Chouzy-Sur-Cisse between the Cisse and Loire rivers

Chouzy-sur-Cisse lies between the Cisse and Loire rivers and is one of the 160 municipalities in the UNESCO-listed Val de Loire. For planning your trip, you can distinguish between two aspects: the regional landscape and the specific landmarks in the town. The river landscape is complemented by churches, former monastic complexes and a manor house; you can therefore plan your stay around both routes and architectural history.

Landscapes and routes

Loop 21B in the Val de Cisse is a shorter cultural route close to the Loire, following the Cisse and including Chouzy-sur-Cisse. Loop 1 runs between woodland and the banks of the Cisse and is 10 km long. The two routes have different focuses: 21B emphasizes culture and proximity to the Loire, while Loop 1 highlights the landscape of woodland and riverbanks as well as its stated length. When choosing, you can compare a shorter cultural route with a circuit specifically listed as 10 km long.

The Cisse and its history

The history of the Cisse is also connected to how it was used: in 1809, five water-powered grain mills were counted along the river near Chouzy. They represent a chapter in local industrial history in which the Cisse was not only a landscape feature but also a source of energy for processing grain.

Saint-Martin Church and priory

Saint-Martin Church and the adjoining priory were initially affiliated with Marmoutier Abbey near Tours. The new Saint-Martin Church was consecrated on June 24, 1860. These are two distinct points of reference for understanding the religious heritage: the connection to Marmoutier identifies a historical association, while the date marks the consecration of the new church.

The former Abbey of La Guiche

The remains of the former Abbey of La Guiche include part of the cloister and the cellar building. The chapel contains 14th-century tombs for Jean and Guy de Châtillon. A cloister is a covered walkway around a monastery courtyard; the surviving section and the cellar building refer to different parts of the complex. The tombs add two specifically named people to the architectural history. The remains, including the tombs, were listed as historic monuments by decree on February 13, 1926.

The Manoir de Laleu

At the Manoir de Laleu, two round corner towers with loopholes flank the façade. Loopholes are narrow openings in a wall; here, they add a distinctive architectural detail to the description of the towers. The manor house and its chapel were listed as historic monuments by decree on January 23, 1937. The scope of protection also differs: at La Guiche, the listing covers the remains of the former abbey, including the tombs; at Laleu, it names the manor house and its chapel.

The dates refer to different events: the 14th century dates the tombs, 1860 marks the consecration of the new church, 1926 the decree for La Guiche, and 1937 the decree for the Manoir and chapel of Laleu. This makes it possible to distinguish the dating of the tombs, a consecration and the later heritage listings.

Discover more destinations: Montrouveau, Monteaux, Méhers, Couddes, Noyers-Sur-Cher, Avaray, Selles-Sur-Cher, Pontlevoy.

For the overall travel guide: Loir-Et-Cher.