The small village of Villandry which sits on the banks of the river Cher 20km west of Tours plays second fiddle the chateau and its gardens. The villages population of just over 1000 swells during the tourist season to accommodate the 300,000 visitors to the chateau.
There are restaurants and accommodation in the village but it never feels crowded perhaps because the coachloads of sightseers are whisked away to view another one of the regions mighty chateau.
It has an interesting church - Saint Etienne with some frescoes but it is not always open!
As we have said visitors mainly come for the chateau, not the village but it is worth a walk aound!
“Some towns in Touraine speak softly — Villandry is one of them.”
