Château of Villandry - Loire Valley

Visiting the château
The gardens
The kitchen garden
Water garden
FAQ

The château of Villandry: surrounded by stunning gardens

Villandry owes its fame to its splendid French-style gardens that surround the château, which was the last to be built in the Loire Vallery during the Renaissance. The estate is indissociable with the name of the Carvallo family, who restored it to its original beauty. Come and discover this enchanting place between history and nature in a setting like none other!

The château of Villandry: a story of love

It all began in 1532 when Jean Le Breton, then Minister of Finance to Francis I, acquired the land at Villandry. He razed the old fortress, except for the keep, and built a château and gardens that embodied the elegance of the Renaissance.
Villandry remained in the same family until 1754, when it came into the hands of the Marquis de Castellane, who endowed it with added comfort and touches of the Neo-Classical style that was fashionable in the 18th century.

After changing hands many times and undergoing multiple changes, the château was bought by Doctor Joachim Carvallo and his wife Ann Coleman in 1906. This Spanish-American couple quickly fell in love with Villandry and dedicated all their energy and fortune to its restoration.

Chateau et jardins de Villandry — V. Treney – CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Visiting the château of Villandry

It is thanks to the Carvallo family that we can admire the magnificence of the Château and gardens of Villandry today. Henri Carvallo, the current owner, aims to preserve the unique heritage of the place and make it as interesting as possible for visitors. During your visit, you can admire external architectural features such as the Keep, the Arched Galleries and the Honour Courtyard.

Inside the château, the experience is just as magical and reveals the French art de vivre of the time. As you walk through the richly decorated rooms on the ground floor you will discover certain curiosities such as a fountain in the dining room! Next, you will arrive at the château’s hidden gem, the Oriental Room, which owes its splendour to its Hispano-Moorish ceiling. This small wonder is showcased to great effect in the modestly decorated room, which is adorned with just a few paintings that once belonged to the Marquis de Castellane.

Chateau et jardins de Villandry vue du ciel — Gillard et Vincent – CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Arches du Chateau de Villandry — Gillard et Vincent – CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Explore the amazing gardens of Villandry

Splendid, marvellous, spectacular… There are so many ways to describe the gardens of Villandry, which draw thousands of visitors from all over the world each year!

Set in an estate of over six hectares, they were recreated in 1906 based on ancient documents indicating the existence of a 16th-century Renaissance garden.

Each of the six gardens at Villandry is like a painting of greenery framed by a series of terrasses. Each one is distinguished by a specific theme and design. In addition to being remarkably beautiful, they also uphold ethical values because the estate is fully dedicated to organic and sustainable gardening!

The kitchen garden at Villandry

In the 16th century, Villandry’s kitchen garden was renowned throughout the kingdom! A few centuries later, its sumptuousness and splendour were restored thanks to Joachim Carvallo. A true “gem” in the gardens of Villandry, the decorative Kitchen Garden was created in the Renaissance style. It is composed of nine identically sized squares in which a variety of vegetables and flowers grow side by side. There are two planting periods during the year – in spring and summer – with no less than 40 different species of vegetables grown!

Château et jardins de Villandry — F. Paillet

The ornemental garden

Divided into two salons, the Ornamental Garden presents the theme of music with its harp-shaped box bushes and celebrates love through different plant-based allegories: hearts, butterflies and fans.

The water and sun gardens and the maze

Laid out around a small lake in the shape of a Louis XV-style mirror, the Water Garden is perfect for meditation. The Sun Garden, meanwhile, is the ideal place for daydreaming.
During your visit you will also come across the amazing Maze of Villandry. Composed of hornbeam hedges, it was recreated based on Renaissance plans. It is perfect for enjoying time with the kids and is located right next to the play area!