Discover Chantenay-Saint-Imbert

Chantenay-Saint-Imbert combines a floodplain landscape with archaeological and religious heritage. When choosing a hotel, your preferred focus may help you decide: nature, church architecture, Roman remains or a local market each reveal a different side of the destination. These themes give you concrete starting points for planning your stay.

River landscape in the Val Allier de Tresnay

The Val Allier de Tresnay nature reserve includes Chantenay-Saint-Imbert, Livry and Tresnay. Its landscape features include sandy banks, abandoned river bends, well-developed riverside forests and gravel islands that are regularly reshaped. The area is of regional importance for its floodplain habitats and its flora and fauna. If you are interested in river and floodplain landscapes, this offers a clear nature focus for planning your trip.

Église Saint-Martin and Cluniac heritage

The Église Saint-Martin offers a concrete insight into the village’s religious architectural history. Its floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross and ends in three vaulted apses. The Rosary Chapel houses the relics of the monk Saint Imbert, kept in a polychrome wooden reliquary from the 19th century behind the altar. The church is also designated as a Cluniac site. Its architecture, relics and this designation offer different perspectives on the same building.

Gallo-Roman traces and a historic walking route

Chantenay-Saint-Imbert has the heritage of a Gallo-Roman village and is one of the archaeologically richest places in the Communauté de Communes du Nivernais Bourbonnais. Excavations on Rue de la Sauderie uncovered Gallo-Roman remains dating from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD. A Gallo-Roman craft quarter with six kilns was also discovered there, possibly organised around pottery production.

A signposted walking route follows a former Roman road and leads to a Roman bridge over the stream Le Jour. If you are choosing cultural themes, you can distinguish this route from the Église Saint-Martin: the church focuses on ecclesiastical architecture, relics and its Cluniac designation, while the walking route connects a former road with a bridge as its destination. This allows you to consider religious heritage and Roman traces as distinct areas of interest.

Ponds and market

You can fish at the ponds at the entrance to Chantenay-Saint-Imbert; they are also a place to enjoy a family picnic. The open-air market takes place every Tuesday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. If you plan your day around it, check the date and times locally before your visit, as market hours may change.

Information on signposted walking routes

Nearby, the Saint-Pierre-Magny-Cours tourist office sells the guidebook for signposted walking routes and answers visitors’ questions. It is advisable to check the office’s current details before your visit, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Lavault-De-Frétoy, Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, Pouques-Lormes, Devay, Corvol-D'embernard, Montaron, Montenoison, Tazilly.

Go to the overview of destinations in the region: Nièvre.