A blue-marked walking trail, a five-kilometre route and an estimated walking time of about one hour and 15 minutes provide a useful starting point for planning a trip to Baudres. In addition, green trails, hilly and wooded countryside, bodies of water and the Romanesque church of Saint-Martial offer different possible focuses for a stay.
Trails through the countryside
Baudres is characterised by hilly, wooded and green countryside. There are 44 kilometres of green trails here, 30 kilometres of which are accessible on foot or by mountain bike. The blue-marked walking trail is a clearly defined option: it is five kilometres long, with an estimated walking time of about one hour and 15 minutes. Check the local markings before setting out. Trail conditions may change with the seasons.
The details answer different planning questions: for the blue-marked trail, an approximate walking time is provided as well as its length, while the longer trail routes are described in terms of length and possible uses. From La Moinerie, you can enjoy a panorama over the CĂ©phons Valley. The countryside therefore offers opportunities ranging from walking the trails to visiting a named viewpoint.
The Nichat and Étang des Princes
The Nichat rises within the municipality of Baudres and is classified as a first-category watercourse. If you plan to fish, check the local fishing regulations. This will help you plan a possible stay by the Nichat in accordance with the rules in force.
Étang des Princes is a pond created by the municipality of Baudres, beside the D956. It has picnic areas and shaded areas with fishing spots. The two bodies of water offer different experiences: the Nichat’s source and classification are useful points of reference, while the focus at Étang des Princes is on picnic and fishing areas.
Saint-Martial: architecture and history
The church of Saint-Martial in Baudres is a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century. It is recorded as a church dependent on DĂ©ols Abbey in 1115; in 1819, it became a parish church. These key dates place the history of the church building in context over a long period.
The architecture also offers specific details: the nave ends in a flat chancel. The bell tower is square and has a chapel at its base. Those interested in medieval religious architecture can look at both the shape of the church’s east end and the structure of the tower.
The church’s oldest bell is the Balzème bell, also known as the hail bell. It is thought to date from around the 13th or 14th century. A graffito or inscription in Saint-Martial was registered as a protected object on 13 June 1989.
Planning the festival and your search for accommodation
The Association d'Animation de Baudres holds a recurring festival on the first weekend of June, with activities, a meal and a torchlight procession. It begins with a flea market; there is also a farmers’ market and fairground entertainers. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the dates and programme for the year in question.
When looking for a hotel in Baudres, use the reason for your trip as a first filter: walking trails, bodies of water or Saint-Martial each offer a different focus. Baudres is on the D956 departmental road between Blois and Châteauroux; Étang des Princes is also located along this road.
Discover more destinations: Menetou-Sur-Nahon, Chasseneuil, Meunet-Planches, Maillet, Mouhet, Badecon-Le-Pin, Le PĂŞchereau, Vigoulant
For the overview of the wider area: Indre.
