Château de Villandry and its extraordinary gardens

In the category of extraordinary gardens in France, we cannot fail to mention the Gardens of the Château de Villandry. This domain, located 2 hours by train and 2h30 by car from Paris, is a must-see for those who love great heritage and sublime gardens.

Among the favorite gardens and monuments of the French and the prestigious castles of the Loire Valley, there is the Château de Villandry in Indre-et-Loire.

The history of the castle of Villandry goes back to the Middle Ages. At that time, there was a fortified castle whose dungeon remains today.

It was in 1536 that Jean Breton, then Minister of Finance of François I, built a castle in the architectural style characteristic of the second Renaissance. Between the 16th century and the 19th century, the castle of Villandry will pass from hands to hands and will undergo many modifications. This was the case in the18th century under the Marquis de Castellane and later when the French gardens were replaced by a generous English park.

It was at the beginning of the 20th century that Joachim Carvallo and his wife Ann Coleman acquired the estate. They restored the Château de Villandry and gave it back its original environment by creating a Renaissance garden that can still be admired today. Thereafter ,Henri Carvallo continued the work initiated by his ancestors to make the castle and gardens of Villandry a place not to be missed in the Loire Valley.

If the beauty of the gardens is undeniable and undisputed, the castle itself requires many treasures. From the kitchens to the living room, through the library, the bedrooms or the dining room, all the rooms of the monument are decorated in a warm and friendly atmosphere. One can enjoy the Mudejar-style oriental lounge , dating from the15th century, but also the beautiful collection of Spanish paintings from the 17th century. Before leaving, don't miss the terrace of the dungeon which offers an incredible view on the sublime gardens.

Speaking of gardens, Villandry has 6 of them:

The decorative vegetable garden which forms 9 squares of identical dimensions on one hectare of surface.

The ornamental salons on the second terrace. The two salons are separated by the canal. The first one is composed of the "garden of crosses" and the " garden of love ". The second room includes the "ornamental gardens" and the " music garden ".
The garden of the simple ones which presents us medicinal and aromatic plants.
The labyrinth which symbolizes man's spiritual journey towards God.
The garden of the sun in the last terrace which incites to travel and to escape with a garden in studied disorder.

All year long, the Château de Villandry and its domain are punctuated by events: The Rendez-vous aux Jardins, the Nuits des Mille Feux which allowed us these beautiful photos, the Journées du patrimoine or the Journées du Potager and of course, Christmas with the family at the Château de Villandry. For the holiday season, the castle is dressed in its most beautiful attire and welcomes you with sublime Christmas decorations for the great pleasure of children and adults.

For visits and schedules, note that the gardens are open every day, including holidays from 9:00 am to 9:30 am to 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm depending on the period. The castle, for its part, is open from 9:00 am from February 5 to November 13, 2022 inclusive, including holidays, and from 9:30 am from December 3 to 31, 2022. As for prices, count 7,50 € for the gardens alone and 12 € for the visit with the castle as a bonus.

The Château de Villandry and its extraordinary gardens

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