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There are dozens of palaces in the French Loire Valley, famous for its castles, but one of them stands out especially, which is confirmed by the flow of tourists that does not dry out all year round. This is the magnificent castle of Villandry, located 15 kilometers from the city of Tours. The graceful snow-white palace appeared here in the 15th century and has been decorating this territory of France ever since. Over its centuries-old history, the Villandry castle passed from one owner to another, and in this regard, it has gone through more than one renovation and reincarnation. Nevertheless, the palace managed to preserve the general architectural style of the Renaissance. The castle is still under the tutelage of the owners - the hereditary Carvalho dynasty.
No matter how luxurious the apartments of Villandry Castle are, its main pride is the picturesque and unique gardens, which have an unusual three-level landscape.
The last owners made a lot of efforts to restore the facade and the interior of the castle, but a truly titanic work was done to restore the gardens for which the castle of Villandry was once famous throughout the world. By the way, the park complex recreated here remains the only one of its kind to this day. But more about him later.
Tourists will be equally interested in visiting the halls and rooms of the Villandry castle, in which the atmosphere of medieval times is carefully preserved and recreated. Furniture, decoration, interior items - everything is as it was many centuries ago - luxury and wealth reign everywhere. Even the paintings and style of images that adorn the walls and ceilings of the palace are unique and not found in other castles in the French Loire.
Villandry Castle
But no matter how luxurious the apartments of the Castle of Villandry are, its main pride is the picturesque and unique gardens with an unusual three-level landscape. Imagine for a moment how numerous figures of greenery and flowers spread out for hundreds of meters and form unique patterns and paintings. Tourists can observe all this beauty not only at arm's length, but also from a bird's eye view, climbing the tower of Villandry Castle.
The gardens of the palace are beautiful not only in summer, but at any other time of the year and are always open to tourists. Working hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (January - February), 9:00 - 18:00 (March), 9:00 - 19:00 (March - June, September), 9:00 - 19:30 ( July - August), 9:00 - 18:30 (October), 9:00 - 17:00 (November - December). Villandry Castle itself works on almost the same schedule, with the exception of a few periods.
Entrance: 11 EUR for adults (guided tour of the castle and visit to the garden), 7 EUR for children (from 8 to 18 years old) and students (up to 26 years old). Free for children under eight.
The audio guide in Russian will cost an additional 4 EUR per person.
You can get to Villandry castle by train from Paris (travel time is about an hour). He will take you to the city of Tours, and there you can take a taxi that will take you straight to the palace. There is also a bus from Tours to Villandry Castle, but it carries passengers only in summer - in July and August.
The prices on the page are for November 2018.
Villandry Castle (Château de Villandry) was built under King Francis I, by Prime Minister Jean Le Breton. It was built on the former foundation of an ancient feudal fortress of the 11th century. Only the donjon tower in the southwestern part has survived from it. Breton's family came from Scotland. The Prime Minister decided to build a new type of castle, unlike the gloomy medieval fortresses. The castle was completed in 1536. It […]
Built under the king Francis I, prime minister Jean Le Breton... It was built on the former foundation of an ancient feudal fortress of the 11th century. Only the donjon tower in the southwestern part has survived from it.
Breton's family came from Scotland. The Prime Minister decided to build a new type of castle, unlike the gloomy medieval fortresses. The castle was completed in 1536. It was a U-shaped building with a courtyard facing the shore. Loire... Its two wings were created in the image of the Renaissance palaces of the 16th century. Their facades with large windows were decorated with friezes, stucco ornaments, pilasters and capitals. The wings of the building, slightly uneven in length, were lined up at different angles and asymmetrical. Galleries were located on both sides of the courtyard.
The next owner of the castle was Marquis de Castellane... During his tenure, balconies and additional decorations on the facade were added to the appearance of the building. Outbuildings were made on both sides of the front yard; The new owner ordered a part of the territory to be separated by a wall and placed there the kitchen and utility rooms.
The castle began to decay and collapse little by little. Although its appearance, with mansards, steep roofs and cruciform frames, was still harmonious, some architectural elements did not survive. The gallery of the lower level was closed, round towers with conical roofs were destroyed.
In this form, Villandry existed until 1906 - until that time until he acquired it dr. Joachim Carvallo... He decided to save the castle from destruction, completely recreate the ancient architecture and lay out gardens. (Earlier, back in the 16th century, a garden was already created here, designed by Androix du Sersot).
Joachim Carvalho and his wife collected a collection of paintings by Spanish painters of the 17th century. To this day, the Castle of Villandry keeps about fifty of these paintings.
A remarkable element of the decoration is the Arabian ceiling in the Mudejar style by the Moorish masters from the estate of the princes de Makeda. This ceiling, disassembled into 3600 pieces, was brought to Villandry from Toledo. It took a year to put this clever "mosaic" together. An interesting fireplace with a gilded chimney in the shape of a palm tree in the dining room on the ground floor. Dr. Carvalho took great care of the decoration of the castle, restoring the heraldic symbols of the previous owners, floral ornaments and molded shells.
Is a separate attraction in Villandry. The total length of hedges is about 52 km. Every year 250 thousand different seedlings are planted here. Plants are selected in such a way that their flowering periods alternate in stages.
The Villandry Gardens are spread over several levels. The upper level opens Garden of the Sun... It consists of three decorative zones: a "room of clouds" - with plants blooming in white and blue; "Sunny room" in orange and yellow tones; "Children's room" - a playground under the apple trees.
Also in the upper level is Garden of Water (Jardin d'eau)... It is placed around a large pond in the shape of an oval mirror. Rare species of aquatic flora grow in the pond. The fountains next to it resemble royal lilies.
In the second level Regular garden there are three sites: the Herbal Garden, the Music Garden and the famous Love Garden.
As conceived by the creator, the site Garden of Love (Jardin d'amour) They represent four types of feelings: gentle, fickle, passionate and tragic. The belonging of the garden massifs to these allegorical images is emphasized by the forms of hedges and different shades of flowering plants. Hearts and fans, flames and domino masks, sword blades and intricate labyrinths are guessed in the lines of delicately trimmed bushes. All these intricate figures are perfectly visible from the castle tower. You must definitely climb it to see the Garden of Love in all its blooming splendor.
The lowest level is vegetable garden (Рotager)... It is divided into square beds with vegetables. Even in the coloring of these beds, a certain color algorithm is maintained. They form a "chessboard", the cells of which are separated by avenues of fruit trees. The colorful landscape is decorated with fountains and numerous rose bushes. Although the vegetable garden is considered decorative, planting in it is carried out according to all agrotechnical rules.
The Villandry fortress stood at this place for a long time, it was here on July 4, 1189 that the historic meeting of the King of France Philippe-Augustus with the English monarch Henry II Plantagenet took place, as a result of which the Azay-le-Rideau peace agreement was signed
In the 16th century, Jean le Breton settled here - personal secretary of Francis I, who oversaw the construction of the residences of Chambord and Fontainebleau
Feeling all his importance, le Breton decided to make himself comfortable, for which he demolished all the ancient buildings except the central keep and erected in their place a chic Renaissance horseshoe-shaped castle
The inner courtyard of the new castle, surrounded on both sides by a gallery of arcades, faces the Loire, and both of its wings are still considered an example of Renaissance architecture
Villandry also owes his gardens to the royal secretary, who spent a long time in Italy as an ambassador, where he studied the intricacies of the art of landscaping from paintings by Italian Renaissance artists
As a result, taking on the creation of unique gardens that have no analogues anywhere else in France, Le Breton created a truly amazing composition consisting of three levels ...
On the upper terrace, which is a water mirror, the royal secretary laid out an orchard with cozy paths passing between the trees
On the middle terrace, located approximately at the level of the first floor of the castle, he arranged the so-called "Gardens of Love", which will be discussed below
On the lower terrace, the Scotsman has arranged an ornamental garden, in the multi-colored flower beds of which vegetables such as pumpkin, cabbage, carrots and beets are closely huddled, and fruit trees, among which apple and pear trees prevail.
From here, a beautiful view of the village opens with a high bell tower of a Romanesque church, and the landscape is completed by low fountains in the shape of eight-pointed stars, originally used for watering plants and trees
One of the terraces opens onto the Audience Pavilion, a kind of gazebo where you can hide from the heat
The gardens are surrounded by a canal serving both irrigation and framing
Villandry's "Gardens of Love" are 4 regular squares: the northwestern one is planted in the form of hearts struck by arrows and represents passionate love; in the northeastern square, plants are planted in yellow shades, which should represent infidelity; the southwest sector consists of hearts separated by tongues of flame, symbolizing tender feelings; the southeast square is planted with sword-points and blood-red flowers, personifying tragic love. The picture is completed by three large diamond-shaped arrays at the edge of the terrace, depicting Languedoc, Maltese and Basque crosses
Let's walk a little more through the Villandry gardens
The castle of Villandry remained in the property of the le Breton family for over two centuries, until 1754, when it came into the possession of the royal ambassador, the Marquis de Castellana, who decided to "keep up with the times" and furnished the interiors in the latest fashion of the 18th century. As a result, the beautiful colonnades on the ground floor were replaced by faceless walls of kitchens and corridors, and graceful Renaissance windows were "diversified" with arches and balconies
This is how the castle would have survived to our time, if not for the initiative of Dr. Joaquim Carvalho, who decided to return the unique Renaissance appearance of Villandry.
In 1906, Villandry was bought by a Spaniard - Dr. Joachim Carvallo, a prominent scientist (ancestor of the current owner). He abandoned his scientific career, which he had pursued with Professor Charles Richet (Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1913), and devoted himself entirely to the restoration of the Castle of Villandry. The doctor actually saved the castle, which was on the verge of destruction, and recreated the Renaissance-style gardens that were created under Jean Le Breton. Joachim Carvallo was also the founder in 1924 of the "Historic House", the first association that brought together the owners of historic castles, and initiated the opening of these architectural monuments to the general public.
Thanks to Carvalho, the restoration of the castle began in 1906, during which the windows were restored to their original appearance, the colonnades of the first floor were restored and the luxurious gardens were transplanted anew. The whims of the Marquis de Castellan are now reminiscent of only the interiors and the southern façade that he remodeled.
Let's walk a little through the castle interiors. By the way, in most rooms you can find such chairs and armchairs of the 18th century, upholstered in silk from the famous factory in Tours, which is still engaged in the production of this fabric.
The dining room, redesigned by the Marquis de Castellana in the spirit of the 18th century, lost as a result the old tapestries on the walls, which were replaced by panels from the times of Louis XV, and the marble floor was covered with parquet
The kitchen is the simplest room in the castle, with terracotta tiled floors, a large fireplace and stonework. Here you can see all the elements of the old kitchen: an oak table, copper pots and pans, and the like.
A large limestone staircase was built by the Marquis de Castellana in the courtyard, in place of the old octagonal staircase. The initials of the marquis can be seen on the iron railing
The bedrooms on the first floor were traditionally reserved for the owner and his guests. They were also restored, but only the interiors of the 18th century were restored. to our time, there is no evidence of how these rooms looked before the alterations of Castellano
This bright room once belonged to Napoleon's younger brother, Prince Jerome, who owned the castle of Villandry for several years during the period of the Empire. Accordingly, the design and furnishings of this room are imperial: mahogany furniture, red silk curtains and draperies, and military insignia and spears on the walls.
And in this bedroom lived Dr. Carvalho's wife, Anne Coleman. Here you can see portraits of three of the couple's six children
At the corners of the Villandry residence are four living rooms, each with a unique dome. The ceiling of the east living room was created in Toledo in the 15th century and is a pattern of many layers of wood covered with gilding
During the restoration of Joaquim Carvalho, only one of these ceilings was restored in the palace, the other three adorn exhibitions of prestigious international museums today
It took a full year to reassemble this ceiling from 3,600 individual pieces. Built in Mudejar style by Moorish craftsmen for their Spanish patrons, this ceiling combines decorative elements from both Christian and Moorish art: Franciscan cords, seashells, flowers and royal coats of arms are intermingled with intricate patterns, gilding and arabesques
On the second floor, there are two small children's bedrooms with small toys, old books, embroidered clothes and a cradle
The castle tower offers a bird's eye view of the Villandry garden. In addition, there is a beautiful view of the valley, along which the Loire and Cher run parallel for almost fifteen kilometers. This landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Villandry Castle Gardens
(Chateau de Villandry)
Previously, Jean Le Breton was ambassador to Rome, from where he brought the traditions and the best examples of garden art of the Italian Renaissance. The construction of the castle, partially surrounded by a moat, was completed in 1536. This castle is thus considered the last of the Renaissance palaces built on the Loire.
A large paved U-shaped courtyard, formed by outbuildings, opens towards the valley. The main wing and the two perpendicular side wings with open lower arcades follow the classical principles of symmetry, but their structure was influenced by the foundations of the old castle: the side wings are of different lengths and not quite parallel.
The Villandry gardens combine two traditions: the Gothic tradition with flowers, medicinal and food herbs, the best examples of which are presented in monasteries or private estates, and the Italian, more decorative and aesthetic with a lot of clipped greenery. More than a thousand lindens are planted in the Villandry Gardens, and the total length of the hedges is 52 km.
The estate of Villandry is located in a small valley through which a stream flows. The valley has a slope of relief, which led to the creation of gardens on several levels.
The symbolic garden is an extension of the castle's living rooms. In order to examine it in its entirety and understand all the true beauty and encrypted meaning, you need to climb a hill. The four squares closest to the building are made of shrubbery, cut in the form of figures - allegories of love. Love is shown here in four different ways:
Tender love is symbolized by hearts separated by flames and masks worn at balls;
- passionate love formed by hearts pierced by arrows. Boxwood massifs are confused with each other and represent a labyrinth, which is associated with dance and tangled interweaving of destinies;
- Fickle love - these are four fans in the corners, which symbolize the lightness and fickleness of feelings, horns and love notes are also depicted here. This square is dominated by yellow as a symbol of betrayal and deceived love;
- Tragic love shown by the blades of swords, and the red flowers prevailing in summer are a symbol of the blood shed in duels.
Above the symbolic garden, there is a garden located around a large mirror-like reservoir and surrounded by a green wall. There are also four small fountains, surrounded by boxwoods, trimmed in the form of balls, in square containers. It is the perfect place to rest, relax and dream. Nearby is a labyrinth of sheared green walls. Above, there is a fenced rectangular area where pets graze.
On the lower level there is a vegetable garden with an area of \u200b\u200b12.5 thousand square meters. The ornamental beds contain cabbage, carrots, beets, beans, lettuce and other vegetables. The beds are interspersed with apple and pear trees shaped like trellises. In front of the plants, there are information plates explaining their symbolic meanings: pumpkin - fertility, cabbage - promiscuity, etc. In addition, they inform everyone about the healing properties. Fountains, originally intended for irrigation, add to the decoration of this garden. Around the fountains there are four benches under semicircular pergolas, entwined with fragrant roses. This layout dates back to ancient times.
The relief of the area allows you to view the Villandry Gardens from above. This can be done from the tower of the castle, which offers a vista of the village with the bell tower of the Romanesque church and a view of the Loire and Chera valleys. The breathtaking view can also be enjoyed from two balustraded balconies specially arranged on a wooded slope.
Villandry Castle and Gardens are classified as historical monuments. Anyone can visit them at all seasons of the year, both individually and in a group accompanied by a guide. Here you can also taste traditional French cuisine in the restaurant located on the territory of the castle.
Villandry Castle was built in the 16th century by the finance minister Jean Le Breton on the site of an old building that was razed to the ground, leaving the 12th century foundation and one tower to which new buildings were added. Previously, Jean Le Breton was ambassador to Rome, from where he brought the traditions and the best examples of garden art of the Italian Renaissance. The construction of the castle, partially surrounded by a moat, was completed in 1536. This castle is thus considered the last of the Renaissance palaces built on the Loire.
A large paved U-shaped courtyard, formed by outbuildings, opens towards the valley. The main wing and the two perpendicular side wings with open lower arcades follow the classical principles of symmetry, but their structure was influenced by the foundations of the old castle: the side wings are of different lengths and not quite parallel.
The descendants of Jean Le Breton were the owners of the castle of Villandry until 1754, until it came into the possession of the Marquis de Castellan, a royal ambassador and a native of the noble family of Provence. The Marquis redesigned the facades in the classical style, added to the main pavilion, modernized the interiors and laid out new gardens. In the 19th century, the traditional garden was destroyed in order to create an English-style park around the castle (in the style of the Parc Monceau in Paris).
In 1906, Villandry was bought by a Spaniard - Dr. Joachim Carvallo, a prominent scientist (ancestor of the current owner). He abandoned his scientific career, which he pursued with Professor Charles Richet (Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1913), and devoted himself entirely to the restoration of the Castle of Villandry. The doctor actually saved the castle, which was on the verge of destruction, and recreated the Renaissance-style gardens that were created under Jean Le Breton. Joachim Carvallo was also the founder in 1924 of the Historic House, the first association that brought together the owners of historic castles, and pioneered the opening of these monuments to the general public.
The Villandry gardens combine two traditions: the Gothic tradition with flowers, medicinal and food herbs, the best examples of which are presented in monasteries or private estates, and the Italian, more decorative and aesthetic with a lot of clipped greenery. More than a thousand lindens are planted in the Villandry Gardens, and the total length of the hedges is 52 km.
The estate of Villandry is located in a small valley through which a stream flows. The valley has a slope of relief, which led to the creation of gardens on several levels.
The symbolic garden is an extension of the castle's living rooms. In order to examine it in its entirety and understand all the true beauty and encrypted meaning, you need to climb a hill. The four squares closest to the building are made of shrubbery, cut in the form of figures-allegories of love. Love is shown here in four different ways:
- Tender love symbolized by hearts separated by tongues of flame and masks worn at balls;
- passionate love formed by hearts pierced by arrows. Boxwood massifs are confused with each other and represent a labyrinth, which is associated with dance and tangled interweaving of destinies;
- Fickle love - these are four fans in the corners, which symbolize the lightness and fickleness of feelings, horns and love notes are also depicted here. This square is dominated by yellow as a symbol of betrayal and deceived love;
- Tragic love shown by the blades of swords, and the red flowers prevailing in summer are a symbol of the blood shed in duels.
Above the symbolic garden, there is a garden located around a large mirror-like reservoir and surrounded by a green wall. There are also four small fountains, surrounded by boxwoods, trimmed in the form of balls, in square containers. It is the perfect place to rest, relax and dream. Nearby is a labyrinth of sheared green walls. Above, there is a fenced rectangular area where pets graze.
On the lower level there is a vegetable garden with an area of \u200b\u200b12.5 thousand square meters. The ornamental beds contain cabbage, carrots, beets, beans, lettuce and other vegetables. The beds are interspersed with apple and pear trees shaped like trellises. In front of the plants, there are information plates explaining their symbolic meanings: pumpkin - fertility, cabbage - promiscuity, etc. In addition, they inform everyone about the healing properties. Fountains, originally intended for irrigation, add to the decoration of this garden. Around the fountains there are four benches under semicircular pergolas, entwined with fragrant roses. This layout dates back to ancient times.
The relief of the area allows you to view the Villandry Gardens from above. This can be done from the tower of the castle, which offers a vista of the village with the bell tower of the Romanesque church and a view of the Loire and Chera valleys. The breathtaking view can also be enjoyed from two balustraded balconies specially arranged on a wooded slope.
Villandry Castle and Gardens are classified as historical monuments. Anyone can visit them at all seasons of the year, both individually and in a group accompanied by a guide. Here you can also taste traditional French cuisine in the restaurant located on the territory of the castle.
Somehow half a year ago I showed you a lot. Let me remind you of something spectacular, look for the rest on the link.
Villandry Castle is located about 20 kilometers south-west of Tours, considered one of the jewels of Touraine. Once there was a vast Roman estate "Villa Andriaca", hence the name of the territory. The Castle of Villandry, which was finally completed around 1536, is the last of the large castles to be built on the banks of the Loire during the Renaissance.
In 1000, for unknown reasons, the area was christened Colombier (French for "dovecote"), however, not forever - in 1639 the historical name will return. But in the chronicle of the difficult relationship between France and England, the local fortress will get exactly under the “bird” name: on July 4, 1189, a few days before the death of Henry II Plantagenet, he signed the so-called “Peace of Pigeons” (Paix de Colombiers) here. This humiliating agreement with Philip-Augustus marked the victory of the Capetian over their English vassals and the transfer of many territories to them, including Touraine. A hint of birds remained in what the locals are still called: Colombiens.
According to his demands, Henry II was to give up most of his possessions in France in favor of Philip. By that time, the health of the ruler of England was greatly undermined, and the French monarch, seeing the poor condition of his opponent, invited Henry to sit down. But he refused and continued to stand, supported by his personal guard. Undoubtedly, his already sad state worsened when, during the negotiations, he saw his son, the then Count of Poitou (and the future King Richard the Lionheart), who, in his struggle against his father, took the side of his worst enemy - the King of France. Filled with anger, King Henry II vowed to take cruel revenge on Richard, but died 3 days later, cursing his own traitorous son.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Jean le Breton, Minister of Finance under King Francis I, became the owner of the castle. In addition to his main occupation in finance and trade, he possessed considerable architectural knowledge. For several years he was the head of the construction works of the Chambord castle. As the French ambassador to Italy, he was interested in architectural innovations and landscape design.
Initially, the village and the estate bore the common name "Colombiers" ("Pigeon roosts"). Jean le Breton considered this name too general, and since he was in good standing at the court of the king, he was allowed to change not only the name of the village and castle, but also his own title pronunciation. So Jean le Breton soon became known as "Monsignor de Villandry".
In turn, the castle was supposed to emphasize the important social position of its owner, therefore Jean le Breton and his family, without hesitation, invested significant financial resources to improve both the castle itself and the surrounding area. It is not known for certain whether Jean le Breton was an honest official, or, on the contrary, was very resourceful, but he did not suffer the shameful fate of the owners of the Azeil-le-Rideau and Chenonceau castles, who lost their property. In 1619, his grandson Balthazar was even awarded the noble title "Marquis de Villandry".
The descendants of Jean le Breton kept Villandry until 1754, when the castle became the property of the Marquis de Castellane, a royal ambassador and a member of a very famous Provencal noble family. By his order, classical-style extensions were made on both sides of the front yard. He also remade the interior of the castle, adapting it to the comfort standards of the 18th century: he decorated the windows, added balconies, and blocked off a part of the courtyard with a wall to accommodate the kitchen.
Villandry kept this species until 1906. The castle itself consists of three horseshoe-shaped buildings facing the river. Cross-shaped window frames, attics, steep roof slopes form a rare harmonious complex. Not everything was saved - so round turrets with pointed conical roofs did not reach us. The monumental architecture of the castle was influenced by a simpler style, which was later called the style of Henry IV.
In the 19th century, the traditional garden was destroyed in order to create an English-style park around the castle (in the style of the Parc Monceau in Paris).
In 1906, the castle was acquired by the great-grandfather of today's owners, Dr. Joachim Carvallo, who headed the Association of Owners of Historic Monuments. He gives up a brilliant scientific career under the guidance of Professor Charles Richet (Nobel Prize in Medicine 1913) to devote his life exclusively to Villandry. He rescues the castle from destruction and recreates the gardens after the model of the 16th century garden. Finding the original project created by Androis du Cerso, Carvallo recreated the structure of the park, drew straight paths along which lawns with flowers are located, planted lime alleys, hedges skillfully trimmed by gardeners, reproduced the amazing herbaria of medieval monks.
The doctor actually saved the castle, which was on the verge of collapse, and created gardens that are completely in harmony with the architecture of the Renaissance castle, gardens that we can enjoy to this day.
Joachim Carvallo was also the founder in 1924 of the Historic House, the first association to bring together the owners of historic castles. He was the first who decided to open these architectural monuments to the general public.
Clickable 3000 px, panorama
Villandry Castle has several unique features. His yard is not fenced off by castle buildings, but on the contrary is completely open from the outside. With such a configuration, the castle absolutely lost its protective functions, and was a cozy mansion, opening magnificent views of the Cher River from its windows. Jean le Breton decided to preserve the main tower of the old fortress, thereby emphasizing the fact that the castle belongs to the feudal times, organically fitting it into the complex of buildings of the Renaissance. The tower spiral staircase has been redesigned to fully convey the flavor of the 12th century. Unlike Versailles, built a century later, Villandry's seemingly strict geometry is actually nothing more than an optical illusion, although when viewed from the side the main buildings are located relative to each other at right angles.
Architecturally, Villandry Castle is a prominent representative of the late French Renaissance and the last castle on the Loire coast built during this period. There are no hints of Italy and the Middle Ages, a purely French style reigns here, anticipating what would later be called the style of Henry IV. The castle's configuration is based on the principle of symmetry, but so that the ensemble as a whole does not create a feeling of monotony, the windows of the main residential building are not aligned exactly along its middle part, and the wings of the building differ slightly in length and are located at different angles. On the ground floor there is a dining room and a kitchen; here you can also see a model of the castle. Above are several rooms open to the public and a gallery displaying works of art by Spanish realists. From the third floor you can go to the ancient keep and admire the beautiful views of the palace gardens and the Cher valley.
Although the gardens are best admired during a leisurely stroll, this is a separate attraction. Joaquin Carvalho recreated them in the image and likeness of gardens of the 16th and 18th centuries.
The gardens are spread over three levels. On the upper terrace there is the Garden of Water and the Garden of the Sun, on the middle terrace there is an ornamental garden, a Renaissance labyrinth and a pharmacy garden. At the lowest level there is a picturesque vegetable garden.
The Garden of Water, surrounded by linden trees, has a classic Louis XV style layout with a large mirror-like pond in the center. The jets of the fountains in the garden resemble royal lilies.
The highest in the southern part of the castle is the Garden of the Sun. The work on its creation was completed by the current owner of the castle, Henri Carvalho, in the spring of 2008 for the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the reconstruction of the gardens by his great-grandfather Joaquin Carvalho. The garden of the sun has three parts. Shrubs and plants with blue and white flowers form the "room of clouds". A fountain in the shape of a star surrounds the "sun room", designed in yellow and orange colors. And the last "room" - "children's" - a playground for kids among the apple trees.
The part of the ornamental ornamental garden, which is like a continuation of the castle's living rooms, is called the Gardens of Love. The skillfully trimmed shrub and flowers in the four squares represent the different forms of this feeling: Fleeting, Passionate, Tender and Tragic love. From the left edge, if you look at the Gardens of Love from the belvedere, you can see three crosses - Maltese, Basque and Languedoc, as well as stylized lilies.
On the other side of the canal, there is the second part of the ornamental garden - the "musical" salon, where the shape of a shorn shrub resembles some stringed instruments (lyre, harp), musical notes, candelabra to illuminate the score.
Nine squares of the same size with different geometric patterns on the lower level - this is a vegetable garden, created according to the ideas of the famous Androuet du Cersot.
The squares are planted with vegetables of various colors: blue leeks, red cabbage and beets, green tops of carrots, peppers, eggplants and others; as well as fruit trees, rosehip seedlings and flowers.
French gardeners of the 16th century combined two traditions: monastic (monks often gave the beds a geometric shape, often a cross) and Italian (decorative elements: gazebos, fountains and flower beds). Such ornamental gardens were described by the famous architect of the 16th century Androuet du Sersot, and Joaquim Carvalho recreated them at the beginning of the 20th century.
The furnishings of the 18th century have been restored in the building. The castle tower offers views of the Loire and Cher valleys. Climbing the roof is a must in order to be able to take in all the Villandry gardens.
The originality of Villandry lies not only in the innovative architectural concept, but also in the use of the landscape, thanks to which gardens of unsurpassed beauty are grown around the castle, which are in complete harmony with nature and stone.
Joachim Carvallo and his wife collected 17th century Spanish painting - the "golden age" of Spanish painting. And when they acquired Villandry in 1906, one of the goals was to find a place for the collection, which then became very famous. Villandry owns approximately 50 paintings and the current owners are keen to restore the original collection. All paintings belong to the Spanish realistic trend - a magnificent combination of Flemish and Italian designs.
One of the most amazing sights of the castle is the Arabian ceiling. It was brought from the palace of the princes de Makeda, built in the 15th century in Toledo. This house had 4 corner living rooms, each with a dome with wooden multi-colored gilded caissons. The palace was destroyed in 1905.
Now three ceilings from this palace are preserved in the largest international museums. Well, the fourth was brought by Joachim Carvallo to the castle of Villandry in the form of 3600 pieces. It took a year to re-fit this puzzle. This Spanish-Moorish Mudejar ceiling was created by Moorish craftsmen for Spanish owners and is a fusion of decoratively significant elements of Christian and Moorish art. Franciscan strings, shells of Saint Jacques from Compostel, ornament of flowers and heraldry of the sovereigns are combined with stucco, gilding and Arabic script.
In the dining room, there is an interesting fireplace with a chimney shaped like a palm tree.
The main thing for which it is worth going to Villandry is undoubtedly its gardens. They are planted with 1150 lindens, and the total length of hedges is approximately 52 km. Every year, 250,000 flower and vegetable seedlings are transplanted in the gardens. Weeding is done entirely by hand to avoid damaging the very fragile roots of the boxwood. The flowers are planted in such a way that each variety blooms in its own season, replacing others.
Le Breton, who served as Ambassador Francis I in Italy, had a chance to see many gardens, including the Villa d'Este and Lante, designed by the famous masters of the Italian Renaissance, gardens that organically merged with the architecture of the buildings, which served as an accompaniment to them. These Italian gardens were characterized by strict geometric lines and a pronounced architectonic solution. Founded according to the Italian model, the French gardens occupy, however, large areas, make the fortress walls unnecessary and, as it were, reduce the external volumes of buildings. Their wide alleys are lined with flowering parterres, the outlines of which are emphasized by a hedge of trimmed bushes. Villandry Gardens meet these requirements perfectly.
The gardens are laid out over three levels. The topmost, first level, is Water Garden (Jardin d'eau)... Inspired by classicism, it is placed around a large space of water, created in the form of a Louis XV mirror. The mirror is a pond with rare aquatic plants. Water is taken from the pond both for irrigation and for the functioning of the fountains. The Water Garden is the perfect place for leisurely reflections in hot weather.
The second level, which is on the same level as the halls of the lower floor, is Regular Garden (Le jardin d'ornement), consisting of three thematic areas: Garden of Love (Jardin d'amour), Garden of Music (Jardin de la musique) and Garden of medicinal herbs (Jardin des simples). Flowers and grasses are planted among short-cropped shrubs, forming a whimsical ornament.
By designing Garden of love, the park's creator wanted hedges to represent the kinds of love. According to the author, there are four of them. '
Tender love- hearts, separated in the corners by the lights of a love flame. In the center are the masks that were worn over the eyes during balls and allowed any kind of conversation, from the most serious to the most frank.
Fickle (fleeting) love- four fans in the corners symbolize the lightness of feelings. Between these fans are the horns of treason. In the center are love letters or notes that a windy woman sends to her lover. The dominant color of this square is yellow, the color of treason.
passionate love- hearts, but this time broken by passion. The arrays of boxwood are tangled and form a maze, and there is also a hint of dance.
Tragic love- the drawings represent the blades of daggers and swords used in duels due to rivalry in love. In summer, red flowers bloom here - a symbol of blood spilled in the struggle
Second garden - Music garden- symbolizes various musical instruments in the orchestra. The large triangles represent the lyres, along with the harps. Between the lyres there are candlesticks to illuminate the musical score.
Third garden - Herbal Garden... As in the medieval gardens, it is located between the vegetable garden and the church. The garden contains over 30 types of spicy, medicinal and aromatic herbs. All these herbs were considered by our ancestors to be beneficial for family life. You can identify all of them thanks to the signs.
And finally, the third level - Vegetable garden (Rotager), the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 12.5 thousand sq. m. It consists of 9 square beds of the same size, but with different geometric motives. These square beds are planted with vegetables that match colors (leek blue, cabbage and beetroot red, carrot green jade) to give the impression of a multi-colored checkerboard. Vegetable plantings are interspersed with apple and pear trees, the branches of which form trellises of alleys.
Fountains, originally intended for irrigation, add to the decoration of this green landscape. In front of the plants, there are information plates explaining their symbolic meanings: cabbage - promiscuity, pumpkin - fertility, etc. In addition, they inform about the medicinal properties of each plant.
The origin of the vegetable garden dates back to the Middle Ages. The monks in their abbeys liked to arrange vegetables in geometric shapes. The numerous crosses in the Villandry garden remind us of these monastery roots. To revive the gardens, the monks added roses. Planted symmetrically, they, according to the old tradition, symbolize a monk digging a vegetable patch. 
The Italian influence brings decorative elements to this monastery garden: fountains, gazebos entwined with greenery, garden beds with flowers. French gardeners of the 16th century combine these two trends - the monastic French and the Italian and create the garden that they needed for roses and new vegetables brought from America. They call it "ornamental garden". This is exactly what was in the project du Cerso, on the basis of which Carvallo created the modern vegetable garden.
Two plantings are made every year: one in the spring, remaining from March to June, the second in summer, remaining from June to October. Approximately 40 types of vegetables are used each year from eight botanical families. You can't find potatoes here, which is an anachronism for a 16th century garden. The arrangement of vegetables changes with each planting, while observing, on the one hand, the need for a harmonious combination of color and shape and, on the other hand, horticultural requirements, in accordance with which a 3-year alternation of plantings is required so as not to deplete the soil. Irrigation is carried out by a dug-in automatic watering system.
Behind the vegetable garden there is a vista of the village with the bell tower of the Romanesque church. The vegetable garden is perhaps the most unusual part of the Villandry garden complex with large multicolored parterres made up of vegetables and fruit trees. This layout dates back to ancient times. In the XVI century. the first botanical gardens were created, in which rare plants originating from the countries of America, unknown until then, were grown. Plants were placed in ornamental gardens, where their development and acclimatization were monitored. Villandry's orchard adheres to this old tradition.
Do not forget about traditional for France roses... There are a lot of them, they are colorful and very beautiful. And to convey in words the smell in the air is impossible, it is something divine. I would like to inhale the aroma in the air, deeply. Stand and inhale. Fiction!
To visit these unique gardens, you must come to Villandry! The castle hosts various flower festivals. The schedule of events can be found on the official website of the castle. The owners of the castle, the heirs of Dr. Carvallo, who died in 1936, opened a garden crafts school in Villandry, which still exists today.
Tip: do not forget to bring bread with you. In the remains of the moat that once surrounded the castle, very voracious fish swim!
In the castle you can see the dining room, staircase and art gallery. Of course, none of the tourists remains indifferent when exploring the gardens. If you wish, you can organize an exhibition or conference, a seminar in the castle by booking a place in advance.
Visit cost:
- Adults: castle and gardens - € 9.5; gardens - € 6.5;
- Adults with audio guide: castle and gardens - € 12.5; gardens - € 9.5;
- Abridged version: castle and gardens - € 5.5; gardens - € 4
- Reduced version with audio guide: castle and gardens - € 8.5; gardens - € 7
- Group of min. 15 people: castle and gardens - € 7; gardens - € 4.5
- Group of min. 15 people with audio guide: castle and gardens - € 10; gardens - € 7.5
Gardens open every day, all year round, from 9:00 to 18:00.
There are different ways to get to Villandry Castle. From Paris by car on the A10 road to Saumur and from there on the A85 road to Villandry. By train from Montparnasse station to Tours, and from there by taxi.
From Nantes by car, take the A11 and then the A85. By train to Tours or Saint-Pierre-de-Cora, then by taxi.
From Tours, in addition to taxis in July and August, public transport also goes to Villandry. It is also recommended to use a bike along the Loire along a special path.
You can contact the administration of the castle:
Tel: 02 47 50 02 09
Fax: 02 47 50 12 85
sources
http://www.cult-turist.ru
http://www.castlesguide.ru
http://france-guide.livejournal.com
http://www.castle-france.ru
http://castles-europe.ru
