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About
Le Grand Presbytère is a property comprising two gites, this is the former presbytery, located in the center of the town of Beaulieu-lès-Loches , in Touraine, close to the largest castles in the Loire Valley and the South Touraine, passing by the ZooParc de Beauval , the Futuroscope the garden village of Chédigny and Montrésor one of the most beautiful villages in France .
The Presbytery was the former residence of the parish priest and was located at the apse of the Saint-André church, now almost completely destroyed. We say "almost" because in the courtyard, you can see the last vestiges of this church, in particular the buttresses of its apse.
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The date of construction of the presbytery is not known but as it was the presbytery of the Saint-André church, it is certainly prior to the 17th century.
Cottage L'Atelier
The Saint-André church seems to have been built between 1173 (no mention of this church in a document on Beaulieu) and 1275 (date on which we find a first appointment of a priest). Excavations carried out in 1901 suggest a possible construction in the 10th - 11th centuries.
The parish of Saint-André was suppressed in 1791.
A description, taken from a drawing by Louis Boudan (1699) and written by Jean Hardion and Louis-Auguste Bosseboeuf of the Archaeological Society of Touraine, allows us to imagine it : " Above the bedside, circular or canted sides, and lit by several windows, stood a cross. What attracts the most attention is the bell tower to the west. It is a beautiful Romanesque tower, less imposing it is true, than that of the abbey, but still of happy proportion, with pinnacles at the upper angles, and which is reminiscent of that of the abbey ".
Drawing by Louis Boudan (1699), view of Beaulieu-lès-Loches,
entitled: "View of the towns and castles of Loches and Beaulieu, in Touraine, on the Indre river, nine leagues from Tours and five from Cormerie"
On the right, we can see the old Saint-André church,
and to its right, most certainly the presbytery.
Location map of the Presbytery and the old Saint-André church
of Beaulieu-lès-Loches - Cadastre 1827
Remains of the Saint-André church visible in the courtyard of the Presbytery,
Beaulieu-lès-Loches - Cadastre 1827
Beaulieu-lès-Loches is located at the gates of Loches and its Royal City , pleasantly positioned in the valley of the Indre, a river that crosses the town with a rich historical heritage.
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Beaulieu-lès-Loches has the distinction of being classified among the " Small Towns of Character " .
Classification mainly linked to its centuries-old abbey , the richness of the old buildings and its town planning of medieval origin .
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The Bellilocienne city is nestled between:
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- the limestone hillside pierced by old quarries for the extraction of tufa which was used for the construction of many buildings, then some of these cellars will be reused for the cultivation of mushrooms,
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- the Beaulieu canal fed by the Indre,
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- the " Prairies du Roy " , a 240-hectare wetland with agricultural and cultural functions since since 2010, several interpretive trails have been laid out in this Sensitive Natural Area.
View of the former abbey of Beaulieu-lès-Loches
from the Grand Presbytery
Beaulieu-lès-Loches is a peaceful town of just under 1800 inhabitants.
It is located 20 kilometers from the A85 motorway (exit n°11 Bléré-Loches), you just have to follow the Departmental Road n°31, direction Loches, to find the signposts "Beaulieu-lès-Loches".
The Grand Presbytery is located at the center of a multitude of activities, ranging from sports activities ( Chemillé-sur-Indrois leisure center ) to the largest castles in the Loire Valley and South Touraine ( Chenonceau , Amboise , Loches , Chambord , Bridoré , Betz-le-Château , Grillemont , La Guerche , Le Rouvray, Le Châtelier and many others), passing through the ZooParc de Beauval , the Futuroscope , the garden village of Chédigny (the only village in France label " Remarkable Garden " ) and some of the most beautiful villages in France ( Montrésor , Crissay-sur-Manse , Candes-Saint-Martin ).
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Shows or artistic events such as the Solar Nights of Montrésor (one of the most beautiful villages in France), the Scénoféerie de Semblançay, the writers at Gonzague Saint-Bris , the Rose Festival, American Tours Festival , Terres du Son and the Bodin's Grandeur Nature farm are nearby.
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The pretty villages of southern Touraine ( Chaumussay , Boussay , Ferrière-Larçon , etc.) are to be discovered in particular via numerous hikes.
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Find all of these activities on our interactive map .
Abbey of Beaulieu-lès-Loches
Chateau de Boussay, Touraine
Former priory, Le Louroux, Touraine