Ciron: Petite Brenne, Creuse and local history
Accommodation in Ciron
Half of Ciron lies in the Petite Brenne. The Creuse is also an important point of reference for the area's routes and buildings. When planning a stay, you can consider the landscape and history as distinct highlights: the “Des bords d'étangs au bord de Creuse n°26” hike leads from the pond landscapes to the Creuse Valley; the parish church, château and monuments point to different aspects of local history. This makes it easy to choose what to explore based on your interests.
Landscape and routes along the Creuse
The “Des bords d'étangs au bord de Creuse n°26” hike links the Brenne's wild pond landscapes with the scenery of the Creuse Valley and its notable buildings. The route focuses equally on the landscape and architectural heritage.
From Ciron, you can follow the Voie Verte on foot to the hamlet of Visais in the commune of Le Blanc, or head towards Rivarennes via Scoury and Chitray. The route is more than 70 kilometres long, follows former railway lines and is intended for cyclists and walkers; there are few changes in elevation. Check route conditions before setting out. The Voie Verte's length, gentle gradients and connections to the places mentioned help you find your bearings; hike n°26 links pond landscapes, the Creuse Valley and notable buildings.
For a break by the water, Plage de Romefort is a public riverside area on the Creuse, opposite Château de Romefort. It serves as a picnic area and is close to the start of the hike from the ponds to the Creuse.
Local history and buildings
The village of Ciron developed around the parish church of Saint-Georges. Château de Romefort was the seat of the lordship, but remained separate from the historic village on the opposite bank of the Creuse. The château itself is not open to visitors.
The Dolmen et cromlech de SĂ©nevaut is a point of reference for prehistory: a Neolithic archaeological site in Ciron. The site was classified as a historic monument in 1889. This distinguishes its Neolithic construction from its later designation as a monument.
The Lanterne des morts in Ciron is also part of the area's architectural history: it dates from the 12th century and was among the first buildings in France to be designated historic monuments in 1862. It consists of a five-metre-high cylindrical column topped by a scale-patterned cone, set on a square platform accessible from one side.
The Sivel and Croce Spinelli monument marks a different historical event. The obelisk stands on Rue de l'Église-Saint-Georges and commemorates the deaths of balloonists Théodore Sivel and Joseph-Eustache Crocé-Spinelli in the accident involving the airship “Le Zénith” on 15 April 1875.
The Maison forte de la Boissière is in the hamlet of La Boissière in Ciron, on the Creuse. It consisted of an almost square tower with a lower room and two floors above it. Partially protected as a historic monument, the listing covers the tower, the adjoining building, the building mound, the moat and its walls, the gate and the drawbridge. It was listed on 16 September 2004.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Hilaire-sur-Benaize, Crozon-sur-Vauvre, Jeu-Maloches, Saint-Chartier, Douadic, Baudres, Le Pêchereau, Fléré-la-Rivière.
For the regional travel overview: Indre.
