Those interested in its architectural history will find a building shaped by several alterations, as well as a village clustered around the church.

The rural heritage includes traditional farmsteads, tuff-stone houses, mills and hamlets typical of Touraine. These features span different scales of the village landscape, from individual buildings to hamlets. The À travers-toi Vallères walking trail starts and ends in Vallères. Along the route, information panels describe the commune’s heritage, including in the village centre and at Place de la Mairie and Place de l’Église.

One specific historical reference along the trail is Rue de la Bufeterie: it takes its name from a former building that served as the commune’s oil mill until 1950. Rue de la Corderie owes its name to a building where ropes, sacks and tarpaulins were made from hemp. Hemp cultivation was widespread in the Loire Valley until the beginning of the 20th century.

Other historic sites also reveal different layers of history. At Château de Fouchault, the foundations of the terraced structure and the facade of the partially preserved chapel remain. L’Artivière was once a fiefdom of Villandry and originally a hunting meeting place; flint-working workshops have been found on the property. Preserved architectural features, former uses and archaeological finds offer different ways to explore Vallères’ history.

Landscape, Water and Trails

The landscape of Vallères includes forests, meadows and farmland. Several small streams cross the commune and contribute to local ecological diversity. The Vallée du Vau takes its name from the stream Le Vau, which is fed by springs and a fountain of the same name. The valley, stream, springs and fountain are thus clearly connected. The Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is nearby.

Vallères’ walking trails, hilly landscape and protected natural areas are well suited to walks and outdoor activities. If you are planning a hike, check local trail conditions in advance.

Wine-Making Traditions in Vallères

The Touraine Azay-le-Rideau appellation applies to white and rosé wines; Vallères is one of the six communes across which its wine-growing area extends. Since 1758, the Confrérie Saint-Vincent de Vallères has promoted and shared the area’s wine-making and gastronomic heritage. Its representative wine cellar is located in the Vallée de Mortaise in Vallères.

The main Saint Vincent chapter gathering takes place every year on the first Sunday in February in Vallères. It includes a ceremony, a meal and an induction ceremony. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the details for the current edition in advance.

Discover more destinations: Azay-Le-Rideau, Saint-Laurent-De-Lin, Saint-Genouph, Joué-Lés-Tours, Nazelles-Négron, Saint-Quentin-Sur-Indrois, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, La Ville-Aux-Dames

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