Rue de l'Abbé Favoreau runs through the center of La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin , a village whose history goes back much further than its quiet appearance might suggest. The settlement is first recorded in the 10th century, and by the 12th century it was surrounded by defensive walls, although no trace of them survives today.
The village also has a strong connection with Saint Martin of Tours, reflected in its present name. In fact, the name La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin is relatively recent: the commune adopted it in 1918, partly to distinguish it from La Chapelle-sur-Loire.
One of the most intriguing stories associated with the village concerns Abbé Alphonse Marcault , parish priest from 1885 to 1921. He became convinced that several of the miracles attributed to Saint Martin had actually taken place here rather than at La Chapelle-sur-Loire. His investigations even led to the discovery in 1902 of a 15th-century Pietà , which had been hidden behind a wall since the Wars of Religion. The sculpture, attributed to the Tourangeau sculptor Michel Colombe, is now a listed historic monument.
“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”
Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series
Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.
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