At the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, not far from Saumur
Indeed, not the slightest cow, nor the smallest calf, can graze between these two villages, since they extend one another, hence this nice local saying, still used. However, this does not prevent the former from being in Indre-et-Loire and the latter in Maine-et-Loire.
The best way to get to Candes, moreover, is to walk from one to the other, from one alley to the other, between the white tufa houses, many of which are classified.
Crossing the village by car is, on the other hand, a little complicated, because the narrowness of the "main" street is such that those who go in one direction are forced to snuggle up in the slightest little indentation to let those who go in the other direction pass, and vice versa!
In addition to its alleys, its houses, its abbey, and its peaceful atmosphere, the village enjoys a privileged location since it dominates the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers.
It also houses very interesting craftsmen's activities, including a perfumer, a world-famous nose, who has created perfumes linked to historical characters.
A pretty legend...
Candes, finally, is the source of a beautiful legend... Saint-Martin, bishop of Tours, exercised his ministry there, before dying there in the year 387, around mid-November.
But the Tourangeaux did not like it at all that he was buried there, eager to bring him back to his good city of Tours. So they stole her remains, outright, and placed her on a "toue" of the Loire which, as everyone knows, is a flat-bottomed boat capable of sneaking between the characteristic sandbanks of the Loire.
The problem is that, in 387, the outboard engine had not yet been invented... as a result, the river's upwelling, and against the current, moreover, was quite slow. However, as this rise progressed, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred, since both banks, as the boat passed, began to bloom.
And, indeed, around mid-November, there is quite often a short period of return of sweetness... and this period, in the region, is called "the summer of Saint Martin's Day".
Location
Take the D 751, which runs along the south bank of the Vienne river and connects Chinon with Saumur via Candes-Saint-Martin.
Mairie de Candes
Tél. : 02.47.95.90.61
mairie.candes.st.martin@orange.fr
https://candes-saint-martin.fr/
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