Pont-de-Ruan is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, 21 km south-west of Tours.
Its territory of 5.7 km² is crossed by the course of the Indre, but the bridge which gave its name to the locality is located at the "eastern" limit of this one and somehow leads to the neighboring town of Artannes-sur-Indre.
Remaining very green, the landscapes of Pont-de-Ruan are made up of forests (37% of its area), as well as arable land (25%) and meadows (24%).
Also having a rich heritage, the town has attracted many new residents with its living environment and its voluntarism (development of subdivisions). The population has doubled since 2010, now standing at almost 1200 inhabitants.
No doubt they appreciate the singular charm of the village which developed in the Middle Ages and which Balzac made famous in his novel "Le Lys dans la Vallée": "Here is the village of Pont-de-Ruan, a pretty village surmounted by an old church full of character, and as painters seek for their paintings." The writer has also stayed in the town several times… It's up to you to follow in his footsteps and take advantage of the extensive leisure offer.
Several sites and heritage elements are to be discovered during a walk in the village and its surrounding countryside.
This route can start with the Church of the Holy Trinity. It replaced from the 11th century an original building built by the bishop of Tours in place of a Roman villa in the 5th century, and which was devastated during Norman raids.
Raised on a hill overlooking the Indre, on the left bank, in the Romanesque style, it has a magnificent portal from the 12th century, a period during which the openings of the nave were adjusted while the choir was later (13th century). As for the bell tower, it was added even later. Listed in the Inventory, the church houses a few graves (from the 14th to the 18th century).
See next, the so-called Balzac mills, because they were also mentioned in "Le Lys dans la vallée". Established on the Indre since the Middle Ages, they were dedicated to milling production before being used to supply electricity and even ice in the 20th century. Protected as historical monuments, the mills were acquired by the municipality in 1993 which carried out their restoration (wheels, stone millstones). The site is run by an association and hosts artistic exhibitions and activities linked to the region in the summer. Guided tour in season. Information on +33 2 47 26 81 30.
Still in terms of heritage, it is still worth mentioning the Château de Méré, "straddling" between the municipalities of Pont-de-Ruan and Artannes-sur-Indre, rebuilt in the 18th century in a neo-classical style and again remodeled under the Second Empire. Balzac stayed there frequently, and is said to have met Caroline Landriève des Bordes, daughter of the then owners (1832) and whom he considered marrying for a time…
The Alouette manor with its corbelled turrets (16th century), that of Vonnes (17th century), which houses guest rooms and is open to visitors in summer (contact +33 6 64 31 76 84), two sites still and always mentioned by Balzac, and finally the Notre-Dame priory of Relay in the northwest of the territory are also worth mentioning. The latter was founded at the beginning of the 12th century and depended on the Order of Fontevraud. The estate still includes a priory church, a very elaborate portal (17th century) with an arcade framed by pilasters, elements of the cloister and the old building which housed the cells of the monks (16th century). The whole, listed in the Inventory, continues to be the subject of restoration work. Visits and activities are offered in summer by an association. Information on +33 6 64 81 51 09.
On the culture side, shows and association events are scheduled at the village hall throughout the year (contact on +33 2 47 26 81 30) and entertainment is offered at the library (join +33 2 47 73 21 11).
You should also find out about the rich program offered at La Grange Théâtre de Vaugarni, which hosts concerts and plays in an astonishing rural setting. Information on +33 2 47 73 24 74.
For athletes, tennis courts are accessible in the town (to be reserved on +33 2 47 26 81 30), a pétanque court, a bowling alley, a city stadium and a playground. games… Rarer, to the south-west of the town, a track dedicated to off-road car racing has been set up, the Circuit de la Châtaigneraie. Official events take place on the sand track dotted with bumps. Training or initiation sessions are also welcomed. Information on +33 6 81 28 18 90.
There remains the vast potential offered on Pont-de-Ruan in terms of hiking (pedestrian or two-wheeled). The banks of the Indre, like the green and hilly landscapes described in "Le Lys dans la Vallée" and which have remained just as bucolic almost two centuries later, give rise to beautiful walks. Larger routes allow you to reach, for example, the vineyards of Touraine or the great castles of the Loire... Maps and information on +33 2 47 45 44 40.
