Parçay-Meslay

Parçay-Meslay



A lively little village set on the region’s north plateau, Parçay-Meslay carries resonances of bygone days in its name: “Parçay” comes from the Latin Partiacus, an agricultural colony during the Gallo-Roman era, while “Meslay” is from the Latin Mespillium meaning medlar wood. It was not until 1841 that these two separate possessions of Marmoutier Abbey came together as one. Whether you’re travelling on foot, by bicycle or by car, stop a while at the remarkable Grange de Meslay, one of the finest monastic farm buildings in France. This is also the venue for the prestigious classical music festival “les Fêtes musicales”, initiated in 1963 by the world-famous pianist Sviatoslav Richter. In the midst of the village, you can admire the “Grand’Maison”, once the village bailiff’s residence and now restored as town hall and library, Saint-Pierre church, built in the 11th century and listed as a historical monument thanks to the fresco adorning its apse, and the Lodge known as “La Commanderie”, Parçay’s former seigniorial castel dating from the 15th century.