Garden Finder > France > Chateau de Villandry

Last updated on 30 April 09
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Chateau de Villandry

  4.8/5 (8 ratings)
  • Chateau de Villandry, France Photograph © Alan Graham
  • Chateau de Villandry, 2007 Photograph © Alan Graham
  • Chateau de Villandry Garden Photograph © Maitland
  • Villandry garden1
  • Villandry garden2

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 - Garden open all year daily from 9am.
Admission - Adult Chateau & Garden 9€, Garden only 6€
Website - Visit the Chateau de Villandry website

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Recent Reviews

  • 6 months ago Lee Dempsey said

    I went round the gardens last week and stayed three hours, having allowed two. I thought they were truly unique of all the gardens I have been to in the UK, Spain, and Italy. Also visited the lesser known and more compact http://www.lachatonniere.com/ and stayed at nearby Langeais where there is a superb medieval chateau. Our host (Shaun at www.langeais.co.uk) was most helpful.

    (5.0/5)
  • 7 months ago Julia Srigley said

    This has been a long awaited visit, a dream come true, to actually visit this garden and marvel in the craftsmanship that firstly cinstructed the garden and now the horticultural expertise that keeps this magical place in such pristine condition is a pure joy. No amount of reading, looking at images can prepare you for the spectacle. It took my breath away, I really do hope that I can come back again one day.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 1 year ago Anonymous said

    Also Michellin *** and indeed, 'worthy of a detour'. New gardens are still being planted and the established parts continue to ravish the senses.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 1 year 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 year 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)

See all the reviews of Chateau de Villandry