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Discover the riches
du Berry
The best places to visit in Berry
Far from the major tourist centers, Berry reveals itself to those who take the time to discover it.
Situated in the heart of France, it offers visitors rich natural spaces, architectural nuggets and places steeped in history. Made up of the Indre and Cher departments, it also offers numerous opportunities forescapades andoutdoor activities to be discovered from our campsite near Châteauroux.
Top towns to visit in Berry
If you’re more interested in old stones than glass and steel skyscrapers, the Berry region abounds in charming towns and villages, some of them recognized as “Plus beaux villages de France”, such as Apremont-sur-Allier, Saint-Benoît-du-Sault or Gargilesse-Dampierre. The latter, built around an 8th-century castle on a knoll overlooking the Creuse, boasts a picturesque landscape. Many Impressionist painters came here in search of inspiration.
More populous, Bourges impresses with its majestic Gothic cathedral and medieval white streets. The Gothic-inspired Palais Jacques Coeur takes its name from a colorful character who was first a merchant, then an adventurer and later the king’s great treasurer. Bourges also appeals to lovers of nature and walking, with its Marais: 135 hectares of family orchards cultivated along the Yèvre River, to be explored on foot, by bike or by boat… Bourges will be celebrated in 2028 as the European Capital of Culture.
The list of Berrichon’s cultural heritage doesn’t end there, far from it. The châteaux of Meillant, Valençay, Sagonne, Menetou-Salon and Charles VII, to name but a few, will give you an idea of the variety of styles that dot the region. Closer to the Val Vert campsite in Berry, the donjon de Sarzay is an imposing late medieval fortress with 4 towers, topped by covered machicolations. A real playground for budding knights…
Take a stroll through Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, Saint-Chartier, Lys-Saint-George, Saint-Amand-Montrond or Cluis.Berry is also a land of faith, where churches, cathedrals and abbeys have flourished. The region is also a land of faith, where churches, cathedrals and abbeys have sprung up. Crossed by one of the Compostelle pilgrimage routes, the region’s religious edifices include vestiges dating back to the Romanesque period.
This is the case, for example, of thechurch of St-Martin in Vic, which, despite its simplicity, features some very fine frescoes depicting the infancy of Christ. Another example is the basilica of St-Etienne in Neuvy St-Sépulchre, modeled on the round shape of Saint Sépulchre in Jerusalem. The church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gastronomie et terroir berrichon: wines, cheeses and culinary events
Over the centuries, the Berry region has forged a unique terroir that will delight lovers of good food. On the wine front, AOC wines from Reuilly, Châteaumeillant, Sancerre, Menetou-Salon and Valençay accompany the local gastronomy. These nectars feature on the menu of our restaurant, Val Verre.
On the plate, goat’s cheese remains the region’s star product. Delicious AOP cheeses include Pouligny St-Pierre, Crottin de Chavignol and Pyramide de Valençay. To be enjoyed on a piece of bread with a glass of good wine…from Berry, of course!
Other products to try include green lentils, black truffles and black hens from Berry, forestines from Bourges, sablés from Nançay and Croquet from Charost. You can discover all these specialities and many more on the stalls of the outdoor markets of La Châtre, Châteauroux or Argenton sur Creuse.
In the footsteps of Georges Sand, a rich heritage and culture to discover
She remains the emblematic figure of Berry: 19th-century novelist George Sand was born in and spent her life around the town of Nohant. A free-spirited woman, she frequented other major artistic figures, such as Chopin, Delacroix, Musset, Liszt and Balzac. Her novels describe rural life in the Boischaut berrichon.
His house has been preserved , showing the setting in which many of his works were written. A true haven of peace, the rooms and garden can be visited with a guide or during cultural events. George Sand left her mark on other places in the region, such as the Moulin d’Angibault, the Boucle du Pin, the Crozant fortress, the Parc des Parelles and the Villa Algira in Gargilesse-Dampierre.
The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of her death. To mark the occasion, a multitude of events will be organized throughout the year to (re)discover the life and work of George Sand, a major author of French literature.
Family activities in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region
Berry offers a wealth of hiking and biking trails.
For cyclists, there are many options, depending on difficulty and destination. The Cyclo Bohème, for example, crosses the bocage and links the Creuse to the Loire Valley. As for the St-Jacques à vélo, it links Vézelay and Limoges. Several itineraries pass close to the campsite or start there, such as the V49 cycle routes “L’Indre à Vélo and V56 “Saint Jacques à vélo. In addition, our campsite, which has been awarded the “Base VTT” label, is the starting point for 6 mountain bike trails of varying length and difficulty.
Walkers are not to be outdone. Four major footpaths cross southern Berry, linking destinations such as Poitiers, Toulouse, Montluçon and Saint Jacques de Compostelle. You can choose between the GR 100 “Les chemins de la Guerre de 100 ans”, the GR 46 “du Val de Loire aux Bastides”, the GR 654 “St Jacques de Compostelle“, and last but not least, the “sentier de grande randonnée de pays” “Sur les pas des Maîtres sonneurs“, a reference to George Sand’s book about bagpipe players. There are more than 70 signposted trails of all levels available around La Châtre, some of which pass through the “Val Vert en Berry” campsite, such as the Chemin de Compostelle, which follows the course of the Indre.
Ponds and lakes near the campsite
A trip to the Loire Valley, the Brenne natural region offers a wealth of opportunities for hiking and discovering its rich flora and fauna. With its 3,000 ponds, hundreds of thousands of turtles, 267 species of birds and over 1,600 plant species, children and adults alike are sure to have some wonderful encounters. The Parc naturel régional de la Brenne, created in 1989, covers 183,000 hectares for walking and cycling.
Still in the Brenne region, if you’re looking for a spot of fresh air, why not stop off at Lac d’Eguzon? With a surface area of 312 hectares, it’s the largest artificial lake in the Centre-Val de Loire region. It offers a wide range of activities, from water sports (swimming, sailing, windsurfing, pedalos, water-skiing, canoeing, paddle-boating, towed buoys) to land-based activities (hiking, climbing and mountain biking) and aquatic activities (inflatables on the water, catapults) on the beach. As with the Val Vert en Berry campsite on the banks of the Indre, fishing is possible (with permit).
Thrills and spills in the heart of Berry
Closer to the campsite, another leisure park, Sensas’park in Ligny, promises thrills on the water, with wakeboarding and water ski lifts (a more ecological alternative to jet skiing). Here, too, you can hike from the beach, picnic or let your children have fun in the play areas.
And if you like heights, the viaducts at Le Blanc (in the Brenne region) and Cluis offer bungee jumping at 38 and 52 metres respectively… Who’s next? At Val Vert campsite in Berry, you can enjoy all these leisure activities and many more, as a couple, with friends or as a family.
Don’t hesitate to consult theGeorge Sand country tourist office and the Berry Province tourist office for more details on activities and visits in the region.
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