A confluence of biodiversity
The country of Rabelais combines varied biotopes, rich in animal and plant species, some of which are rare and protected, especially in its wetlands. These make up charming landscapes. Alternating rivers, forests, limestone plateau dotted with Puys, protected marshes, vineyards, hedgerows... But it is especially the confluence between Vienne and Loire which presents the most specific biotope and the most remarkable landscape. The Council of State has decided to classify this site, which is already included in the perimeter of the Loire-Anjou-Tourraine Regional Natural Park and has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000. The recognition and protection of the State are thus assured at the confluence between the royal river and one of its tributaries, since September 17, 2021. Representing the majority of the territory of the community of municipalities, the Vienne and the Loire, by joining in Candes-Saint-Martin, form the point of an isosceles triangle whose base is closed by the forest and which draws the Véron. In all its components, this forest is one of the major elements of the territory, structuring the country and Chinon and emphasizing its valleys.
A forest beneficial to the vine and to biodiversity
The imposing forest of Chinon and Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt dominates the top of the Véron plateau to the northeast. Spread over more than 5,000 ha, it presents a great continuity of forest spaces. It acts as a formidable bulwark against the northern winds and the cold, protecting the vineyards of Chinon located on the plains, terraces or hillsides. To the west, the forest of Fontevraud also brings its temperance. This mild microclimate is one of the characteristics of this territory which benefits from the presence of a particularly rich fauna and flora adapted to the buffer zones.
Thus, the Chinon region is made up of an impressive natural environment both in terms of its diversity and its environmental quality. Rich in a varied fauna and flora enriched with species of Mediterranean zones where dry grasslands and old crops alternate with oak and pine forests, interspersed with old small tufa quarries, mills and troglodyte habitats. For the National Museum of Natural History, it is one of the most beautiful natural grasslands in the region, both in terms of flora and landscape. To the forest, the rivers and their banks, the bocage and the marshes, are added the Puys, another local natural specificity.
The Puys of Chinon, classified and protected
Like the Taligny marsh, the Puys du Chinonais are among the Department's sensitive natural areas. Puy comes from the Latin podium which means eminence. The Puys du Chinonais are sandy-limestone hillocks over 80 m high, on the Véron plateau, an area protected from the harsh climate by the forest. There are 7 of them, located in the communes of Beaumont-en-Véron, Huismes and Chinon, totaling 150 ha, the Puy du Pérou and the Galippes in Beaumont-en-Véron, the Puy Besnard and the Puy de la colline in Chinon and Huismes. In the Trotte Loups sector, the right of pre-emption has been delegated to the Chinon Vienne et Loire community of communes. These hills, which are a few kilometers apart, correspond to areas of the plateau that are less sensitive to erosion than the surrounding terrain. The sandy and calcareous soils as well as the mild climate have contributed to the establishment of an already Mediterranean flora. Until the 19th century, windmills, the remains of which can be seen, produced flour on these hills, and the inhabitants took advantage of the sandy slopes to grow asparagus and vines. Abandoned by man, the Puys are home to many protected species. For example, ancient troglodytic habitats serve as daytime resting places for bats. A 9.3 km hike from Puy Besnard (Chinon) takes you to the heart of the Puys, between oak woods and dry meadows.
Maintenance and restoration of the Puys
A Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance since 2001, the Puys du Chinonais benefits from European subsidies and the project management of the Chinon Vienne et Loire community of communes, itself the owner of several hectares located within the Natura 2000 perimeter. The community of communes has thus been able to engage a contract for work in 2019 to restore and manage the natural environments of sensitive grasslands in the Trotte Loups sector. This work site, implemented by the CPIE team, allows for the clearing, mowing and restoration of nearly 4.2 ha of sandy-limestone grasslands and oak groves. In addition, on the other community parcels of the Trotte Loups site, i.e. a dozen hectares, sheep grazing was set up.
The Taligny marsh, a remarkable wetland
Like the Puys du Chinonais, the Taligny marsh (85 ha), located in the commune of La Roche-Clermault, is classified as a sensitive natural area by the Department for its rich biodiversity. This peaty marsh is a refuge for many protected plant and animal species. Moreover, since 2014, it is also identified as a Regional Nature Reserve, the only one in Indre et Loire. A 1.4 km trail, developed in summer, allows to observe the tracks of the European beaver and the evolutions of the purple heron, regulars of the place.
Among the heritage species of ecological interest that find refuge there are the Valérand's samole, a small herbaceous plant found on the edges of dry ponds, the water rail, an elegant and delicate little aquatic bird that breeds here, and the agrion de Mercure, a pretty dragonfly. In 2020, various inventories have identified 22 habitats and 1035 species: 451 species of flora, 548 species of fauna, 3 species of fungi and 33 species of diatoms.
In addition, as a wetland, the Taligny marsh plays an essential role as a filter contributing to the reduction of water pollution and regulating water levels, thus reducing the risk of flooding. Acting as a sponge, the marsh retains water to release it during summer droughts. The services of a preserved nature are not limited to the pleasure of the eyes!
