Chateau de Villandry

The Chateau de Villandry, which is known for its beautiful gardens, is grand country estate located in the Loire Valley. The chateau was constructed around the 14th century in the area where King Philip II of France once met with Richard the Lionheart to discuss peace. During the French Revolution, the property as confiscated and in the early 19th century, Napoleon acquired it for his brother. In 1906, the property was privately purchased and underwent an extensive renovation, including the creation of the magnificent gardens. The gardens today blend both tradition and innovation. It is open to the public and receives about 300,000 visitors each year. We spent most of the morning at the Chateau, touring the building and then the extensive gardens. We then walked into the small town nearby for lunch. Overall, we really enjoyed our time at Chateau de Villandry.

The dining room, which was added to Villandry by the Marquis de Castellane, is adorned with Louis XV paneling, a marble floor, a fountain and a wooden stove.

The kitchen has hexagonal terracotta tomette tiles, an imposing fireplace, stone walls and exposed beams. Its features attest to its utilitarian, rather than formal, use.

The main staircase was cut from local limestone and built in the 18th century to replace the outdoor staircase located in the chateau's main courtyard.

The children's bedrooms (above and below) saw generations of children grow up in this home.

Archangel Michael slaying the demon by Alonso Berruguete (early 1500s).

The Hispano-Moorish ceiling in the Oriental Salon dates back to the 15th century and was brought to Villandry in 1906. it is made of 3,600 pieces of polychromme wood and took a year to rebuild.

The Francis I room, which is at the top of the tower, provides a glimpse of the layout and levels of comfort in the chateau during the Renaissance, just as the king of France may have experienced when he visited Villandry in January 1543.

The various parts of the Love Garden symbolize the four stages of love, including Passionate Love (above).

The ornamental kitchen garden is made up of nine raised beds that are identical in size but with different geometric motifs. The beds are planted with vegetables in colors that alternate to cream the illusion of a multicolored checkerboard. 

The kitchen gardens featured colorful patches of various lettuce.

Flighty Love