I am coming to the end of my road warrior trips, and again I needed to stop by Bourgueil ,in the department 37 Indre et Loire of the beautiful Centre Val de Loire region. This one is a familar one as been here a couple times for the wines but had time to see some. This time was no exception and was able to re visit the Church Saint Germain that was in renovation on the exterior and the halles or covered market. These again proves the choices are endless and each time we see a bit more of my belle France. Therefore, let me tell you a bit more of Bourgueil. Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Bourgueil is located in the Indre-et-Loire department 37 in the Centre-Val de Loire region. It is located in the heart of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park. The town is located in the Touraine Angevine, formerly the province of Anjou. It is at 20 km from Saumur and 12 km from Chinon as well as 301 km from my house.
The Church Saint-Germain has a Romanesque nave contrasting with a Gothic choir. The choir was rebuilt in the 13C in the Plantagenêt style. The front door was renovated in the 12C. It is a rectangle whose vaults rest on four monolithic columns. The keystones are decorated with bas-relief and painting. The old 11C nave was rebuilt in 1888. However, the church was recorded as early as 1002 by a papal bull of Pope Sylvester III.
The bell tower dates from the beginning of the 12C, it is Romanesque, it is pierced by two semicircular bays on each side. The original gable is still visible, it is composed of small stones forming a reticule. The nave as a whole was restored and the side aisles redone by 1887-1888. The Choir comprises three naves of three bays, it is an example of Angevine architecture from the end of the 12C. The arches of the vaults rest on four columns forming a square and surmounted by carved capitals. The keystones and those of the doubleaux are decorated with sculpted figures. Outside, the corbels bear sculptures of the heads of grotesque figures.
The Halles or covered market constitute the heart of the city, they are surrounded by the main shops and services of the city center. On its south side, the building of the old city/town hall is attached to it, it is from the beginning of the 19C and overlooks the north side of the Saint Germain Church. Les Halles were rebuilt at the beginning of the 19C on the site of an earlier halle. Bourgueil market has long been known to be one of the most important in Touraine.
The city of Bourgueil on its heritage: https://www.bourgueil.fr/patrimoine-2/
The Touraine Valley of the Loire tourist office on Bourgueil heritage trails: https://www.touraineloirevalley.co.uk/natural-heritage/patrimonial-trails-of-bourgueil-bourgueil/
There you go folks, always nice to be back in Bourgueil. There is so much to see here and so much architecture and history in the valley of the kings of France! And with great wines too; I am king here too. Hope you enjoy my return to Bourgueil as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
Leave a Reply