Châteaumeillant / La Châtre Saint-Jacques à vélo - Via Vézelay

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Castles & Monuments

22,01 Km

1 h 28 min

I cycle often

Châteaumeillant

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La Châtre

22,01 km cycling route from Châteaumeillant to La Châtre

This stage on the Saint-Jacques à Vélo - Via Vézelay cycle route marks the shift from the département, or French county, of Cher to that of Indre, but you won’t feel a big change as you cross hedge-divided agricultural fields watered by the Indre River and its tributaries. You ride into an area that has become known as the Pays de George Sand, where not just this ground-breaking female novelist found inspiration, but also one of her famous lovers, the composer Chopin… and, much later, pioneering film director Jacques Tati, who shot his cult comedy Jour de fête in the village of Ste-Sévère-sur-Indre. Adding to this cultural past, there are also medieval castles to admire, such as the Château de la Motte-Feuilly. The unspoilt countryside stands out too, with plenty of birdsong and traditional little villages to enjoy. All told, there are lots of sides to the Pays de George Sand!

Elevation of the stage

102 m 63 m

Waytypes of the stage

By road: 22,01 km

Surface of the stage

Smooth: 4,82 km Unknown: 17,19 km

Cycle route from Châteaumeillant to La Châtre

Signposting couldn’t be much clearer, so make the most of it to see the many attractions scattered around the Pays de George Sand. Leaving Châteaumeillant, you can even enjoy riding through the local vineyards.
One tip: avoid the temptation to join the D943 road to gain a few minutes at best, as that road, while straight, isn’t set up for cyclists’ safety and lacks interest.

Link

The Saint-Jacques à Vélo - Via Vézelay cycle route joins the Indre à Vélo – V49 cycle route at the level of Briantes, along the D84 road. This route, also connected to the greater Loire à Vélo cycle route, allows you to ride along peaceful country roads, immersed in a bucolic atmosphere, passing a whole lot of heritage sites and villages well worth exploring.
For further information on the Indre à Vélo.

Tourist information

Agence française des chemins de Compostelle – 05 62 27 00 05
Office de Tourisme Intercommunal Pays George Sand, 134 Rue nationale, 36400 La Châtre - 02 54 48 22 64
Agence de développement touristique de l’Indre

SNCF train services

Please note, no train stations serve this stage until the town of La Souterraine, but, if you’re willing to take a slight detour, there is a station at Eguzon-Chantôme.

Don't miss

Châteaumeillant: wine-making in these parts goes back a long way, the first mention of Châteaumeillant vineyards dating back to Gregory of Tours, writing in 582, while today the area produces reds and rosés from its specific terroirs.
La Motte-Feuilly: a château with two imposing towers and a chapel built for the castle’s most famous proprietor, Charlotte d'Albert, abandoned wife of Cesare Borgia, the place serving as home to the beautiful Loriane in George Sand’s novel, Les Beaux Messieurs de Bois Doré.
La Châtre: the Musée George Sand et de la Vallée Noire, containing a collection some 6,000 objects and documents going from Antiquity to contemporary times, covering many themes; an exceptional half-timbered home, known as La Maison Rouge, built in the 15th century.

Accommodation on the stage

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