Marché de Savigny-en-Véron (Nearby Sunday Market)
The small Sunday morning market in Savigny-en-Véron, just 12 km southwest of Villandry on the edge of the Chinon appellation, is the kind of French market that travel writers claim no longer exist — and then find on a quiet back road. Producers outnumber resellers three to one.
What You'll Find
Stalls run along the village's main street from roughly 8 am to 1 pm: rillettes de Tours in hand-sealed terracotta pots, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine goat's cheese at every stage of ripeness from fresh and milky to ash-rolled and pungent, and wicker baskets of white asparagus in April and May that locals treat with near-religious reverence.
A retired vigneron named Henri — a fixture for over two decades — pours tastes of his Chinon rouge directly from a demijohn at his folding table. No website, no label redesign, just honest Cabernet Franc from a few rows of vines behind his house.
Pairing the Market with a Picnic
The banks of the Vienne river at Savigny, five minutes' walk from the market, make a natural picnic destination: flat grassy banks, dappled shade from riverside willows and a view of the tufa cliffs that line the opposite bank.
Grab a baguette from the boulangerie van, a wedge of rillons (the crispy pork belly cubes that are Touraine's great underrated snack), and a bottle of chilled Chinon blanc and you have a Loire lunch that costs under €15 and beats any restaurant in the region for setting.
Getting There from Villandry
The drive from Villandry to Savigny-en-Véron follows the south bank of the Loire through Lignières-de-Touraine — a 20-minute journey through flat riverside farmland with occasional glimpses of the water through poplar screens.
There is no direct bus connection, so a car or bicycle is necessary; the Loire à Vélo cycling route passes through both villages and the Savigny detour adds only a gentle 12 km loop.
More of Villandry
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Villandry →
