Wicker

Thanks to its wet valleys, the village of Villaines-les-Rochers has always been a favoured site for the production of wicker. The limestone slopes also offered places to work and the troglodytic dwellings were suitable for wickerwork, thanks to their thermal qualities and modularity.

Artisan basket makers have been working on the site since the 16th century, as proven by the mention of the "baptism of Louis, son of Jean Rossard, basket maker, and Antoinette" in the parish register of June 6th, 1563.

Villaines-les-Rochers was not the sole centre of basket making; during long winter evenings in the 17th and 18th centuries, entire families devoted themselves to basket making. However, while Villaines-les-Rochers still remains an important hotbed of production, the region's other centres have since disappeared. Today, there are around 80 basket makers and 35 willow producers (note that the majority of these willow producers are also basket makers), who together represent more than a third of French production.

Another distinctive aspect of this activity is that the producers belong to a basket making cooperative, created in 1849 by Jean-Laurent Chicoisne, the village priest. He managed to convince the then impoverished basket makers of the benefits of joining forces in the Société des Vanniers de Villaines (Vilaines Basket Making Company) for protection against the wholesalers of the period.

 

Hemp

Bréhémont's geographical situation has favoured the development of hemp production, which requires wet, fertile soils, and for which the River Loire provided a nearby commercial outlet until the arrival of the railways.
In 1853, almost all of the cultivable land was dedicated to hemp growing, which led to the development of related complementary activities, such as rope making, boat building and accommodation for bargemen.

Cultivated on valley bottom land along the Loire, the hemp was retted (left to soak) after harvesting in the waters of the Vieux Cher, the Indre or the Loire. Then, the bundles were dried on the ground before being stored until winter. The hemp was then heated in ovens before being "braked" (beaten) in order to remove the fibres from the central part (known as the hemp chaff). This produces the hemp fibre (tow) which can then be baled.

In 1966, the closure of the crop's one and only buyer, the Bessonneau d'Angers rope factories, sounded the death knell for hemp cultivation. However, it was still grown for paper manufacturing until 1984.

Today, the Community of Communes is keen to support the relaunching of hemp cultivation in its area. It is studying a project covering the entire process, from production to the sale of the finished product.

 

The Poire Tapée

In the 19th century, the village of Rivarennes was famous for its production of Poires Tapées (traditional oven-dried pears), an activity which certainly dates back to the 18th century, and may even have originated in the 16th century. The period of greatest prosperity for this activity was between 1850 and 1930, when the pears were sold by the wholesalers of Chinon and Saumur. At this time, Rivarennes was known as the "commune which spans the Indre and is famous for its so-called poires tapées, which are prepared in a special way" (in Touchard Lafosse, La Loire Historique, 1851).

Production suddenly ceased in 1931, due to competition from American pears. However, a few old traditionalists, such as Léontine Guillon, continued making them every winter right up to the beginning of the 1970s.

These pears were dehydrated in a wood burning oven and then flattened, which meant they could be stored for very long periods, making them very popular with bargemen.

These pears can be eaten dried or rehydrated in red wine or brandy. They are equally delicious as a dessert or served as an accompaniment to meats.

 

Fishing on the Loire

Barrages were used for shad and salmon fishing. Nets were strung over stakes driven across the river and a square net attached to a lever system with a counterbalance was operated from a boat at one of the ends. The fishermen hauled up their nets once the fish signalled they were trapped in the barrage by moving the strings attached to the net.
Different techniques involving other mobile or fixed systems were also used (creels, cast nets, etc.).

Today, these types of fishing have almost totally disappeared form the Loire valley landscape. Only a handful of enthusiasts still own the "cabin" boats used for this activity.

 

Wine growing and arboriculture

Wine growing and arboriculture are long-established activities in the canton of Azay-le-Rideau. The commune of Vallères bears witness to this, as its name, derived from "Avallaeria" (or glade of apples) dates back to Gallo-Roman times (1st century AD). The Azay-le-Rideau vineyard, which produces Touraine appelation d'origine contrôlée wines, figures amongst the oldest in the whole region!

Fruit growing is the primary economic activity of the canton. Predominating in the centre of the area (Lignières, Vallères and Azay-le-Rideau), it currently accounts for approximately 900 hectares of orchards exploited 50 arboriculturists, i.e half of all professionals in the département. In 1990, 40,000 tonnes of apples and 20,000 tonnes of pears were produced in the canton's 1,200 hectares of orchards.

As for wine growing, the rosé wines are made primarly from Grolleau grapes, a local variety. Lively, light, elegant and delicate, these rosé wines are pale in colour with purplish highlights. The white wines are made from the Chenin grape. Fruity with a hint of liveliness, they are both tender and supple.