Discover Preuilly-Sur-Claise: Abbey Church, History and Nature

Preuilly-sur-Claise offers several specific themes for a trip, from sacred architecture and local history to nature and outdoor activities. These include the abbey church of Saint-Pierre, historic buildings and the Musée de la Poterne, as well as the Claise, the Forêt de Tours-Preuilly and a cycling route that starts here. If you are interested in architecture, you can explore construction periods, surviving details and historical functions; fishing and cycling add activities to this perspective.

Churches and sacred art

The Église abbatiale bénédictine Saint-Pierre is classified as a historic monument. It was completed in 1009 as a Benedictine abbey church in the Romano-Byzantine style. The year of completion, its purpose as an abbey church and its stylistic classification describe different aspects of the same building. The nave contains sculpted capitals, and a crypt lies beneath the sanctuary. The nave and crypt are two distinct areas, while the capitals are individual architectural elements with decorative detailing. Saint-Pierre can thus be explored through both its architectural classification and its specific features.

The Ancienne église Notre-Dame-des-Echelles dates from the late 11th century and preserves remnants of wall paintings from the 15th and 17th centuries. The building and the paintings therefore date from different centuries; the surviving paintings also span two distinct periods. The Chapelle de Tous-les-Saints offers a different focus: it is a 15th-century funerary chapel with a wall painting depicting a dance of death. Here, the chapel's function and the image's subject can be considered together. Visits to the chapel are possible by appointment by telephone; arrange your visit before your trip.

Fortifications, museum and local history

The Château des Lions preserves parts of a fortification associated with Preuilly’s former status as the first barony of Touraine. The surviving features include a feudal gate, a round tower and a former prison. These elements give the complex a distinct architectural character while also preserving its historical connection to the former barony.

The Musée de la Poterne focuses on the former prisons and the history of the town. This presents two different ways of exploring the past: at the Château, parts of a fortification have been preserved, while the museum covers the prisons and local history. The Moulin de Chanvre also has its own historical dating. It was first mentioned in a document in 1447 and probably dates from the 10th to the 12th century. These details answer different questions: 1447 is the date of its first documented mention, while the earlier period is its probable construction date.

Pond landscapes and outdoor activities

The Forêt de Tours-Preuilly offers a different perspective, with its many ponds. You can fish on the Claise in Preuilly-sur-Claise. Local rules and access conditions may vary; check them in advance if you are planning a fishing trip.

The Boucle vélo No. 8 – Circuit de la Baronnie starts in Preuilly-sur-Claise. The practical checks for planning fishing and cycling differ: local rules and access conditions may vary for fishing, while for the cycling route you should check signage and services before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Louestault, Céré-La-Ronde, Descartes, Panzoult, Vouvray, La Membrolle-Sur-Choisille, Lerne, Civray-Sur-Esves

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