LE THOUREIL

Emblematic of the Loire Valley, the old port of Le Thoureil evokes the golden age of inland waterway transport. The old bargemen's houses with their tufa stone facades form a picturesque silhouette at the foot of the hillside.

The village stretches out in a long line of dwellings on the banks of the Loire. Until the 19th century, the history of this area was linked to the various river-related activities: transport and trade, water crossings, ferry mills, fishing, control and tolls, etc. Inland waterway transport and the wine trade had their "golden age" in Le Thoureil in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, there are many reminders of this period when the Loire was a trading river: small houses for bargemen, a merchant's "comptoir", a ceremonial tower and terraced gardens. Take a stroll along the quays on the heritage interpretation trail to appreciate the picturesque charm of the village and the exceptional views over the Loire.