One of the most important and well-known gardens in France – Villandry Gardens at Chateau de Villandry (37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire) has gone organic. No more synthetic seeds, chemical fertilisers or pesticides etc – just environmentally friendly insects and techniques.
In the heart of the Loire Valley on the south bank of the Loire west of Tours, the Chateau is well worth a detour.
The 16th-17th Century chateau and its gardens host “Kitchen Garden Days” (Les Journées du Potager) every September (28 – 29 September 2024)
and the Night of 1000 Lights (Les Nuits des Mille Feux) when the gardens are illuminated with candles each July, both of which offer enhanced opportunities to view the spectacular gardens.
With its unique furnishings, décor and atmosphere, the Château de Villandry is a living testimony of French heritage. When Jean Le Breton acquired the Villandry estate, the building was a Mediaeval fortress. The defensive architecture was pared down, opened up and enhanced with elements of Renaissance décor. In the 18th century, the Marquis de Castellane moved into Villandry and made some major changes to transform the building into a warm, bright and comfortable home that reflected the art of living at that time. By the end of the 19th century the estate had fallen into disuse and was saved from dereliction by Joachim Carvallo and Ann Coleman, who in turn undertook a campaign of restoration to return it to its Renaissance state. Henri Carvallo, the current owner of Villandry, is following in the footsteps of his ancestors by both preserving this unique heritage site and opening it up for visitors to enjoy. see châteauvillandry.com
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