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Château de Valmer

The chateau is home to the Saint Venant family and is surrounded by a seventeenth century park and Renaissance gardens.  The Countess looks after the gardens and is a reknowned landscape designer and botanist. There is a troglodytic chapel, hornbeam labyrinth, moats, fountains, statues and balustrades.

Head Gardener's Comment

In the famous historical Kitchen Garden the whole family can enjoy seeing, touching and smelling a thousand and one plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers from the past and from abroad.
From August to October the 100 meter long pergola is covered with thousands of gourds. Lagenaria National Collection.
Bronze angels, Bacchae, Cupid, Diane, terracotta lions, richly ornamented vases and mythological figures have lived in harmony in the gardens for centuries.

Photograph © François Guillaume/Château de Valmer
Photograph © MG de Saint Venant Château de Valmer
Photograph © MG de Saint Venant Château de Valmer

History

Since 1434 Valmer has played host to illustratious figures including Charles VII, king of France. For the past 120 years the Saint Venant family has perpetuated an "art de vivre" blending history with creativity. Today the Count devotes himself to his vineyards and the Countess, a reknowned landscape designer and botannist, takes care of the gardens. They invite you to share the delignts of an estate which combines splendid architectur romantic atmosphere and family spirit.
Italian style hanging gardens of Renaissance. Eight levels of terraces overlooking protected landscape : clipped hornbeam labyrinth, yew-hedge castle, florentine fountains, balustrades, statues, moats, box-hedges and flower beds.
Botany and boidiversity : a thousand varieties of vegetables and herbs, collections of hydrangeas, peonies, pleached fruit trees ...
An extensive XVII th century park with columns, belvedere and a young arboretum with interesting species.
A rare troglodytic chapel dating from 1524. Hollowed out of the "tuffeau" (the local Loire Valley stone) the chapel comprises statues, noteworthy stained glass windows as well as a XVth century altar-piece.
The estate is a listed Historical Monument and designed Jardin Remarquable by the ministry of Culture.

Château de Valmer, Chançay, France, 37210

Opening times of the gardens - Free wine tasting and sale of Chateau de Valmer wines. From january 9th to April 28th: from Monday to Friday except public holidays from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4.30pm. Last admission at 4.30pm, open exit. Closed on Monday, April 17th. From April 29th to June 30th and from September 1st to September 30th: from Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 8pm. Closed on Mondays except May 1st, May 8th and June 5th. Closing time of the ticket-office and the boutique from 12pm to 2pm and at 6pm. From July 1st to August 31st: from Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 8pm without interruption. Closed on Mondays. Closing time of the ticket-office and the boutique at 6pm. From October 1st to December 21st: from Monday to Friday except public holidays from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4.30pm. Last admission at 4.30pm, open exit. Closed on Monday, November 1st. Annual closing from December 22nd, 2017 to January 7th, 2018. Wine sale by appointment. Unguided tour with free explanatory leaflet (French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Brazilian and Chinese).

Adults €10 Reduced rate €9 (students - large family - job seekers - SNHF members) Children 10 - 18 €7 Free children under 10 - Royal Horticultural Society members Loyalty card every fourth visit free Reduced rate and free under 18 1st week-end of June – 3rd week-end of September

Visit the Château de Valmer website

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