Bélâbre: Old Bridge, Hiking Route and Cultural Trail

If you are looking for a hotel in Bélâbre, the local themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. The Vieux Pont represents a very old bridge with a distinctive form; the “Les bords de l'Anglin n°22” hiking route takes in riverbanks and traces of former mills; and the “Mémoire de rues” cultural trail invites you to compare historic and present-day views of the town. The Église de Nesmes, with its medieval history, is another point of interest. This gives you a range of options for planning your trip, from a specific walking route to architecture and local history.

The Vieux Pont and its design

The Vieux Pont de Bélâbre is a very old, picturesque bridge. Its roadway is uneven, and the structure is defined by numerous arches of different shapes and parapets made of oak planks. These features can be considered together: the undulating line of the roadway, the varied arches and the wood of the parapets give the bridge its distinctive architectural character. If you are interested in architecture, this combination offers specific details to look for, rather than focusing solely on the bridge’s age.

Walking along the banks of the Anglin

The “Les bords de l'Anglin n°22” hiking route is 7.5 km long and marked in blue. It starts at the Bélâbre tourist office and at the entrance to the campsite. Following sunken lanes and riverbanks, it passes former mill races, forges and mills. The route therefore offers two distinct perspectives: the riverbanks and sunken lanes shape the way, while the mill races, forges and mills recall earlier uses of the area. The distance helps you factor the walk into your day’s plans, and the blue markers are another way to identify the route. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The cultural trail and historical connections

The “Mémoire de rues” cultural trail passes through the streets and compares Bélâbre at the beginning of the 20th century with the town today. It features 18 reproductions of historical postcards, each accompanied by explanatory text. The texts draw on archives and local memory. This offers a way to explore local history through images and explanations; the contrast between past and present is central to this cultural experience. If you want to understand Bélâbre through historical views of the town, it offers a different perspective from the Vieux Pont.

The Église de Nesmes is at least as old as its neighboring church in Jovard. In 1092, Pierre II, Bishop of Poitiers, gave it to the Benedictines of Saint-Savin. The church has presumably not been rebuilt since then. While the cultural trail compares postcard views of Bélâbre from the beginning of the 20th century with the town today, the church’s history takes you back to a medieval donation.

Planning your routes

The Bureau d'informations touristiques de Bélâbre is the starting point for two hiking routes and one cycling route. If you plan to use the bureau to help plan your trip, check its seasonal opening hours before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Vicq-Sur-Nahon, Préaux, Néons-Sur-Creuse, Mouhet, Le Pêchereau, Varennes-sur-Fouzon, Eguzon-Chantôme, Ardentes.

See the broader travel guide: Indre.