LES ÎLES D'INDRE

Formerly rocky islands, Indret, Basse-Indre and Haute-Indre now form the only commune in Indre, straddling the Loire.

Indre, the most Ligurian of the Nantes conurbation, offers you this walking trail to immerse yourself in its charming, slightly old-fashioned fishing village atmosphere.
On the Basse-Indre side in particular, because of the topography of a former island in the shape of a rowboat, you'll find yourself wandering through narrow streets known as venelles, which climb towards the heart of the village. In days gone by, the inhabitants of the quays used these passages to reach the centre of the island. The evocative names of some of these alleyways have now disappeared, such as Rue de la Raie, Rue de l'Anguille and Rue de la Marine.
You can stop to contemplate the view. At the corner of a charming garden, you can see the south bank of the Loire, from La Montagne to Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau; to the north, you can see the Tour à Plomb in Couëron.
In the past, the shops in Basse-Indre attracted both local customers and those from neighbouring towns. All the trades were open to the public, and the refreshment stands were always full. Today, Indre's Sunday market is one of the most famous in the region, and is the pride of the town!
On the Haute-Indre side, the town has undergone significant industrial development. Here you'll find the La Bordelaise factory, founded in the early 20th century and now known as Soferti.
Crossing the Loire, after a few minutes at the helm, you can discover Indret, the stronghold of the Manufacture Royale de Canons in the 18th century, whose forge workshop is now a chapel.