Sologne villages worth seeing from Romorantin

Which Sologne villages are worth seeing?

Nine stops, listed by driving time from the cottage. Sologne villages are recognisable by their brick and half-timbered houses, gathered around a church or a market hall.

• Mennetou-sur-Cher (18 min, 16 km): a fortified medieval town on the Cher, on the V46 cycle route.
• Bracieux (31 min, 32 km): a village around its old timber market hall, at the gates of the Chambord estate.
• Saint-Aignan (33 min, 44 km): a Romanesque collegiate church, a painted crypt and the château terrace above the Cher.
• Chaumont-sur-Tharonne (34 min, 33 km): a village built in a ring on a mound, around its church.
• Lamotte-Beuvron (41 min, 40 km): the town where the Tatin sisters created their tart, crossed by the Sauldre canal.
• Nançay (41 min, 40 km): shortbread biscuits, the Capazza contemporary art gallery and the Pôle des Étoiles.
• Pierrefitte-sur-Sauldre (42 min, 38 km): a quiet village full of flowers, with its Saint-Martin church.
• Souvigny-en-Sologne (53 min, 51 km): the church and old houses around the square.
• Aubigny-sur-Nère (62 min, 57 km): the town of the Stuarts, with half-timbered houses and a château.

Which route fits in a day?

Two loops stand out, one to the east and one to the west.

• The eastern loop: Chaumont-sur-Tharonne in the morning, lunch and tarte Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron, then Pierrefitte-sur-Sauldre and Nançay on the way back. Add the Maison des Étangs in Saint-Viâtre (29 min) on the way and you will have seen the Sologne of the ponds.
• The Cher loop: Mennetou-sur-Cher in the morning, then Saint-Aignan along the valley. This is the day to combine with Beauval Zoo, five minutes from Saint-Aignan.

Aubigny-sur-Nère deserves a day of its own: the town was given to a Scotsman in the 15th century and celebrates its Franco-Scottish history every summer.

What to bring back from Sologne villages?

Tarte Tatin is best tasted in Lamotte-Beuvron, where it was born. Nançay shortbread is sold in the village. Bracieux holds its market under the hall. Market days vary from one village to the next: check each town hall's website.

Where to find up-to-date information?

The Sologne Tourisme tourist office covers the villages of Loir-et-Cher, Berry Province those of the Cher department (Nançay, Aubigny-sur-Nère) and Tourisme Loiret the northern Sologne. More walking ideas are in our guide to the ponds and forests of the Sologne.

Why set off from Romorantin?

Romorantin is the largest town in the Sologne and sits in the middle of these villages: none is more than 62 min away. The house sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms, with an enclosed garden. Details are on the cottage page, prices (allow €130 a night for 4 guests, taxes and fees included) on rates and booking.