Discover Dame-Marie-Les-Bois

Dame-Marie-les-Bois brings together a named hiking trail and traces of architectural and landscape history. If you choose a destination based on hiking and heritage, you will find a range of historical landmarks here: Notre-Dame church, a washhouse built in 1902, a municipal well and the historic forest of Blémars. The examples range from medieval building phases to a structure that remained in use until the 1970s. As well as specific dates, the focus is on how buildings developed, how they were used and the history of the landscape.

Hiking linked to local history

The “La ronde des Donnamariens” is a PR hiking trail in Dame-Marie-les-Bois. It offers insight into the heritage that bears witness to the history of the commune over several centuries. In this way, the walk is connected thematically with local history. While the trail explores the commune’s history within a broader time frame, the historic buildings illustrate specific periods and details. If you consider both hiking and a place’s cultural heritage when choosing a destination, this connection is a clear point of reference.

Notre-Dame church and protected objects

The present-day Notre-Dame church comprises building phases and alterations spanning the 11th to the 19th century. Its oldest part is the half of the nave on the choir side; it dates from the 11th century. The Romanesque façade bears the inscription “1848”, which refers to construction work. The two dates shed light on different aspects: the 11th century dates the oldest part of the building, while the inscription is associated with construction work. The church can therefore be understood as a building that developed over several centuries, rather than being assigned a single construction year.

A tomb slab is also part of the site’s protected heritage. The tomb slab of Nicolas Ravot d’Ombreval is one of three protected objects in a church in Dame-Marie-les-Bois. It provides a concrete point of reference alongside the building phases and architectural details of Notre-Dame church.

Washhouse and municipal well

The washhouse in Dame-Marie-les-Bois was built in 1902 and remained in use until the 1970s. A distinctive architectural feature is its floor, which can be adjusted by means of winches to suit the water level. The year it was built and its period of use give the washhouse a historical context; the adjustable structure also explains a practical feature of its design. This building therefore combines the history of its use as a washhouse with an architectural solution for adapting to the water level.

The municipal well was faithfully restored using engravings and photographs. Its origins are believed to date back to the French Revolution. It thus combines a cautiously attributed period of origin with a restoration based on visual references. This differs from the historical context of the washhouse, for which the construction year, technical design and period of use provide specific points of reference.

Landscape history of the forest of Blémars

The historic forest of Blémars adds a landscape perspective to the history of buildings and objects. In the 11th and 12th centuries, monks from Marmoutier Abbey cleared large areas of forest there. This event places the forest’s history within a clearly identified period and presents a different subject of historical change alongside buildings and objects. For a comparison of dates: the forest clearance is attributed to the 11th and 12th centuries, while the building history of Notre-Dame includes changes up to the 19th century.

Discover more destinations: Chédigny, Saint-Nicolas-Des-Motets, Bridoré, Rivière, Tauxigny, Orbigny, Savigné-Sur-Lathan, Saint-Michel-Sur-Loire

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