Issoudun in Berry
People often go through the town without paying attention to its treasures dotted among the fields of bright sunflowers !
Issoudun in Berry, a cultural and gourmet stopover.
People often go through the town without paying attention to its treasures dotted among the fields of bright sunflowers ! In fact, the Musée Saint-Roch has such rich collections that the artist Zao Wou-Ki (one of the greatest Chinese artists of the 20th century) decided to bequeath it the whole of his personal art collection which includes works by Picasso, Dubuffet, Paul Klee and Giacometti !
And as for the town itself… it was celebrated by Balzac who often stayed here ! Attractions include the Tour Blanche, an impressive bell-tower, historic districts, fortifications, the River Théols and lovely gardens.
Once a royal town, Issoudun has a fascinating, turbulent history. In 2017, the famous luxury brand Louis Vuitton and Issoudun celebrated 100 years of manufacturing leather goods in Indre.
« With all due respect to Paris, Issoudun is one of the oldest towns in France » wrote Honoré de Balzac.
Two sight-seeing musts to discover Issoudun
There are two key places to visit to discover Issoudun. The first is La Tour Blanche, a unique, 12th century keep at the heart of the town with links to Blanche de Castille, Philippe Auguste and Richard the Lionheart. Its wonderful 800-year old architecture is ingeniously highlighted using exceptional visual and sound effects. After a turbulent past, the tower today is a peaceful, grand old lady, well worth visiting and with wonderful views of the town from the top.
The second key place is the Musée Saint-Roch, a real cultural gem ! Take a journey back in time and also around the world, something you wouldn’t expect to do in Issoudun ! Free entry for everyone.
You simply can’t leave Issoudun without eating at La Cognette, the old auberge where Balzac used to go to eat famous massepain d’Issoudun (marzipan), which continues the tradition of cooking local dishes but with a more modern touch !
The Champagne Berrichonne area - black truffles, green lentils and Reuilly wines !
The Champagne Berrichonne is not only the breadbasket of France, it is also a generous and prosperous producer of green lentils, black truffles and Reuilly wines ! Truffle farming has become widespread here. Berry black gold has started to appear at local markets and has gained quite a reputation among local restaurateurs ! You can buy truffles directly from producers to flavour your cooking, a wonderful souvenir of your visit ! Berry also produces green lentils (‘lentille verte du Berry’) whose freshness is unrivalled (‘label rouge’ quality). As well as being good for health, they have a delicious nutty flavour. Take time to stop off at a friendly Reuilly wine cellar to taste the delicious wine which comes in three colours - red, white and grey (‘gris’ is a type of rosé and a popular aperitif !).
Japan in Berry ? It’s true, the Champagne Berrichonne is the centre of an unusual mix : Japan and Berry ! The renowned Hôtel-Restaurant des 3 Cépages in Reuilly is owned by a Japanese couple, a treat for the tastebuds ! While you are in Reuilly, call in to see Satoshi and Yuriko, the glass-blowers at Atelier J-Verre, who will show you their skills and products.
A village for lovers in Berry !
Now, you really must discover Saint-Valentin, the only village in France named after the patron saint of lovers ! Surrounded by fields, the treasure of this village is its Franco-Japanese restaurant, le 14 Février, whose reputation has earned it a Michelin star.
« It’s essential to take time to see the colours change with the seasons and in particular the effect of clouds and the sun » says Carole, owner of Gite de Villenoue at Chouday.
There are two ways to get to Issoudun : by train to Issoudun station or by car via A20 Paris-Toulouse autoroute (toll-free in Indre département). After Issoudun, continue your discovery tour at the Château de Valençay."
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