Descartes tourism and travel guide

Photo is of Chatellerault at 21 km from Descartes

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Descartes Excursions & Activities

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Hotels & holiday rentals

Descartes Excursions & Activities

Visit Descartes: highlights and tourist information

Descartes is situated in the Indre-et-Loire department and Centre-Loire Valley region.

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Descartes in Centre-Loire Valley.

Popular places to visit nearby include Chatellerault at 21 km and La Roche-Posay at 23 km.

Descartes, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Chatellerault

at 21 km (direction south-west), in the Vienne department

The quiet regional town of Chatellerault has some notable 18th century townhouses...

See Chatellerault guide

La Roche-Posay

at 23 km (direction south-south-east), in the Vienne department

The castle donjon and the medieval gateway are the main historical monuments in the...

See La Roche-Posay guide

Crissay-sur-Manse

Most Beautiful Village at 25 km (direction north-west)

Explore the lovely stone houses and narrow streets in the tiny village of Crissay-sur-Manse...

See Crissay-sur-Manse guide

Loches

at 27 km (direction east-north-east)

Numerous historic monuments make the citadel in Loches a very interesting place to visit...

See Loches guide

Tavant

at 29 km (direction west-north-west)

Tavant is a small village but a visit to se the murals in the...

See Tavant guide

Chateau du Rivau

Castle at 32 km (direction west-north-west)

One of the more modest castles in the region, both the Chateau de Rivau...

See Chateau du Rivau guide

Angles-sur-l'Anglin

Most Beautiful Village at 34 km (direction south-south-east), in the Vienne department

The pretty village of Angles sur l'Anglin and the river setting make this one...

See Angles-sur-l'Anglin guide

Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

Castle at 36 km (direction north-west)

Not the most luxurious or largest castle in the region, it is the beauty...

See Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau guide

Azay-le-Rideau

at 36 km (direction north-west)

The village of Azay-le-Rideau is best known for its castle but also has a...

See Azay-le-Rideau guide

Chateau de Chinon

Castle at 41 km (direction west-north-west)

Château de Chinon retains more medieval elements than most Loire Valley castles...

See Chateau de Chinon guide

Chinon

at 42 km (direction west-north-west)

As well as the castle, Chinon has a very impressive medieval centre to explore...

See Chinon guide

Futuroscope

Theme Park at 42 km (direction south-west), in the Vienne department

Futuroscope is one of the most popular attractions in France!...

See Futuroscope guide

Chateau de Villandry

Castle at 43 km (direction north-north-west)

The rooms at Chateau de Villandry can be explored, but it is the world...

See Chateau de Villandry guide

Chateau d'Ussé

Castle at 43 km (direction north-west)

The imposing Chateau d'Usse, next to the Loire, is an imposing medieval-renaissance castle surrounded...

See Chateau d'Ussé guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Indre-et-Loire

Find Chatellerault hotels & holiday rentals

Reserve excursions near Descartes

Map of places to visit near Descartes

Markets in and near Descartes

Market days in Descartes: weekly market: Sunday;

• Descartes: market Sunday (0km)
• Le Grand-Pressigny: market Thursday (10km)
• Ligueil: market Monday (12km)
• Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine: market Friday (16km)
• Manthelan: market Thursday (19km)
• Chatellerault: market Wednesday & Thursday all day & Saturday (21km)
• Preuilly-sur-Claise: market Thursday & Saturday (22km)
• La Roche-Posay: market Tuesday & Friday (23km)
• Loches: market Wednesday all day & Saturday (28km)
• Richelieu: market Monday & Friday (28km)

More information about Descartes, Loire Valley

Tourist attractions near Descartes, France

What to do at Descartes? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Descartes.

Heritage sites

• Poitiers église Saint-Hilaire le Grand (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (52km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Crissay-sur-Manse (25km)
• Angles-sur-l'Anglin (34km)
• Montresor (43km)

National Monuments

• Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau (36km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Loches (27km)

Regional Natural Parcs

• Brenne (52km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Eglise de Saint Pierre (Chauvigny) (45km)

Remarkable gardens

• Les jardins du château du Rivau (30km)
• Les jardins de la Chatonnière (36km)
• Touffou (41km)
• Les jardins du château de Villandry (43km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Chenonceau (48km)

Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé)

(see also historical French towns)

• Richelieu (28km)
• Chinon (40km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Etangs de la Brenne (52km)

Amusement park / theme park

• Futuroscope (42km)

Towns of Art and history

• Poitiers (52km)

Geography and distances

Descartes is in the eastern-center of France at 46 kilometres from Tours, the department capital (general information: Descartes is 243 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors arrive in one of the cross-channel ports such as Caen and Le Havre (about 3-4 hours drive from here) or fly into Paris and drive south from there. For driving distances to Descartes from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 3 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Abilly, Buxeuil and Saint-Remy-sur-Creuse.

This page in French: Visiter Descartes