Candes-Saint-Martin
A 'most beautiful village in France' at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, where Saint Martin died; its church is simple and ancient.
Candes-Saint-Martin sits at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, its white limestone houses stacked up the hillside, and it is one of 'The Most Beautiful Villages in France.' The Church of Saint-Martin, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, blends Romanesque and Gothic styles, and its porch carvings are exquisite. It was here that Saint Martin of Tours died in 397. A path behind the village leads uphill to a panoramic view of where the two rivers meet, and traditional flat-bottomed wooden boats rest on the riverbank. The village is very small and can be explored on foot in about an hour. It is about 1 km from Montsoreau Castle.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Château de Montsoreau
- Fontevraud Abbey
- Turquant Troglodyte Village
- Château de Brézé
- Musée des Blindés (Tank Museum)
- Château de Saumur
- Notre-Dame de Nantilly
- Saumur Old Town & Place Saint-Pierre