Saint Ustre

One of three towers of the old chateau.

 

There isn't much to Saint Ustre. On one edge of the village there is a large equestrian centre. On the high ground there is an extensive old walled enclosure. You can see the ruin of an 11th century church but not much else. Inside the perimeter wall is a grand 18th century house and a camp ground. 

This is more or less the whole of Saint Ustre.

 

It's in Vienne, near Ingrandes and Chatellerault. Below the village is the site of a large First World War military camp. It is now the industrial estate for Ingrandes. 

Ruined church tower.

 

During the Second World War the Germans took over the military camp and it was heavily bombed by the Allies in July 1944, causing it to be abandoned. After the War it was home to a French artillery regiment, then it was an American military base until 1967, with a thousand American servicemen based there and an equal number of French staff employed on the base. Around the time the Americans departed the rubber boot and outdoor apparel manufacturer Aigle moved their factory shop and administration on to the site. [Link] There are also two foundries making parts for Renault and a distribution centre for a supermarket buying cooperative. Altogether they employ around 1500 people.

Houses and vegetable gardens.

Ruined church.

************************************************

For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos.