Villegenon: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Villegenon combines a distinctive religious history with protected woodland and river landscapes. Between the church, priory, historic traces and nature trails, a multifaceted picture of the village emerges.

Culture and History

The Church of Saint-Georges has a rectangular floor plan, a flat-ended chancel and two side aisles. Prunesac Priory was founded in 1130. Structural remains can also be found on the banks of the Nère and the Croslaie, indicating a Gallo-Roman presence in Villegenon.

The Calvaire Saint-Christophe features unusual details: it was built in the 1950s, and its base incorporates a crankshaft, a valve, a piston and a cylinder liner. For a long time, Villegenon also held a festival dedicated to Saint Christopher; the blessing of automobiles began there in the 1930s.

The history of the village can also be traced through stone. In the Neolithic period, worked and polished flint stones were used as a means of exchange in Villegenon. The Gué des Ruesses quarry in Villegenon is considered a worthwhile place to visit for people interested in stones.

Nature

The Natura 2000 site FR2400518 – Massifs forestiers et rivières du Pays-Fort covers 3,104 hectares. It includes riparian forests as well as acidic Atlantic beech forests with holly undergrowth and, in some places, yew. The protected area also includes streams inhabited by white-clawed crayfish and brook lampreys; these species are found particularly in the Layon River.

The nearby natural area includes the Aulnaie-Frênaie de Prunesac habitat. It covers 10.1 hectares, lies on the banks of the Croulaie stream and is considered a significant ZNIEFF habitat.

Routes

The La Boucle des Silex hiking route passes through bocage landscapes and takes a detour past numerous ponds. The route runs alongside the park of the Château; the park is privately owned and may not be entered.

A cycling route also connects Villegenon with places in the Pays-Fort: Paysages du Pays-Fort runs from La Balance via Jars and Villegenon to Vailly-sur-Sauldre.

Local Flavours

The La Récréation Gourmande restaurant in Villegenon serves homemade dishes made with fresh produce.

Other Places

Méreau, Ennordres, Le Chatelet, Nançay, Vallenay, Neuvy-Sur-Barangeon, La Chapelle-D'angillon, Culan

For the higher-level travel overview: Cher.