Cave dwellings
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Quarries, dwellings, refuges: the Pays d'Azay-le-Rideau is covered with countless troglodytic caves or houses. The origins of this rock, which has provided shelter for Man for centuries, lie in the Sea of Chalk which covered the Touraine area 60 million years ago. Minute algae, called coccolithophores, thrived in this warm sea and after their death and decomposition, all that remained was their hard calcareous membrane. As it accumulated on the sea bed over millions of years, this calcerous material formed a very fine sediment, eventually becoming the white and yellow rock we know today. By cutting through the bedrock, rivers such as the Loire have hollowed out the chalk and cliffs have been formed at the sides of the valley, providing a ready made source of shelter. |
Villaines-les-Rochers is a superb example of a troglodytic settlement. There are over 1000 caves in the commune, which were still occupied by a large part of the local population in the 19th century: in 1850, 1,950 people lived in caves, compared with only 200 in traditional houses. This living environment was highly suited to the main occupation of the village: basket making, as the hydrometric characteristics of the caves allow the willow to retain its flexibilty, thus making it easier to work.
Homes, and also refuges: two complexes of underground refuges dating from the Middle Ages have been discovered in the Vallée des Goupillères. Today, these are open to the public.
Mills
Crossed by the River Indre, the Pays d'Azay-le-Rideau features numerous watermills.
18 to be precise, sometimes only a few hundred metres apart.
Four mills can be seen from the bridge at Pont-de-Ruan. Only two of them lie within the commune, the others are in Artannes-sur-Indre.
The Moulins Lambert (Maison du Meunier) [Miller's House], which belong to the commune, were run by four successive generations of the same family. They produced bread flour and ground cattle feed in addition to ice blocks and electricity.
The commune of Saché has three watermills: the Moulin de la Basse-Chevrière (also known as the Moulin Vert), the Moulin Rouge and the Moulin Neuf, now stripped of their machinery.
There are eight mills around Azay-le-Rideau :
- The Moulin d'Aulnay, the oldest of which was probably used to grind bark from oak trees and the most recent of which produced flour.
- The Moulin de Perré is unusual in that it contains a bread oven.
- The Moulin d'Azay-le-Rideau.
- The Moulin de l'Islette, only a few metres from the château of the same name.
- The Moulin de Charrière, complete with its full range of machinery.
- The Moulin de Luré, featuring a horizontal wheel linked to a turbine which was used to produce electricity.
- The Moulin de Marnay dating back to 1026 and formerly a paper and porcelaine factory. Today, it has been converted into a museum.
- The Moulin de la Motte, which today lies abandoned.
Cheillé had two mills: the recently restored Moulin du Roi and the Moulin Neuf.
Like the mill at Perré, the Moulin d'Armentières in Rivarennes features a bread oven.
The Moulin d'Ussé at Rigny-Ussé still has its full range of machinery.
Most of the mills produced electricity during World War Two.
Châteaux and manor houses
| The Loire valley is famous for its many châteaux. In the Azay-le-Rideau area, the Indre valley is home to beautiful manor houses and country residences. Here on the valley slopes, you will find Mazères, Bècheron, la Chevrière, Vonnes, Valesne, Ussé, La Touche, La Chatonnière… All are easily accessible from the RD17 between Saché and Azay-le-Rideau. |
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In the valley bottom, the châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and l’Islette are enhanced by their waterside settings beside the River Indre. In all, more than 15 manor houses and châteaux lend the Azay-le-Rideau area its exceptional character. |
Sources : Toulier Christine, « le canton d’Azay-le-Rideau « , images du patrimoine, 1994.