Our tours

A classic route is proposed to visitors from la Cure to the old town of St-Maurice to discover the remarkable monuments of the village (visiting time from 1:30h to 2:00h).

But according to the requests, according to the time available to the group and the number of people composing it, the visiting times and the itinerary are adaptable.

Similarly, more thematic guided tours can be organized on request:

• The paintings of the church of St-Maurice (1 hour visit): iconographic reading, comments of these painted images dating from the thirteenth century and the messages they deliver.

• Discovering the famous characters: in the footsteps of Joseph Déchelette, famous archaeologist who lived on the village, in the footsteps of T.G. Hanssen, well-known master glassmaker who made works in the village …

• A village on the banks of the Loire: history of navigation and shipping on the banks of the Loire, legends and stories related to the river.

• The stormy – and yet true – story of relations between St-Jean and St-Maurice: history of the two towns and their conflicting history around town halls, churches and schools.

• Panoramic tour: discovery of the belvederes and the points of view of the village on the Loire and the surrounding countryside. Possibility of leaving St-Jean. (Allow half a day).

• Prehistory in the Gorges de la Loire: history of the two archaeological sites of Champ Grand and the Rocher de la Caille today buried under the waters of the dam. Educational booklet in preparation.

Guided tours by Nathalie, Janine and Michèle

The association set up in 2016 a visit of the unusual and totally innovative village called “Village Notebook“, a guided tour of the village with the realization of a sketchbook.

The principle is based on the guidance of the country and the availability of advice and the availability of technical advice.

The objectives are to discover the history and uniqueness of this village, to make a notebook of 5 or 6 sketches of emblematic or hidden places of this village of character and bring back personal visual memories.

Aprl 4, 2021 “Botany”

July 4, 2020 “Tree, life and uses”

September 28, 2019 “Around the vineyard”

May 18, 2019 “360 ° village”

April 7, 2018, young audience “postal art”

April 22, 2017 “medieval treasures of the Church of Saint Maurice”.

October 22, 2016 “making a sketchbook”.

June 11, 2016 “discovery of the village”.

1st edition May 28, 2016 “village book”.

Night tour: For this second edition, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th July 2012, the association of the Friends of St-Jean-St-Maurice-sur-Loire invited visitors to discover the village of St-Jean during a ride at dusk in the footsteps of Mrs Bonnard, emblematic character who lived here in the eighteenth century. Around volunteer actors who played theatrical dramas very entertaining, Mrs Janine Viard brought us back to history of the village. Comments appreciated by the public came many on both representations.

A village at dusk: Nearly 80 visitors came to attend the first night visit of the village: a real success for the association of the Friends of St-Jean-St-Maurice-sur-Loire at the initiative of the project. Friday, 15th July , 2011 at 21 hours, all the participants have made an appointment in front of la Cure for a historic stroll in the alleys of the medieval village. An original idea to highlight this village of character: a historical reconstruction around characters of the sixteenth century costumed. Guided by Mrs Janine Viard, many visitors enjoyed discovering the history of the village through theatrical scenes in places highlighted and especially open for the occasion: half-timbered house, Manoir de la Mure … A beautiful evening full moon acclaimed by the public seduced by the unusual atmosphere! A first night visit, which we hope will be followed by many others.

Visit of Saint Nicholas in light : On Saturday 4 December 2021, St Nicholas and the bogeyman were invited by the association. The former distributed sweets and, since all the children were good, the latter did not threaten them with his branch.

Legends about St Nicholas were told, such as the one about the young girls to be married, visible on the paintings in the choir of the church, the one about the protector of bargemen and children.

This nocturnal visit was much appreciated by young and old alike.