Candes-Saint-Martin, most beautiful village
of France
Dominating the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne, Candes-Saint-Martin reveals itself as a medieval gem with a breathtaking panorama. Stroll through its cobbled streets lined with tuffeau stone houses. Admire its troglodytic dwellings, witnesses to a unique past. Be surprised by the majestic Collégiale Saint-Martin, an exceptional Gothic monument.
The Village
Candes-Saint-Martin is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department and is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The village houses are magnificent and some date back to the 15th century. Their decoration seems inspired by details, giving their charm to the surrounding Châteaux.
As you go up the village, you will discover troglodyte dwellings located in the cliff. Do not miss the lower street, where the Loire boatmen lived at a time when Candes-Saint-Martin was a fishing port. You will also be able to admire the collegiate church where many Kings of France and England visited.
If you enjoy walking, you can climb the hill overlooking the village and benefit from a splendid view of the roofs and rivers. It is located at the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne, on a hillside that offers visitors a very beautiful viewpoint, especially from the bridge overlooking the Vienne. The church was built at the spot where Saint Martin died in 397.
La CollégiaLe
Candes-Saint-Martin, at the border of the Roman Civitas, the Turons, the Andecaves, and the Pictons, is one of the first rural parishes founded by Bishop Martin of Tours in the last quarter of the 15th century. This strategic location undoubtedly influenced Martin's decision to build a church on this site, inhabited since the early Empire.
The collegiate church of Saint-Martin de Candes is a former collegiate church located in Candes-Saint-Martin in the west of the French department of Indre-et-Loire, in the Centre Val de Loire region.
Magnificent stained glass windows, superb Gothic architecture for this abbey church founded by Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, and original, remarkably preserved polychrome statues. A visit not to be missed, in the midst of a charming little village also preserved from major tourist influxes.
Candes-Saint-Martin at a glance
Candes-Saint-Martin is a must-see village of the Loire Valley, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, where the Loire meets the Vienne, between Saumur and Chinon, 1 hour from Tours.
- The village
- One of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, in Indre-et-Loire, where the Loire meets the Vienne; a protected site of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape
- What to see
- The collegiate church of Saint-Martin, the lanes and tufa-stone houses, the troglodyte dwellings, the view over the confluence
- Close by
- Montsoreau, the neighbouring village; Fontevraud Abbey 5 km away; Saumur 20 minutes, Chinon 25 minutes; Loire à Vélo cycle route and GR 3 trail
- Where to stay
- At Château de Candes Art & Spa, 4 stars: 26 places to stay, spa, troglodyte restaurant and Street Art Parc, in the heart of the village
- Getting here
- From Paris: about 2 hours by train to Saumur or Port-Boulet, or 3 hours by road; Saumur 20 minutes away, Chinon 25 minutes, Tours and Angers 1 hour; Port-Boulet station 10 minutes away
Questions & answers
What is there to see in Candes-Saint-Martin?
The collegiate church of Saint-Martin, built where Saint Martin died in 397, the lanes of tufa-stone houses, the troglodyte dwellings, the view over the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne, and the château’s Street Art Parc. Montsoreau and Fontevraud Abbey are a few minutes away.
Where to stay in Candes-Saint-Martin?
At Château de Candes Art & Spa, in the heart of the village: 26 four-star places to stay — château rooms, a 15th-century tower, suites with a kitchen and houses for up to 8 guests — with one hour of spa included per night and access to the Street Art Parc.
Where to have dinner in Candes-Saint-Martin?
At Le Pressoir du Château, the troglodyte restaurant of Château de Candes: candlelit dinner Thursday to Sunday, brunch on Sundays, open to everyone by reservation.
How do I get to Château de Candes from Paris or Tours?
Candes-Saint-Martin lies between Saumur (20 minutes) and Chinon (25 minutes), 1 hour from Tours and Angers and about 3 hours’ drive from Paris. By train: TGV from Paris to Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) in about 1 hour, then a regional train to Port-Boulet station, 10 minutes from the château.
