Villandry

Villandry is an approximately 1063 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) scoring commune in the Centre region in the département of Indre -et -Loire.

Toponym

The place name is interpreted as a combination of two words (villa and Andric ) - it would therefore mean something like " estate of Andric ".

Location

Villandry is situated at a height of about 50 meters above sea level. inst on the south bank of the Cher River about 17 km ( driving distance ) southwest of Tours. The lovely city of Langeais, with its late medieval castle located just about ten kilometers to the west on the north bank of the Loire.

Demographics

In the 19th century, the community, which also includes several hamlets and isolated farmsteads belong resistant 800-1030 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis and the mechanization of agriculture, the population has declined in the first half of the 20th century, reaching its low of 588 in 1962. The opposite of the big city Tours relatively cheap land prices and rents, and tourism have since led to a steady increase in population.

Economy

For centuries, the little village was part of a largely self-sufficient agriculture. The construction of the castle led to the emergence of small craft. Since the 1960s, the cultural and wine tourism play an important role in the economic life of the community.

History

Its history dates back to the Gallo- Roman period, and perhaps even further. In the medieval castle of peace from Colombiers was closed in 1189, in which the English King Henry II against the French king Philip Augustus had to admit defeat. The construction of the present castle by Jean le Breton, Finance Minister Francis I, began in 1532 with the demolition of the old castle.

Attractions

Villandry Castle

Other

• The parish church of the village ( Église Saint- Étienne ) is a single-nave building. The apse of an earlier church from the 11th century was demolished in the late 12th century and it was quite impressive the new transept with its crossing tower and the three apses, which the Church owes its late Romanesque appearance. Also, the nave was to be demolished; probably due to lack of funds it was preserved, however. In 1505 she was the priory of Saint -Cosme affiliated to the west of the city of Tours; Pierre de Ronsard spent the last 20 years of his life. The church has been classified as a monument historique since 1926.
• The manor Manoir de Foncher dates from the 16th century, but was restored and expanded in the 19th century. The main building consists of a living area (corps de logis ) with two lateral round towers. The building complex is privately owned hotel is located on the north bank of the Cher and is difficult to achieve Villandry out due to lack of bridges. He is also recognized as a monument historique since 1962.
• Two kilometers south-west of the town is surrounded by trees, a 3.65 -meter-high stone (Pierre Aux Joncs ), which is regarded as menhir or as part of a megalithic tomb ( dolmen ), as in the 19th century near him the fragments of another stone were found, but they are now gone. Since the stone has no machining marks, but it is uncertain whether it ever is an erect man-made monument dating back to the megalithic culture.