Discover Le Pêchereau

Le Pêchereau combines remarkable architectural forms with a route through the town and activities at La Bourdine airfield. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, these different themes can help frame your trip planning: Are you mainly interested in local history, would you like to explore a section of the GR 100, or are flight activities your main focus? The details below will help you get to know the destination according to your interests.

Château, architecture and local history

Château du Courbat stands in the middle of a body of water that serves as a moat. The bridge is also part of the site’s history: the former drawbridge was replaced by a fixed bridge. This brings two different aspects into view—the château’s location in the water and the bridge’s transformation. These are distinct architectural features that are easy to tell apart as you explore the site.

The Maison à trois carres offers another way to explore architectural history. Built in 1786, the building has three sides and three angles. It is also considered a very rare example of so-called architecture parlante from the 18th century. The French expression can be translated as “speaking architecture”: it refers to an architectural concept in which a form conveys a message. The Maison therefore brings together a specific geometric feature and an art-historical classification.

The new church in Le Pêchereau represents a different phase of construction. It was built to plans by Henri Dauvergne between 1906 and 1916. In contrast with the Maison, built in 1786, what stands out here is the construction period spanning several years. Looking at the town’s history through its buildings therefore offers a chronological comparison between an 18th-century building and a later church.

The permanent exhibition “Regards sur le passé” presents the local history of Le Pêchereau on 23 panels. You can visit the exhibition free of charge during town hall opening hours. The key to planning your visit is therefore finding the right time; check the town hall’s opening hours in advance, as they may change. The panels offer a distinct way to explore local history, while the Maison and the church are specific buildings from different periods.

Route and flight activities

The GR 100, “Les chemins de la Guerre de Cent ans,” crosses Le Pêchereau from east to west. Its route passes along the Voie verte, through Le Courbas, Place de Verdun and Rue des Reizes. This sequence names the sections within the town and gives the route a clear direction. Check the route before setting out so your plans match the current route alignment.

Introductory flights in ultralight aircraft and gliders are offered at La Bourdine airfield. There are also sightseeing flights over the Creuse Valley or the Brenne. The introductory flights offer a choice of two aircraft types, while the sightseeing flights name specific landscapes as destinations. These are different focuses within the flight activities on offer. Check availability before your trip.

Drag races are also part of the annual calendar at La Bourdine airfield: they take place every year in July as part of national sporting competitions. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the exact dates in advance.

Nature and planned facilities

Wildlife offers another perspective on Le Pêchereau: deer, foxes and owls have been observed using camera traps. This view of the wildlife differs from the town’s architectural themes and complements them with a perspective on nature. It may be especially interesting if you would like to include local fauna in your exploration of the destination, alongside its architecture.

Washhouses, fountains and, in some cases, livestock watering troughs were planned for the larger villages to make up for the lack of ponds. This was a planned response to local water conditions and involved facilities for everyday use. It offers a different perspective on local history from the architecture of the château or the Maison: the focus here is not on the form of a single building, but on the planned water supply for the villages.

Discover more destinations: Vicq-Exemplet, Montierchaume, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Sazeray, Saint-Gaultier, Le Blanc, Argenton-Sur-Creuse, Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre

For the broader travel overview: Indre.