Discover Bréhémont on the Loire

Bréhémont lies on the south bank of the Loire, within the Val de Loire UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the Loire opens out into broad, open spaces, ideal for taking in the landscape, observing biodiversity and enjoying outdoor activities. Together with the protected Bardeaux de l’Indre nature reserve, the harbour and the Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Bréhémont offers several points of interest for a trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bréhémont, your plans might focus on nature and cycling, the history of the river or the church’s historic details.

River scenery and cycling route

The protected Bardeaux de l’Indre nature reserve is crossed by a cycling route that follows the Indre and is more than five kilometres long. The route invites you to go for a bike ride, giving you a practical way to include outdoor exercise in your trip. The broad, open spaces along the Loire offer a different focus, with an emphasis on appreciating the landscape and observing biodiversity.

Some information panels in the nature reserve describe its natural richness and cultural aspects. If you’d like to make a point of visiting these panels, it’s best to check that they’re available before your trip. Nature experiences here differ not only in their landscapes, but also in whether you’d rather follow a cycling route or explore the information about the area.

Trade history and architecture at the harbour

Bréhémont harbour bears witness to significant trading activity in the 18th and 19th centuries, driven by hemp cultivation and fishing. Two slipways face one another. Opposite the quay, sculptures in tuff stone adorn the house façades and lintels. These architectural details offer concrete clues to the history of trade, allowing you to appreciate the harbour as a distinct part of the area’s cultural heritage.

A covered toue can be seen at the quay. It is considered the last fishing boat used for salmon and shad. Its visibility may vary. If you’re interested in the history of the river, this fishing boat adds a vivid example of fishing to the traces of former trade. The harbour and boat represent different aspects of life on the Loire: the economic activities of earlier centuries and a fishing boat described as moored at the quay.

The Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

The Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was built in 1843 and has a west-facing choir. You can identify its five stained-glass windows as the work of glassmakers Galimard and Laurent, who created them in 1846. You can appreciate the church as a building and place of art through its construction date, the orientation of its choir and its windows. The precise number and date of the windows, along with the names of their creators, offer a particularly concrete insight into its features.

Seasonal offerings on the Loire

La Guimbarge is a floating guinguette on a barge terrace on the Loire. You order and pay for food at the La Cabane à Matelot restaurant, then eat it on the barge terrace. Ordering and eating therefore take place in different locations. As this is a seasonal offering, it’s best to check opening times before your trip.

Boat trips organised by Romain are offered in connection with La Cabane à Matelot; Ambroise leads cooking classes there. Check the availability of each offering before your trip. You can also sample Loire fish in Bréhémont. As specific locations and availability may vary, it’s best to check which options are available during your travel dates.

Two possible trip focuses

Choose what you’d like to focus on during your stay, then look for a hotel in Bréhémont.

Discover more destinations: Villandry, Ligueil, Saint-Épain, Chinon, Dolus-Le-Sec, Dierre, La Riche, Yzeures-Sur-Creuse.

See the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.