Nueil-sous-Faye

In the woods of Les Roches, oaks have replaced the beech trees that gave their name to this commune on the edge of Touraine. The new clearing, mentioned in the name “Niole” as early as the 11th century, provides information about the importance of the forest in the Middle Ages. On the hilltop, the village still bears the vestiges of the glory days of the 17th century, when Cardinal de Richelieu left his mark. The origins of the name are thought to be a contraction of the Gallic words Novio (new) and ialo (clearing). Focus on almond trees: this particularly elegant tree has been present in the Pays Loudunais since at least the 16th century. Its fruit is used in Poitou cuisine to make almond milk and delicious cakes. In recent years, a major landscaping operation has seen hundreds of trees planted.