Lavardin (Loir-et-Cher)

Lavardin is a commune of 204 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) ^ in the department of Loir -et -Cher in the Centre region.

The town lies on the river Loir and due to its medieval townscape with its castle and its early Romanesque church building as one of the plus beaux villages de France ( most beautiful villages in France ) was classified. Well-known artists such as the landscape painter Charles Busson have here found their motives.

Attractions

Places of interest in Lavardin:

• The bridge over the Loire in the 13th century,
• Some houses from the 12th to the 16th century,
• The ruins of the castle Lavardin, main base of the Lords of Vendôme, with remnants of the housing unit and its outbuildings and the 26 meter high keep.
• The church of Saint- Genest from the 11th to the 13th century with Romanesque frescoes,
• Cave dwellings above the church.

Rue Pied de Mai

Church of Saint- Genest

The early Romanesque church of Saint -Genest is a three-aisled basilica with a set into the nave and west tower with heavy rural designs. In parts of the building fabric dates back to the period around 1040 and 1080, the rest comes from the 12th and 13th centuries.

The three naves are separated from crude pillars and arches. Through the triumphal arch leads into the main choir, the apse ends with a half- dome. The pillars between the main and side choirs have capitals with primitive formed sculptures and ornamental forms. Numerous remains of murals that have been uncovered since the 19th century, mitigate the severity of the spatial impression. They date from the 12th to the 16th century.

View in the main choir and apse

Pillars between main and secondary choir