Day 4 Loches to Crozant 71 miles
Garmin file: https://connect.garmin.com/course/8255570 Elevation Gain – 1241m
Overview
Leaving Loches you will pass through undulating farmland for some time before venturing into the shade of the wooded ‘Parc naturel regional de la Brenne’. A tale of two halves today sees us motoring along straight sections through flat wetland ticking the miles off one minute, and then ending the day in dramatic fashion with a foray into hills, gorges and undulating woodland as we enter the romantic region of Limousin and follow the chatueax lined valley of the Cruese river which from the nineteenth century has inspired many a painter to make their home here.
Practical Notes
- There is a short fiddly section leaving Loches and the road surface is a bit rough on and off for the first part of the morning until about 12 miles in.
- The afternoon is hilly.
Map
Elevation Profile
Start point
At the back of the hotel Du France at 8.45
For those staying at Demure St Ours, go R out of the BnB, follow the road round to the L, through the archways. Just past the archway take the first R (you will have to walk) and roughly 25 metres on, next to an estate agents is the side entrance to Hotel de France, go through here to the back of the courtyard and you will find the rest of the group.
For those staying at the Lucchotel follow the last part of yesterdays notes to get to the start point at the Hotel Du France.
Lunch
At 37 miles – Picnic lunch in Meobecq.
Evening meal
Eat at the hotel you are staying in whenever you are ready (after 19.00).
Route Notes
Miles Route
- Leaving the back of the hotel come to a T-junction at a stop sign and go R to the lights. Continue through the lights and go R at the next lights follow the road round to the R. Further along go straight over the r-bout and keep straight on.
Follow the road round to the L then continue over a rail track, small river and continue past the hospital.
0.9 At a small crossroads opposite a small stone courtyard just before a pedestrian crossing go R to St Germain 8 and St Hippolyte 11 along Rue De L’ Abbaye. Be careful not to miss this turn.
Continue past the church and Town Hall on your L and follow the road round to the L.
1.0 At the stop sign go R to St. Hippolyte. Stay on this road (D92).
5.5 Come to a T-jcn in Saint-Germain and go L to St. Hippolyte 3.5 along the D89. Continue to St Hippolyte
7.9 In the centre of St Hippolyte you will come to a stop sign go L along the D12 then take the next R along the D92 to St. Cyran 6 & Chatillion 12.
There are some toilets set back from the Marie here.
11.4 Come to a T-jcn in St Cyran du Jambot and go L along the D28D.
14.8 At the T-jcn with the D975 go L to St Aignan 39 & Ecueille 19 then take the next R to Le Tranger 6 along the D28.
18.5 Come into Le Tranger and turn R along the D18 to Clion-sur-Indre 2 and Mezieres en B 17.
19.7 Follow the road through Clion sur Indre and at the t-lights go straight on.
19.9 A few hundred metres on just past the Post Office go L along the D24 to Arpheuilles 6 (be careful not to miss this turn).
23.3 At the T-jcn in Arpheuilles go R along the D15 to Saulnay 4 & Ste Gemme 8. Continue into Arpheuilles.
23.4 Turn L along the D24 to St Gemme 8 & Vendoeuvres 14 and continue past the church on your L.
28.0 At Ste Gemme you will come to a church and follow the road round to the R then go L to Vendoeuvres and Mignet 16 along the D24.
29.6 Look out for the L turn to Meobecq 12 and turn L here along the D24A.
31.6 At a stop sign at a crossroads go R along the D11 to Meobecq 9, St Gaultier 21 & Vendoevres.
32.0 A bit further along you will come to a T-jcn with the D925. Go L here to Chateauroux then take the next R to the A20 on the D11 to Meobecq 8, St Gaultier 20.
Back up lunch – If you go R at the junction at 32.0 just stay on the road for ½ mile you will see: Auberge de Saint Sulpice,10 Place Saint-Louis,36500 Vendœuvres, +33 2 54 38 35 21.
37.0 Pass through Meobecq. Picnic lunch is here. There are toilets if you turn L after the church.
41.0 Continue through Nuret-le-Ferron
44.5 At the large r-bout continue straight over along the D11 to St Gaultier. There is a Carrefour supermarket here.
45.0 At the bottom of the descent in St. Gaultier come to a No Entry sign. Go L here to Argenton s/ C. Thenay & ST Benoit. Further along meet a T-jcn and go R to Argenton.
45.1 At the Stop sign go L along the D134 to Argenton.
Take the next R to Thenay along the D927 to Thenay and St. Benoit. Continue over the bridge over the Creuse River.
45.4 At the mini r-bout go L along the D48c to Argenton. Follow the road round to the L and continue along the D48c to Argenton 10.
48.9 Cycle into St Marin and just before you meet the bridge at the La Creuse River go R along the D48 to Argenton 4. Continue with the river on your L. Stay on the D48 following signs to Argenton sur Cruese.
51.1 When you meet with a r-bout go L then go R at the traffic lights along Rue Victor Hugo (if you go straight through the lights to will go over a bridge into Argenton which has a number of amenities). Stay on this fast road (D913) for a few miles.
54.5 Pass the Le Multon place sign, and a few hundred metres on, get into the L filter lane and go L along the D54 to Le Meoux & Badecon. Cross over the river.
54.9 When you come to a T-jcn go R to Badecon Le Pin 4 & Gargilesse 9.
Further along there is a fairly long climb
56.9 When you come to Badecon you will see a church. Turn R to Gargilesse along the D40. Follow the road round to the L past the Marie.
59.0 When you come to Le Pin follow the road round to the L to Gargilesse at Hotel Du Pont Noir, continue up the hill.
60.0 Just past Hotel des Artistes follow the road as it bends round to the R along the D39 to Cuzion.
The road descends and you will go over a bridge before climbing a winding road.
62.8 Cycle into Cuzion and follow the road round to the R to Eguzon along the D45.
The road descends, there are a few tight turns so please take care here.
64.2 When you meet with a road go R to Eguzon 3.5.
64.6 Cross over a bridge and continue round to the L to Eguzon, and then a few hundred metres on go L to Fressignes along the D45c. The river will be on your L. If you are staying at Hotel Table D’Angele then don’t turn L here but go straight on and you will see the hotel after about 100m.
If you aren’t staying at the Hotel D’Angel then further along you will climb a winding road.
66.0 Follow the road through Fressignes.
If you are staying at Maison du lac look out for the B& on your R as you pass through the centre of the village.
La Maison du Lac, 29, Route du Barrage, Fressignes, 36270 Eguzon– Chantome. +33 (0) 676463326
Stay on the road to Crozant.
66.9 At the crossroads go straight over to Crozant.
67.6 Follow the road round to the L to Crozant and then in ½ mile keep an eye out for a sharp turn.
68.4 Turn sharp L to Crozant – Be careful not to miss this turn.
71.4 The road rises in Crozant and eventually you will see the Ruines Hotel
Hotel Restaurant des Ruines,16 route Isabelle d’Angouleme,23160 Crozant
+33 5 55 89 80 56
For those staying at Hotel du Lac, continue on and meet with a road and go L along the D72. The road descends then crosses over a bridge and on your L you will see:
Hôtel Du Lac, Pont de Crozant, Le Goutatin, 23160 Crozant –
+33 5 55 89 81 96