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Last updated on 10 April 08
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Chateau de Villandry

  4.6/5 (5 ratings)
  • Chateau de Villandry, France

    Photograph © Alan Graham

  • Chateau de Villandry, 2007

    Photograph © Alan Graham

  • Villandry garden2

  • Villandry garden1

Gardenvisit Editorial

An imaginative twentieth century re-creation of a renaissance castle garden. The moated Chateau dates from c1536 and had a formal garden in the eighteenth century. The present garden dates from the years after 1906 when it was bought by a Spaniard, Dr Joachim Carvallo. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, he wished the garden to have a sixteenth century character. Great horticultural skill was deployed, especially in the use of vegetables. An arbour of grape vines leads to a great parterre, conceived as a Garden of Music. On the other side of the canal is a Garden of Love. Symbolising the moods of love, it looks rectangular from the chateau but is actually trapezoid. The aesthetically designed vegetable garden is based on an illustration from Du Cerceau's Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576). Despite its origins, Villandry is the work of a twentieth century imagination.
Address Centre, Villandry, France, 37510
Opening times All year, Daily, Open 9am to 8pm or dusk
Admission Entrance fee
Website Visit the Chateau de Villandry website

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Recent Reviews

  • about 1 month ago Chris Plummer said

    Featured on the latest Monty Don programme, 80 gardens around the world. Looks great and will try to visit when in Loire in August 08

    (4.0/5)
  • about 1 month ago Janie D said

    Ohhhhhh Villandry!!! The most beautiful garden I've ever visited. I didn't "get" gardens until my first trip to Villandry in 1991. I've been back twice and am going again in May. It is so quiet there in early summer - and the smells! The roses, the box.....mmmm! It was the first time I'd seen ornamental vegetable and herb planting and it inspired me. Obviously I haven't come anywhere near matching it in my own garden (kids, etc), but I do use veggies and herbs to look pretty. Each "room" is yet another surprise - leave plenty of time, don't hurry round, enjoy the relaxing feel of the place. And do make the most of the creperie/ice cream shop on the way in - if it's as it was, the citron vert sorbet is magnifique and the crepes superb!

    (5.0/5)
  • about 1 month ago Wyn said

    The most romantic of gardens. Spend time looking at the garden from the chateau and don't just wander around, stop and drink in the beauty from all angles. A must to revisit throughout the seasons. I envy anyone visiting this beautiful place.

    (5.0/5)
  • 2 months ago Anonymous said

    These are exquisite topiary gardens. The boxwood parterres are extensive and can be viewed from various angles including from elevated viewpoints. The vegetable parterres are unique and display common plants in amazing geometrical ways. I spent three hours here and didn't want to leave. Best time to visit is September but all seasons have something to offer.

    (5.0/5)
  • 4 months ago Paul said

    Amazing garden in the classical french style. A must see !!

    (4.0/5)

See all the reviews of Chateau de Villandry