Discover Viglain

Viglain offers a range of ways to plan your stay: walking trails with distinctive landscape features, the history of Saint-André Church, and connections to nature and cycling routes. If you are looking for a hotel in Viglain, you can start with the purpose of your trip: the three PR walking trails are of interest for hiking, the church for culture, and the Loire à Vélo for cycling holidays.

Walking trails: route, waterways and golf course

The PR de Lousseau P19 provides clear details for planning a hike: the circular route is 10 km long, is rated very easy and takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes. It passes through the golf course and alongside the golf club building. Its length and approximate duration help you gauge how much time to allow; the rating describes the route’s level of difficulty.

The other two walking trails can also be distinguished by their features. The PR des Fougères P18 passes between two ponds and crosses the golf course. The PR de Pailly–Les Mahis P20 crosses the River Aulne. If you are particularly interested in waterways on a hike, the ponds on the P18 and the river crossing on the P20 offer different points of reference; the P19 also provides specific information on its length, difficulty and approximate duration.

Nature and named routes

Viglain is part of the Natura 2000 network. The municipality also includes two ZNIEFF areas—natural areas of ecological, faunal and floral interest. These are different designations that describe the natural character of the area. Other route connections in Viglain include the Loire à Vélo cycling route and the historic Vallée des Rois trail. The Route des Illustres is linked to the history of Jaucourt and Château de Baffou.

These offer a range of themes for planning your trip without needing to combine them into a single outing: you can follow the walking trails described, consider the cycling route, or explore the historic routes. This allows you to experience Viglain according to your interests in hiking, cycling, nature or history.

Saint-André Church and local history

Saint-André Church originally dates from 1154 and was rebuilt under Henry IV. It has a traditional Sologne caquetoire: a covered porch considered characteristic of churches in the Sologne. Inside the church is the medieval Saint-Sylvain bell. Dating from 1403, it is one of the oldest bells in the Loiret département.

Another feature is the Saint Hubert mosaic, made entirely from Briare enamel in the 1960s. It is visible to the public opposite the church square, between the library and the school canteen. Together, the church, bell and mosaic illustrate different aspects of local history: the church’s long building history, a medieval furnishing and a 20th-century mosaic.

The Saint-André spring also has a historic pilgrimage tradition. In the past, people invoked it as a remedy for whooping cough, attracting numerous pilgrims. The spring can be viewed from Route de Tigy on private property; please view it only from the road. The Saint-Antoine du Béon spring is near the bridge over the Aulne and can be seen while hiking the CR14. The two springs therefore differ both in location and in their connections to local history.

Golf and regional produce

The Golf de Sully sur Loire in Viglain has a 27-hole course with water hazards and tree-lined fairways. The golf course also features on the walking trails: the P19 passes through the grounds and alongside the golf club building, while the P18 crosses the course. You can therefore include golf in your plans either as an activity in its own right or as a feature of two walking trails.

Ferme de l’Aulnoy grows organic fruit and vegetables. Its produce is sold directly at the farm and at the markets in Sully-sur-Loire. This agricultural connection complements the hiking, cultural and nature themes you can consider when planning a stay in Viglain.

Discover more destinations: Gidy, Beaugency, Bonny-sur-Loire, Engenville, Chilleurs-Aux-Bois, Baccon, Puiseaux, Montoire.

For the broader travel overview: Loiret.