Lavardin, Loir-et-Cher

Commune in Centre-Val de Loire, France

(2020–2026) Thiérry Fleury^[1]Area6.71 km² (2.59 sq mi)Population176 • Density26/km² (68/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation63–146 m (207–479 ft)
(avg. 71 m or 233 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Lavardin is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.^[3]

It is located on the banks of the river Loir.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	268	—
1975	222	−2.65%
1982	256	+2.06%
1990	245	−0.55%
1999	262	+0.75%
2007	220	−2.16%
2012	199	−1.99%
2017	183	−1.66%
Source: INSEE[4]

Sights

Lavardin is classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France thanks to the ruins of its mediaeval castle (see main article: Château de Lavardin), its Gothic church and frescoes, its houses and the ancient bridge. The village has been frequented by renowned painters since about 1900, most notably Busson and Sauvage.

Early history

Salomon I of Lavardin became lord of Lavardin around 1030, and his descendants ruled there for the next three centuries.^[5]: 133 The church of St. Genest in Lavardin was built in the mid-to-late eleventh century, but the existence of a prior Merovingian cemetery on the site attests to the village's existence for several centuries prior to Salomon's reign.^{[5]: 133, 147 [6]}

Culture

The historical card game of Chouine has had a renaissance in recent years and 'world championships' are currently held annually in the village.^[7]

References

External links

• Official website (in French)
• Association des plus beaux villages de France: Lavardin (in French)