Champ Rocher is situated in the region called "Le pays des mille étangs" (The land of the 1000 ponds). Like Sologne to the nord this country typically shows numerous ponds and moors, with wildlife and birds.
You can visit lots of places :
• Old characteristic villages on the borders of the Creuse and Indre, like e.g. Gargilesse, Angles sur l'Anglin and St.Benoît-du-Sault or la Vallée Noire.
• The ponds of Belle-Bouche and Mer Rouge, famous for the abundance of birds. Here you will find several foot-paths and shelters for bird-watching.
You can gather information on the websites of these pages (all underlined text) as in the Maison du Parc, Le Bouchet at Rosnay as well, where you'll find folders and publications. A must is the green booklet of the Guide pratique, edited by the Parc naturel.
You can make a start by visiting the
An English naturalist, Tony Williams, who's lived in Brenne since 1982 can help you find what you're looking for. e's at the "Cistude" hide every Monday morning (10h to 12h30) in April, May, June and September.
These trips are easily to do by bike. One address to hire bikes: Balades en Brenne, Base de loisirs nature, Les Sablons te Douadic. He brings you the bike to Le Champ Rocher if you ask for. And don't forget : trails are indicated with VTT (Vélo Tout Terrain)!
Gorgeous climbing you can undertake in the woods of Gargilesse or Eguzon.
Sports around the Champ Rocher
•In summertime you can take take a trip on an old train in the neighborhood of Buzançais and Valençay (the line Argy-Luçay-le-Mâle). Information: Gare d'Ecueillé — Tél. 02 54 40 23 22 or visit de website.
• There's a lake as swimming pool on the estate.
• Those who like fishing can make a start on Champ Rocher : pike, carp and roach are the favourites of this region.
• Canoe on the Creuse and the Anglin: the camping in Le Blanc is a good starting point de Canoë Kayak Club Le Blanc or Balades en Brenne.
• On a safe distance shooting on pigeons (clay) can be practised on the fields of Champ Rocher.
• Aviation is possible at Varennes near by Le Blanc : let the adrenaline flow with delta-flyers, parachuting and flying with Ultra Light M.
• The amateurs of golfing can enjoy their sport at Fontgombault at the Creuse , nearby Le Blanc and Tournon (on the D950) or La Roche Posay, Chatellerault Golf Club, Parc Thermal, 86270 La Roche Posay,Tél : 49 86 25 10.
Another golf course : Golf de Loches Verneuil - La Capitainerie 37600 Verneuil-sur-Indre, Tél. +33 (0)2 47 94 79 48
• The lake of Eguzon (300ha) offers families all kinds of watersports, there is a exit on the A20 motorway.
• Karting is possible in Clion-sur-Indre: Circuit de l'Indre, RD 943 Champ du Breuil, 36700 Clion, Tel : 0254386735.
This region offers you more :
- Angles sur l'Anglin (first picture) at 25km is a picturesque village.
- On the road to Blois you find one of the finest animal parks of Europe: ZooParc de Beauval in St. Aignan, 50km north of Champ Rocher.
- Richelieu (second picture) was a creation of the famous Cardinal de Richelieu, it's still a beautiful village. l'Abbaye Notre Dame de Fontgombault
- In Azay-le-Ferron. The castle of Azay-le-Ferron, nestled in a vast and sumptuous park, owes its originality to its duality: one part English garden, one part French garden....
- Ladies! The small city of La-Roche-Posay is famous for its cosmetic industry. In numerous shops you can buy the products of the brand La Roche Posay.
- Famous wine estates : e.g. Pouilly, Sancerre and Vouvray
- Futuroscope at Poitiers
- Bourges and the cathedral
- Orléans, city full of history
- Tours, La Loire and the garden of France
The castles of the Loire :
in summertime the place of numerous lightshows "Son & Lumière"
- Blois : the old royal city
- Chambord : the biggest château of the Loire
- Chenonceau : this castle of the Renaissance is a must for the french gardens.
- Chateau du Clos Lucé at Amboise exposes in the park 40 inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. The excellent website shows animations of airplanes, parachutes, tanks etc, five ages in advance! Irresistible for young adventurers!
- Cheverny : chateau de chasse, famous for the kennel of hounds
- Amboise : the place where Leonardo da Vinci worked and lived his last years, with a small museum
- Villandry : a must for the amateurs of gardening
- Azay-le-rideau : a beauty of the Renaissance.
- Saumur : picturesque city dominated by the castle, home of the French cavalry.
- Valençay : the castle of Talleyrand (diplomat/minister with Napoléon), a parc with peacocks and a museum of classical cars with 60 cars from 1898 to 1979.
Culture and history.
- The royal city of Loches with the dominant donjon (11th century) once was the capital of France. Saturday is market day where you can taste oysters with local white wine of the Loire.
- Le Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, the Festival International des Jardins takes place from 29 april to 17 october. The castle of Catherine de Medicis and the parc invites the gardeners under you!
- the writer Honoré de Balzac (born in Tours) lived for a long period in the Château de Saché in Indre: visit possible
- writer Georges Sand and her lover Fr. Chopin in Nohant : Château de Nohant with the Musée Georges Sand in La Châtre
- Argentomagus : gallic-roman settlement in Argenton
- writer Alain-Fournier who sketched Berry and the Sologne in a classic French novel "Le grand Meaulnes"
- In Bourges you can visit the manuscript "Les très riches Heures du Duc de Berry"
Le propriétaire Karel avec ses amis
The Brenne is a region in Le Berry, situated in the departement Indre. This area is called Le Centre.
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