The best walks and hikes around Messemé

A beautifully restored castle which now houses the Living Museum of the Middle Ages. An impressive building to look at. Admire it from the outside as you pass by.

Living museum of the Middle Ages, come and attend one of the live demonstrations, explore the interior of the castle or admire it from the outside as you pass by.

Guesnes Lake is a 4 hectare fishing pond in the heart of the forest. The Guesnes leisure park allows you to enjoy nature in a green setting. It covers 16 hectares with many marked hiking trails for exploring nature.

Small pond in the heart of the forest of Scévolles, which is accessed by a forest path. There is a small campsite and picnic tables. Wooden sculptures line the paths around the lake.

A hiking trail takes you around the lake while a bird observatory helps you recognize the species that frequent the lake and its surroundings. The fish farming complex of Assay is made up of a large 33 ha pond, created at the beginning of the 17th century, as well as an 11 ha wetland made up of small ponds used for pike farming. Its large surface of water and the presence of a vast reedbed make it an important site for the nesting and wintering of birds. The adjoining wetland is home to remarkable flora and many protected insects such as the southern damselfish.

At the heart of an 8-hectare park, the Château de Basché, now a hotel, was built in the 16th century and extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family.

Bought a few weeks ago, in February 2019, the Château de Basché is undergoing a transformation. Initially, Séraphine Maré-Keufer and her family rehabilitated it, to open guest rooms there. At the heart of an 8 hectare park, the Château de Basché, 660 m2 of living space, was built in the 16th century, then extended in the 19th century. It has long been owned by a branch of the Richelieu family. It had been unoccupied for ten years. “Basché is a building with a soul. We fell under the spell. But time has done its work since it was no longer inhabited. We had to clear the land and deal with water infiltration, especially in the toilets, ”says Séraphine. She acquired the premises, just two months ago, with her husband Alexandre and her mother Vinciane. “It’s a family crush. We have in common a long history of managing guest rooms in the Cher. We rolled up our sleeves to start restoring and bringing the various rooms up to standard, to open in early May. " Many projects. Three bedrooms have already been fitted out, one of which is 50 m². Ultimately, five are planned. Three group lodgings are in the process of being finalized. Registration for Gîtes de France is underway and the château will soon be on the lists of online booking sites. A reception room, which can accommodate up to 150 people, will be available at the end of 2019. Adjacent to the castle and forming part of the property, there is also a beautiful chapel, as well as stables. Séraphine plans to organize seminars, set up exhibitions or artist residencies. The shooting of a film is also scheduled for April. “In addition to the historical character of our facilities, our shaded meadows, our ponds and fountains, the proximity to historic sites make Basché an ideal holiday resort. " An entire program ! Opening of the guest rooms on May 1st. Count 90 € per night for 2 people, with breakfast. Contact and reservations at 06.68.89.52.77 or on the facebook page of the Château de Basché.