Tourist Attractions:
The following major chateaux are all easily to reach: Amboise, Chenonceau, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont (garden festival in the summer), Valencay (motor museum and animal park), Villandry (candle-lit musical evenings), Azay le Rideau and Chinon. Many of these hold son et lumiere performances during summer. Several smaller castles/demeures, such as Loches, Montpoupon, Montresor, Clos Luce, etc. are also worth a visit. There are zoos and animal parks within a 30 minute drive, as well as the aquarium of Touraine just outside Amboise. The lake at Chemille (5 km) offers a swimming beach, sailing, canoeing and windsurfing. There are also swimming beaches and pedaloes at Montrichard (16km) and St. Aignan (15km). Also within a 30 minute drive, various music festivals throughout the summer cater for all tastes, classical, jazz, blues and folklore. Details available at the tourist information in Montresor (5km). Every weekend there are village festivals with brocante fairs and firework displays.
Walking, Cycling, Fishing:
Marked walks and mountain bike trails of various lengths, lead from the garden and take you through the woods and fields around Orbigny, including the ancient route taken by Joan of Arc on her way to Chinon. Most villages in Touraine have similar marked walks and trails, with leaflets to guide and inform you, available from the local Mairie or tourist information. The quiet country roads and lanes in the area are also suitable for cycling. A fishing license can be bought from any Mairie or bar and there are numerous rivers, lakes and ponds just minutes away. Less than an hour's drive south is the Brenne natural park. As well as lakes for swimming, fishing, sailing and windsurfing, the park's many lakes provide a splendid backdrop for walking or cycling - leaflets available for local tourist information. It is also a great place for birdwatching (fixed hides available) and observing aquatic wildlife such as muskrats and the European terrapin.
