Château de Villandry
Known for its geometric French gardens, especially the unique “ornamental kitchen garden” where cabbages, leeks and other vegetables form patterns.
Château de Villandry was built in 1536 and is one of the last large Renaissance châteaux completed in the Loire Valley, but it is the gardens that made it famous. In the early 20th century, a Spanish-born doctor named Carvallo bought the château and rebuilt a Renaissance garden based on 16th-century documents. It is laid out on several terraces. The lowest level, the ornamental kitchen garden, uses vegetables and fruit trees to form nine geometric patterns, replanted each spring and autumn. The middle level is the Garden of Love, with boxwood hedges clipped into heart and fan shapes. The upper level is the water mirror garden. There are also a maze, a herb garden, a sun garden and shaded walkways. The best photo spots are the château's main tower, the only surviving medieval structure, and the observation point at the top of the gardens, which overlooks the entire pattern design. The château's interior rooms are relatively simply furnished. Opening hours are about 09:00–17:00 to 19:00. The gardens are open year-round, and the château closes for some winter months. Adult tickets (château and gardens) cost about 13 euros. Getting there: Villandry is about 15 km from Tours. There is no convenient public transport, so drive, cycle (on the Loire cycle path) or join a minibus tour. It can be combined in one day with Azay-le-Rideau Château.
Opening hours
Gardens approx. 09:00–17:00/19:00 (varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
- Château de Langeais
- Tours Old Town
- Tours Cathedral
- Château d'Ussé
- Vouvray
- Château du Rivau
- Royal Fortress of Chinon