Environment
Préveranges is a small village with approximately 500 inhabitants, located in the southernmost point of the Cher department, near the border with the Creuse department (part of the Limousin region). To the east, the Allier department, which is part of the Auvergne region, begins shortly thereafter.
Préveranges has a truly authentic French atmosphere. The prominent Saint-Martin church on the square, the war memorial, a small bank office, a little grocery store where we get delicious fresh bread every day, and the restaurant/bar Le Pont Bayon. It evokes thoughts of the famous song by Wim Sonneveld: "Het Dorp" (The Village). Here, people take the time to live. There's a laid-back atmosphere with friendly inhabitants, the Préverangeois.
There is a lot to discover in the surrounding area. Below, you'll find some points of interest. Additionally, we have plenty of tourist information, feel free to ask us for a great outing!
Lac de Sidiailles
The lake Sidiailles is 10-minute drive away. Here, you can swim in a secluded part of the lake, lie on the beach, rent a pedal boat, or (for the real dare devils) take a trip through the 'Parcours Aventure', where you go from tree to tree with zip lines.
You can also fish (the lake is classified as 'Great interior lake of the 1st category', or take a nice hiking trip around the lake (16,7 kms, ± 5 hours).
Castles
France is a country with a large number of castles. Castle lovers will be in their element in the surroundings of Préveranges with for example the castle of Boussac (12,4 kms), the castle of Culan (17,5 kms), and a bit further away the castle of d'Ainay le vieil (42,3 kms) and the castle of Meillant (48,8 kms). There are of course other beautiful castles to visit; ask us for possibilities.
Museums
In addition to the castles, there are plenty of other interesting places to visit. For example, in Nohant-Vic, just over half an hour's drive from Préveranges, is the home of the famous French writer George Sand, who has been in a relationship with the composer Fréderic Chopin. You can take a guided tour and wander in the beautiful gardens afterwards.
The Prieuré d'Orsan is also half an hour away, an old monastery with beautiful gardens, that is definitely worth a visit.
Cities
If you like to visit cities, then Bourges (the capital of the Cher department) is a good option. Bourges is a beautiful old town with an old Gothic cathedral and narrow streets with nice shops.
Another larg(er) city in the area that is worth visiting, is Montluçon (castle of the Dukes of Bourbon, MuPop museum).
Golf
Feel free to bring your golf clubs, as there are several golf courses within a 45-minute drive, such as Golfclub du Val de Cher in Nassigny. Only 35 minutes away, it is located in a beautiful park with old oaks and a lovely Bourbonnais castle. But also Golf de Sainte Agathe and Golf de la Jonchère are beautiful golf courses.
Markets and Brocantes
There are several nice weekly markets to visit in the area. For example, on Thursday mornings in Boussac, on Friday mornings in Châteaumeillant and on Saturday mornings in La Châtre.
In addition, there are Brocantes and 'vide greniers' to visit. Ask us for more information.
Hiking/cycling
Préveranges is situated in the heart of a hiking paradise. The GR41 trail passes through the village, and in addition, you'll find numerous hiking routes. The 11 km long hiking trail, "Au Pays Préverangeois," which starts and ends at the church and circles around Préveranges, is highly recommended. This route takes you through the beautiful hilly landscape of Le Berry and past traditional houses. Furthermore, Préveranges is part of the long-distance hiking trail"Sentier des Maîtres Sonneurs”.
The kilometers of quiet roads are also perfect for exploring the surroundings by bike. As it is a hilly landscape, we recommend bringing an electric bike for less experienced cyclists. There are also challenging routes available for both mountain and gravel bikers. We have various routes ready for you to explore!
If desired, we can provide a packed lunch for your journey (€10.00 per person).
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