I was on my by now monthly road warrior trails of my belle France, I was out with my boys and my good dog Rex riding into the wonderful regions near me. This even if passed by before, is my first time in the town of Clére les Pins, with a historical castle,(see post) worth the visit, and nice church. I will do this post as an introduction in my black and white series, no pictures. Do see my posts on the castle. The village of Cléré-les-Pins is located in the Indre-et-Loire department,37 in the Centre-Val de Loire region of my belle France, Therefore, here is my take on this is Cléré les Pins !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The village is at the center of the RD 34 road linking Cinq-Mars-la-Pile to Château-la-Vallière.(see posts), It is located 15 km from Château la Valliére, 27 km from Tours, 14 km from Langeais, 20 km from Villandry, 273 km from Paris, and 307 km from my current town, We came here from Château la Valliére along the D34 really looking for Vaujours castle (see post) but found this gem (see post), which merits a second visit indeed, You see panel to bear left into the narrow road that is long but takes you to the castle just before reaching the city center of Cléré les Pins.
Other things to see here are the Step of Saint Brice Lying on the edge of the RD 49 road, this large sandstone stone is pierced with natural alveoli. Among the legends surrounding this rock, a hole marks the imprint of a footprint left by Saint Brice when he passed through to evangelize the region. This stone, which was moved, is said to be a megalithic relic venerated by pagans and then endowed with stories by the first Christians. The Tumulus of La Roche is another testimony to prehistory. This tumulus is located between the farms of La Goiserie and La Sablère. It measures 50 to 70 meters in length and approximately 50 meters in width. Culminating at an altitude of 93 meters (over 300 feet), it is 4.5 to 5 meters high. Its isolation in the middle of a nearly flat terrain indicates an artificial mound that could house the remains of a dolmen. The Church Notre-Dame, was almost entirely rebuilt in 1868. The nave and two side aisles, in the Romanesque style, date from this period. The elegant choir, with its semicircular vault, is supported by two large doubleaux. It has two windows that are a 12C revival, as does the semicircular apse, also with a semicircular vault. A distinctive feature: the spire of its steeple, which is leaning, reminiscent of those of Beaugeois. This church is part of the former parish of Blessed Catherine Tekakwita (Quebec), belonging to the Diocese of Tours. Built in the 19C, this Renaissance-style manor house was once a former fiefdom belonging to the Château de Tours. In the 15C, it belonged to the Le Vayer family, then around 1430 to the wife of Jean Laval. At La Fresnaye, there once stood a priory dependent on the Abbey of Saint Sulpice in Rennes. The buildings of this priory and its chapel were sold as national property in 1793. This 16C private manor house stands on the foundations of an ancient fortress. The estate was once part of the royal seat of Langeais. It was called: La Chétardie, La Chautardière, La Chotardière (from the 15C to the 18C), La Chetardière (1639) , La Chetardière (1699,), La Chetardière (18C), La Cétardière (1829 and 1935). Among the many owners who succeeded one another over the centuries, there was Pierre Leclerc, the first known lord of this estate. It is mentioned in documents from 1355 and 1370. Michel-Denis de la Rüe du Can, Baron of Champchevrier, Lord of Cléré and La Chétardière, squire to the king, appeared in 1789 at the assembly of the Touraine nobility. This manor house, which features 16C pilasters, was acquired in the 17C by the Lords of Champchevrier. Recently restored, the main building has a high attic flanked by a cylindrical chimney converted into a dwelling. The Hostellerie Saint-Louis is located in the hamlet of Les Cormiers. Consisting of a 17C dwelling, the property’s entrance is particularly interesting. It consists of a dovecote porch dating from 1650. Composed of a square half-timbered tower topped with a lantern, it overlooks a basket-handle porch.
A bit of history tell us that the name Claere first appears in a charter dated 1237 in a document from the Abbey of Beaumont-les-Tours. In the 13-14C, it became known as the villa de claero ouclare. In the 17C, it was Cléré-les-Bois, then in the 18C, on Cassini’s map, it was Cléré, then Cléré-les-Pins in 1936. Cléré formed a castellany under the Archbishopric of Tours, with liege homage. When the king came to the Château de Langeais for the first time, the inhabitants were required to each offer him a bundle of rye straw. In the 16C, this fee was converted into an annuity of two pounds of wax, payable on the feast of Saint Maurice. Originally, the seat of justice was in the village of Cormiers. In 1785, it was transferred to the town of Cléré, where the lord built a house, still called the Palace, to house the justices. The gallows were located near a small cemetery, adjoining the church on the side of the main gate. In 1213, the Cléré castellany belonged to Geoffroy Godeschal, banneret knight; in 1248-85, to Hardouin, Baron of Maillé. It then passed to the Perrouin household. By deed of January 25, 1567, Jacques de Perrouin sold it to Pierre de Laval de Lezay, who died at La Chétardière. In May 1582, and buried in the church of Cléré, was Michel-Denis de la Rue du Can, baron of Champchevrier, who appeared in 1789, at the assembly of the nobility of Touraine.
The official Château de Champchevrier: https://champchevrier.fr/
The town of Cléré les Pins on its heritage : https://www.clerelespins.fr/fr/44/eglise-et-chapelles
The Centre Val De Loire, Touraine region tourist office on the castle : https://www.tourainevaldeloire.com/en/activities/all-visits/a-day-at-the-castle/chic-the-chateau-de-champchevrier/
There you go folks , a nice quant town worth a detour me think. The area is wonderfully located to visit other wonders of my belle France, Again ,hope you enjoy this post on this is Cléré les Pins !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 