Charité sur Loire
You will be charmed by this city steeped in history. Fond of culture and history, this city, classified City of Art and History, City of the Word and City of the Book, and whose Priory is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Charité sur Loire – a charming town, full of history
This town is a great place for history and culture fans for, as well as being an Art and History Town and a Book Town, it also has a priory which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site ! Situated on the banks of the Loire, the last untamed river in Europe, you can also enjoy paddling a canoe or kayak through the Val de Loire nature reserve, home to 30 types of fish, around 500 plant species and 200 different birds.
Charité sur Loire Priory – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
This unusual town surrounded by ramparts is a joy to discover with its cobbled streets, picturesque flights of steps, medieval atmosphere, literary quotations painted on buildings and its Priory. This fine example of Burgundian Romanesque art, with vaulted aisles, contemporary stained-glass windows and large garden, is steeped in history and an essential stopover for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. From the top of the ramparts there is an amazing view of the Loire and the Pont de Pierre (bridge).
Charité sur Loire - Book Town
Charité-sur-Loire is not a Book Town for nothing and behind its unusual shop fronts are bookshops, calligraphers, illuminators, etc.
It is the ideal place to rummage about and come across THE book you’ve been wanting for years ! Another peculiarity of the town are the words and quotations painted here, there and everywhere on its walls. Every May Charité-sur-Loire welcomes book lovers and literary buffs to its famous Festival du Mot, a celebration of the word in all its forms : drama, music, dance, art ! Other events include second-hand book sales, an antique book and document fair and the Nuit du Livre which combines jazz and books.
Charité sur Loire and its Festival du Blues en Loire
Another major event in the life of the town is its annual Blues Festival during the third week in August which attracts artists from all over the world. Guided tours of the town, including the Priory, are run in July and August by the Office de Tourisme and Cité du Mot cultural association. There are also several geocaching trails.
Make the most of your stay in Charité-sur-Loire and explore the surrounding area especially on a bike ride along the Loire à Vélo, the 800km cycle route along the Loire from Cuffy in the Cher region to Saint Brévin les Pins on the Atlantic coast.
Charité sur Loire – a stopover on the Eurovélo 6 cycle route
Loire à Vélo is part of the Eurovélo 6 cycle route which will eventually link Nantes with Budapest in Hungary. Less than 5km from Charité-sur-Loire, the Forêt des Bertranges is the second largest oak forest in France after the Forêt de Tronçais. It covers almost 10,000 hectares and is home to superb flora and fauna. The forest is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year on foot, by bike or on horseback to admire its century old, tall trees and leafy glades before stopping for a rest near one of its bubbling springs.
Bertranges is home to numerous deer and is criss-crossed with shady footpaths including the Pilgrim Way to Santiago de Compostela. Autumn is the most popular time of year for exploring the forest, picking mushrooms and listening out for the roar of rutting stags. Finally, since the 1980s enthusiastic wine-growers have been endeavouring to revive the Côtes de La Charité vineyards. The current wine-growing area consists of small plots covering a total of 54 hectares and benefits from an IGP (PGI). Its fruity, hearty wine often wins awards in national and international competitions.
« I love wandering through the little streets and searching for the words and quotations painted on the walls, it’s just like a treasure hunt » says Aude from Gites de France.
Discover the loveliest places in Nièvre with Gîtes de France Nièvre : the town of Nevers, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Destination Sancerre-Pouilly Fumé et Giennois, Poterie de Puisaye, Etangs de Baye et de Vaux, Canal du Nivernais, Le Morvan, Lac des Settons, Bibracte.
How to get to Charité sur Loire ?
By road :
Paris (2 hours) : via A6 autoroute, then A77 – exit La Charité-sur-Loire
Lyon (3½ hours) : via A6 autoroute, then RN79, then A77 - exit La Charité-sur-Loire
By rail :
Paris-Clermont Ferrand (2 hours from Gare de Bercy)"
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