Discover Chitenay

Chitenay is a rural, heavily wooded commune in the Sologne viticole agricultural region. The landscape, regional cheese and wine connections, and history associated with Denis Papin provide practical points of reference when choosing a hotel in Chitenay. You can weigh up whether you are mainly interested in nature and trails, local history or regional specialties. Other points of interest include Notre-Dame Church and a seasonal miniature railway attraction.

Character, cheese and wine

Chitenay lies in the Sologne viticole agricultural region and is rural and heavily wooded; forests cover 27 percent of the commune. Forests and agriculture are thus two distinct facets of the area. There are also specific AOP designations: Chitenay lies within the production areas for Selles-sur-Cher goat’s cheese and the Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny and Crémant de Loire wines. For travellers who also take cheese and wine culture into account when choosing a destination, these designations provide a precise regional point of connection.

Denis Papin and Notre-Dame Church

The earliest written mention of Chitenay dates to 1144 and refers to the Ecclesia Castanea. Another historical connection is Denis Papin: the physicist was born in August 1647 at Les Coudraies in Chitenay, at his grandmother Jehanne Dufour’s closerie. The settlement’s early written history and a specific biographical connection from the 17th century thus sit side by side.

Notre-Dame Church dates from the 14th century and is dedicated to Saint Denis. Its façade was rebuilt in the 16th century, while the church also bears traces of the 11th century. Chitenay’s walking trails pass by it, bringing the building’s history and the trails together at a specific landmark. The church houses a collection of 13 paintings entitled “Les douze Apôtres et le Christ.” The collection is listed as a protected object under decree no. 7117 of December 8, 1977. The title refers to the twelve Apostles and Christ; the collection comprises 13 paintings in total.

Walking trails and a seasonal railway attraction

The easy circular trail “Découverte du vignoble de Chitenay” starts in Chitenay and is 8.2 kilometres long. Check the current route file before setting out, as distances and conditions may change. Another circular trail in Chitenay is called “À la rencontre de Denis Papin.” The names indicate different thematic approaches: the first route refers to winegrowing, the second to Denis Papin.

The “Circuit Vapeur Denis Papin” complements the trails and historical landmarks with miniature railways. It includes several miniature railway layouts, including a track more than 250 metres long with a gauge of 7¼ inches. Children can ride on this track in a miniature TGV. These technical details give the railway attraction a distinctive character alongside the walks and the church’s architectural history. From May to September, the Circuit is open to the public one weekend per month. Check opening times before you arrive.

Discover more destinations: Montlivault, Neung-Sur-Beuvron, Chambord, Sasnières, La Ferté-Beauharnais, Villexanton, Briou, Pierrefitte-Sur-Sauldre

Return to the main travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.