In Huismes, the landscape differs between the Loire and Indre sides. Cultural sites in Huismes include Église Saint-Maurice, Château d’Usage and Maison Max Ernst; Bois Chétif nature reserve is part of the landscape.
Church and château: different architectural histories
Église Saint-Maurice dates from the 12th and 13th centuries and was restored in the 19th century. A 16th-century gallery connects the church to the Doyenné. Parts of the church were classified as a Monument historique in 1913 and listed as a Monument historique in 1940.
Château d’Usage tells a different story of change. It includes a residential building from the 15th century, extended in the first half of the 16th century. In the 19th century, the dovecote was converted into a chapel. The château and park are listed in the Inventaire des Monuments Historiques. Huismes’ current municipal administration has faithfully restored a washhouse in the town.
Cultural sites and visible architectural features
The painting studio and art repository at Maison Max Ernst now host temporary exhibitions, conferences and concerts. As the programme may change, check the latest dates before visiting. The upper floor also houses a documentation centre dedicated to the artists. This site brings together changing events and its own documentation resources.
Plum-drying ovens are also among Huismes’ distinctive visible features. Some are built onto houses, while others are carved into the tuff of troglodyte dwellings.
Bois Chétif between the Loire and Indre
The Bois Chétif nature reserve includes departmental plots that form part of the levee system and are located in the communes of Huismes, La Chapelle-sur-Loire and Avoine. The landscape itself also varies by river side. On the Loire side, Bois Chétif consists of alluvial woodland with ash, black poplars and pedunculate oaks. On the Indre side lies one of the last bocage landscapes in Touraine.
The ENS Bois Chétif and its facilities are accessible year-round to all visitor groups. Temporary restrictions may apply for safety, flood, ecological or maintenance reasons. Check for current notices before your visit if you want to plan your stay around access to the area.
Cycling route and walking trail
The difference between two routes can be stated directly to help with your choice: the Loire à Vélo cycling route crosses Bois Chétif for 6 km; the Sentier pédestre de Huismes – Circuit N°1 passes by Château de la Villaumaire. Château de la Villaumaire was built on Gallo-Roman foundations, mainly in the 15th century.
When planning a specific outing, it is worth checking the latest route information: conditions, access and route alignments may change.
Discover more destinations
Ports, Civray-De-Touraine, Mazières-De-Touraine, La Riche, Chenonceaux, Monts, Reugny, Jaulnay
For the overview of the wider region: Indre-Et-Loire.
