The "Société d'Animation du Blanc-Argent", a non-profit association under the 1901 law, welcomes you to its three activities:
1) The Bas-Berry Steam Train: Aboard an authentic steam train from the early 1900s, departing from Ecueillé (36), travel through the green countryside of Bas-Berry, the former name of the department of 'Indre. The collection material, magnificently preserved by the volunteers of the association, takes you on a journey full of charm at the beginning of the last century. The train will take you to Argy, a small town near Buzançais where the final goal will be to discover its magnificent castle. At Argy station, a folk group welcomes you to the sound of music and tunes from the past. Refreshment on arrival. Course guaranteed from July 2 to September 24,2023, Wednesdays and Sundays in July and August and Sundays in September.
2) The Bas-Berry railcar: Back in the 1980s with this regional railcar that will remind you of the trips of that time aboard the authentic omnibus that served the line from Salbris to Lucay le Male until October 2009. Withdrawn from the regular service provided by the CBA and the SNCF between Salbris and Valençay in 2015, it has since 2019 been recovered by the association which offers you to travel the route between Ecueillé and Valençay on board. The route through typical fields and woods of Bas-Berry crosses the forest of Gâtines along a bucolic route inviting you to stroll in this region dear to George Sand. At Lucay le Male, you can discover the charming little station, completely refurbished at the initiative of the municipality in 2022, restoring it to its exact state of 1902, the date of its construction. At the end of the route, a 1h30 stop at Valençay station will give you the opportunity to visit the Automobile Museum, partner of the Bas-Berry train. Located opposite the station, your train ticket presented at the entrance will allow you to obtain a reduced price for the visit. Do you prefer to enjoy Nature? No worries, come and discover the gardens of the Parc du Château de Valençay which invite you to admire the magnificent residence of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, known as "Talleyrand", which he acquired in 1800 on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte and with the financial assistance from the latter. This service is offered on Sundays from July 2 to September 3,2023.
3) The Valençay Vélorail: New in 2023, after its creation in August 2022, the vélorail is extended to Lucay le Male, bringing the route to 22 km round trip. A fun, sporting and natural activity, it is the family entertainment par excellence. Original and accessible to all without any difficulty, the vélorail is a small pedal vehicle with electric assistance that allows you to move on the railway track in the heart of the Gâtines forest from Valençay to Lucay le Male via La Gauterie, locality of the commune of Veuil. Ideal in the middle of summer thanks to its shady location, the activity delights everyone, young and old, young and old. Electric assistance saves any effort needed to climb hills. Of course, if the sporty side invites you to exert yourself more, it is always possible to switch off the engine and move forward with the strength of the calves if the heart tells you. The long descent of Les Petouts, between La Gauterie and Luçay will delight everyone by giving the course an exhilarating touch of a roller coaster in the middle of the Minneray woods. On arrival, the technical staff takes care of all the operations of returning the machines to the correct running direction. Service provided from July 1 to September 2,2023, every day from Monday to Saturday.
