Le Boulay: Hiking and Heritage

Le Boulay combines a network of hiking trails with historical landmarks around the church, town hall, and former priory. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Le Boulay, hiking and heritage can provide two specific focal points for your planning. The routes described and the town’s history give you reference points for understanding the character of the destination.

Hiking trails of varying lengths

A network of hiking trails runs through Le Boulay. Two named routes start at the same address, 1 allée des Tilleuls. The “Balade Familiale” is a 3 km walk rated very easy. The “Circuit Le Boulay” covers 9 km and is described as an easy hiking trail. Their lengths and difficulty ratings clearly distinguish the two options: you can choose between the shorter route and the longer trail without having to plan for different starting points.

Check local conditions before setting out.

Landscape and former railway line

La Mulochère is the highest point in Le Boulay. The Glaise is 12 km long and forms the northern and northeastern municipal boundary until it meets the Brenne. A small mill once operated at this confluence. The river, municipal boundary, and history of the mill provide distinct geographical and historical points of reference for the area.

The former railway line is another point of reference: the “Le Pain Sec” hiking trail follows part of its former route. It also ran along Rue de la Gare. On part of the trail, today’s hiking route therefore meets the route of a former railway line. This connection is a separate historical aspect of the trail, independent of the stated distances of the two routes starting at 1 allée des Tilleuls.

Priory, church, and town hall

A Benedictine nuns’ priory was founded in Le Boulay in the mid-12th century. The Church of Saint-Sulpice corresponds to the chapel of the former priory. The town hall is located in the former priory, more specifically in the former presbytery; its building dates from the 16th century. These connections link three specific local landmarks: the founding of the priory, the church as its former chapel, and the historic building that houses the town hall.

Details at Saint-Sulpice

In the Church of Saint-Sulpice, the high altar reredos is the focus of several art-historical details. It is made of stone, sculpted, painted, and gilded, and divided into three panels. Its shape follows the semicircular plan of the apse. The altar and tabernacle are made of wood. The inscription “Fecit Charpantier” appears on the reredos; the inscription alone does not establish a definitive attribution.

The central painting is an oil painting on canvas depicting the Annunciation. It is a copy after an oil painting by Francesco Albani (1578–1660), known as “l’Albane.” The original was created around 1625–1630 and is now held in the Louvre. An inscription on the Annunciation suggests that S. Desmares, a nun at the priory, painted the picture in 1695 at the age of 27 and gave it to the convent. This remains a suggestion, not a confirmed attribution. The tombstone of Françoise de Montgarny is also located in Saint-Sulpice. It was listed as a movable cultural property on 24 February 1921.

Discover more destinations: Rivière, Chambourg-Sur-Indre, Dierre, Saint-Flovier, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Montrésor, Civray-De-Touraine, Villaines-Les-Rochers.

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