Chalais: Heritage, Landscapes and Beekeeping

Chalais offers visitors a variety of points of interest: a late Romanesque church, historic buildings near Rocheblond, a circular trail with changing landscape views, and insights into winegrowing and beekeeping. You can tailor the focus of your trip to your interests.

Cultural history in Saint-Léobon and Rocheblond

Saint-Léobon is a late Romanesque church built between the 12th and 15th centuries. It has a single nave and a flat-ended choir; both sections are covered by pointed barrel vaults. The nave is the main space of the church, while the choir is the liturgical area adjoining it. This makes it possible to distinguish the building’s basic layout from the shape of its vaults as two separate features. Wall paintings from various periods have also been uncovered in the church. On 20 December 2007, Saint-Léobon was listed in its entirety as a historic monument.

The Rocheblond site, which overlooks the Anglin, has been documented since the 12th century. The present manor house dates from the 15th century and stands on a rocky promontory above the Anglin River. The Château de la Gâtevine also has historical connections: it is said to have been founded in 1443 and was dependent on the Marquisate of Bélâbre.

Trails and landscapes along the Anglin

The “L'Anglin, de roches en roc” circular trail offers varied terrain and different landscape views. It passes close to the Luzeraise forest. If you choose an outing based on its landscape, two specific points can help guide you: the changing terrain and the proximity to the forest.

Another route option is the Route Européenne d'Artagnan. From the Rocheblond station in Chalais, you can travel along it on horseback, by carriage or by bicycle. It is certified as a Council of Europe Cultural Route. Places are limited, so take this into account when planning. The range of ways to travel makes this route a different choice from the circular trail, whose description highlights terrain and landscape views.

The area’s nature designation also helps clarify the descriptions of its landscape: Chalais is part of the continental ZNIEFF Type 2 area “Haut bassin versant de l'Anglin et du Portefeuille”. Part of this area is included in the Natura 2000 site “vallée de l'Anglin”. The municipality’s inclusion in the ZNIEFF and the inclusion of part of the area in the Natura 2000 site refer to different geographic extents.

Discover winegrowing and beekeeping

At La Barre, winery tours are available year-round by prior arrangement. Wine tastings are also offered there: tasting is free with a wine purchase; otherwise, it costs 5 euros. Tasting terms may change, so check them before your visit.

At the Ferme de Laleuf, you can discover the world of beekeeping. Nearly 80 resident bee colonies live across 30 hectares of meadows, flowering hedgerows and woodland; no migratory beekeeping takes place there. Chalais therefore offers two distinct local experiences: wine and tastings at La Barre, and beekeeping and the bee colonies kept there at the Ferme de Laleuf.

Discover more destinations: Lignac, Chasseneuil, Villers-les-Ormes, Bélâbre, Valençay, Luçay-le-Libre, Prissac, La Chapelle-Sur-Loire.

For the broader travel overview: Indre.