Oulches: Discover the Longefont Priory and lime kilns

Two distinct themes can help shape your travel plans in Oulches: the discovery trail to the lime kilns and the Notre-Dame de Longefont Priory. The trail explores the industrial history of the former Saint-Nazaire quarries; the priory represents monastic history, Romanesque architecture, gardens and parkland. If you are looking for a hotel in Oulches, these highlights can help you choose a focus for your trip—industrial history and nature, or the history and architecture of the priory.

The discovery trail to the lime kilns

The discovery trail to the Oulches lime kilns is 650 metres long and explores the industrial history of the former Saint-Nazaire quarries. Its short length gives you a clear sense of scale for this part of the trip, while the subject is clearly defined: the history of the former quarries.

Nature at the lime kiln site

At the lime kiln site, calcareous grassland and a protected population of greater horseshoe bats are part of a Natura 2000 area. This means the natural heritage here encompasses both a habitat and a protected bat population. If you are weighing up the themes of your trip, the same site offers a specific connection to nature and species conservation alongside its industrial history.

Monastic history and architecture at Longefont

The Notre-Dame de Longefont Priory was founded in 1110 by d’Arbrissel, founder of the Order of Fontevraud. It was a women’s priory and was subject to that order. The founding year, founder and affiliation place the history of the priory in context.

The priory’s restored Romanesque church has 48 historiated Romanesque capitals. Historiated capitals feature figurative carvings; their number makes this aspect of the church’s decoration easy to appreciate. If you are interested in Romanesque architecture, you can consider the sculptural decoration as a feature in its own right, alongside the architectural form. The priory chapel was rebuilt between 2006 and 2015. The church and chapel therefore represent different aspects of the site: the restored church with its capitals, and the chapel’s reconstruction during that period.

The surviving standing structures and floors of the former priory were listed as historic monuments by decree dated 22 February 2007. This date refers to the listing of the specified remains; it is neither the priory’s founding date nor the period when the chapel was rebuilt. This helps distinguish the different dates associated with the site.

Gardens, parkland and visiting arrangements

A visit to the priory takes you through the gardens and parkland to the Font-Bleue, a spring that has existed since time immemorial. The route adds a specific outdoor setting to the historic buildings and leads to this named destination.

The priory church and park can be visited subject to the visiting arrangements. Visits must be booked in advance; appointments are available every day except Saturdays and should be made 24 hours ahead. Check the visiting arrangements before you travel, as booking rules may change.

Discover more destinations: Tournon-Saint-Martin, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Issoudun, Bélâbre, Préaux, Le Magny, Argenton-Sur-Creuse, Meunet-Planches.

For the broader travel overview: Indre.