In the centre of Orchaise stands the Église Saint-Barthélémy. But the town can be discovered through more than its architectural history: a cave, botanical collections and a circular walking route also offer different ways to plan your trip.
A church with two building phases
The Église Saint-Barthélémy was rebuilt in 1898 and retains an 11th-century Romanesque half-timbered bell tower. The church therefore reveals two clearly distinct building phases: the reconstruction and the surviving tower, which is several centuries older. Visitors can also activate two free audiovisual presentations about the fresco. This adds a specific interpretation option to the architecture. Check before travelling whether the presentations are operating.
Grotte d’Orchaise on the wooded hillside
The entrance to the Grotte d’Orchaise is by the Fontaine d’Orchaise, near the mill and at the foot of a wooded hillside overlooked by the church. These named landmarks provide a useful description of the cave entrance for finding your way there. Access to the interior is regulated; check the visiting arrangements before planning a visit.
To date, 1,175 metres of galleries are known in the cave. Exploration is ongoing, so the known extent may increase. The cave is therefore both a specific destination and a place that continues to be explored. Ongoing exploration and regulated access are separate considerations: the former concerns the known extent, while the latter concerns visiting the interior.
Botanical collections in the Parc du Prieuré
The Parc Botanique du Prieuré d’Orchaise covers 3.5 hectares. Along its walking paths, it showcases more than 2,500 trees and shrubs from around the world. Notable collections include peonies, rhododendrons, roses, hibiscus and aquatic plants. The wide selection brings together trees and shrubs with various flowering and aquatic plant groups; visitors especially interested in one of these collections will find a clear focus for their visit.
The park is open year-round by telephone appointment. Arrange your visit by phone. This allows you to include the garden in your plans without mistaking the required appointment for the possibility of spontaneous access.
Two walks, different ways to find your bearings
Les moulins de la Cisse d’Orchaise is a 13.6-kilometre circular walk starting in Orchaise. The route is waymarked by FFRandonnée 41. This gives you a named circular route with a specific distance and stated waymarking for planning purposes.
Les Bois d’Orchaise offers a different way to find your bearings: the Place de l’Église is named as the recommended starting point. The two walks can therefore be distinguished by the different information available. If a known route length matters to your choice, Les moulins de la Cisse d’Orchaise has the specific distance of 13.6 kilometres. For Les Bois d’Orchaise, the recommended starting point is the main reference.
Discover more destinations: Sainte-Anne, Cellettes, La Chaussée-Saint-Victor, Saint-Denis-Sur-Loire, Saint-Gervais-La-Forêt, Saint-Viâtre, Mesland, Pontlevoy.
For the broader travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
