Villavard offers several concrete options for a stay: a circular cycling route with a stop at the Villavard mushroom farm, the history of the Black Madonna, and a church furnishing from the 18th century. Another mushroom-related attraction is the focus of a guided tour of Val Saint André. The options differ in format: a circular route with a stated distance and duration, a historical tradition, and a tour through underground galleries. You can tailor your stay to whichever aspect interests you most.

Underground Mushroom Farm and Cycling Route

The guided tour of Val Saint André takes place in 3.5 km of underground tuff galleries. It showcases crops of button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and shiitake. For travellers particularly interested in mushroom cultivation, this combines an underground setting with specific examples of different mushrooms. This differs from the mushroom farm in Villavard, which is a stop on the cycling route: at Val Saint André, the focus is on the galleries and the crops presented as part of a guided tour; in Villavard, it is on the stop along a circular cycling route.

Circular Cycling Route with a Stop in Villavard

The circular cycling route “De Lavardin à Sasnières par les troglos” is 28.0 km long; its stated duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Distance and time answer different planning questions: the distance indicates the length of the route, while the duration gives you a time frame for the day. In Villavard, the route leads to a stop at the mushroom farm; an orientation sign is also part of the route setting there. The stop and the sign are two different points of reference on the route in Villavard. Check the current route conditions before setting off.

Madonna, Pilgrimage and Church

The Black Madonna of Villavard was inspired by Notre-Dame de Sous-Terre in Chartres. Her history includes 40 years spent hidden in a cellar in La Cochetière; in 1844, she was returned to worship. The pilgrimage of Villavard originated in connection with a miracle. The year 1844 marks the Madonna’s return to worship, while the miracle is linked to the origins of the pilgrimage. This distinction clarifies the sequence of events.

The north aisle of Villavard church also houses a wooden banc d'œuvre dating from the 18th century. This furnishing offers a different point of interest: it is a detail of the church that can be dated, while the Madonna is part of a religious tradition with its own chronology. Those interested in sacred history can consider the pilgrimage tradition and the church furnishings as two distinct perspectives.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first decide what kind of trip you want. The circular cycling route has a clearly stated distance and duration; the Madonna and the banc d'œuvre offer different historical points of interest, while Val Saint André offers a guided tour focused on mushroom cultivation.

Discover more destinations: Maray, Mer, Villeny, Theillay, Vernou-en-Sologne, Angé, Chémery, Veuves.

For the main travel guide: Loir-Et-Cher.