Villandry Castle

Château de Villandry - everything you need to know about the Villandry estate

Villandry Castle designates the estate located west of the city of Tours, in Villandry, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, France.

Villandry classification

The Villandry estate is classified as a historical monument since 1927. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Château de Villandry - practical information

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Visit

The gardens and château are open to visitors for most of the year. The gardens are open every day of the year. Reservations are not necessary. Tickets can be purchased online on the official Château de Villandry website.

Opening hours

Opening hours at Château de Villandry are from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, or from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm in high season.

Rates

Rates to visit Villandry range from 7.50 euros to visit the gardens, and 12 euros to visit the château and gardens. There is a youth rate, and a group rate.

Domaine de Villandry - How to find us

Easy access to the Château de Villandry via the A85 - E60 freeway, exit 8. There are still a few kilometers to go on the D7, before you find the château on your route.

Parking is easy, using the main parking lot opposite the estate on the D7.

Domain services

The services on offer are diverse. In fact, the site offers three different stores, a booking site, 3 catering sites, and 3 different accommodation sites.

Events at the estate

The estate takes part in events such as Castle Night and Vegetable Garden Days. Temporary exhibitions are also organized.

Château de Villandry - Introduction to the estate

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The castle

The Chateau de Villandry features a keep, the only vestige of the medieval era. The building is topped by steeply-pitched slate roofs, giving it a lighter style, adorned with dormer windows each featuring a pediment and a high relief. The facades feature aligned windows adorned with cornices and pilasters. The monument also features arcaded galleries and a courtyard of honor opening onto the Loire River.

The keep at Château de Villandry

The keep is a prime feature of the château, and is all that remains of the medieval fortress. It retains its spiral staircase.

The Library

The estate's library features works by Joachim Carvallo and Ann Coleman.

The François 1er room

The François 1er room - located in the medieval keep - was inaugurated in 2015, to commemorate the fifth centenary of the coronation of King François 1er. This room features a permanent exhibition on François 1er and the Rennaissance, as well as temporary exhibitions.

Other rooms at Château de Villandry

Villandry features many other interesting living areas: the dining room, the salon and study, the dining room, the kitchen, the oriental salon, the painting gallery, the grand staircase, and several bedrooms - Prince Jérôme's bedroom, Joachim Carvallo's bedroom, the Potager's bedroom, the moat bedroom, and the children's bedrooms.

Villandry - The gardens

The gardens at Villandry are all close to the château and are divided into three gardens: the ornamental garden, the kitchen garden and the water garden.

The ornamental garden

The Ornamental Garden is divided into two: the Garden of Love, made up of 4 squares, and the Garden of Crosses, representing the Maltese, Basque and Languedoc crosses, and fleur-de-lys.

The Audience Pavilion

This small building, located in the south of the estate, is part of the formal gardens and was designed by the Marquis de Castellane. Here, he welcomed villagers and peasants for audiences.

The water garden

It is located to the south of the park and comprises a central water mirror, surrounded by open, grassy plots.

The sun garden

The Sun Garden is made up of 3 distinct areas: the Children's Room, the Sun Room and the Cloud Room. Of particular note in the Sun Room is the eight-pointed star-shaped pool.

The labyrinth at Château de Villandry

The labyrinth is a common feature of Renaissance gardens. This one is made of bower, and is based on Renaissance garden plans.

Chateaux de la Loire - discover the estates and their gardens, architecture and history

A medieval fortress

The original name of Villandry castle is Colombiers, or Coulombiers. It was a medieval fortress. The keep, later integrated into the Renaissance monument, remains from this period. It is estimated that there was certainly a body of buildings on either side of the keep, forming an L with defensive elements.

The Renaissance at Château de Villandry

It was under François 1er that Jean Breton, his finance secretary, bought the Villandry estate and gave the château a modern look. He renamed the estate 'Villandry', then, thanks to his travels in Italy and his experience at Château de Chambord, he undertook work that would completely revolutionize the medieval fortress. The L-shaped main building was extended by an additional wing, giving it a U-shape. The architecture was designed to resemble an Italian Renaissance château, with arcades, dormer windows, slate roofs and a building open onto the Loire River.

The 18th century

The chateau was acquired by the Count of Castellane in 1754, and he carried out major works that modified the appearance of the chateau and the estate, in particular by adding interior features such as a staircase, which led to the demolition of the courtyard's inner tower.

The estate is enlarged and the park is embellished with formal gardens, terraces, orangeries, etc. A pavilion, the Pavillon de l'Audience, is built.

The 20th century

Joachim Carvallo acquired the chateau at the beginning of the 20th century, and decided to redesign the gardens to make them more in keeping with what a formal garden should be. His work as a historian is as faithful as possible to what the gardens of Villandry should have been.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Villandry Castle

What is the history of Château de Villandry?

Visit Villandry Castle was built in 1536 by Jean Le Breton, minister of François I, on the foundations of an ancient medieval fortress. It is most famous for its remarkable gardenswhich were restored in the early 20th century by the Carvallo family, owners of the estate.

How to visit Château de Villandry

The château offers several types of tours:

• Open house with an explanatory booklet.
• Guided tour on reservation.
• Garden tour only, for those who want to focus on the outside.

How much does admission to the Château de Villandry cost?

• Castle + Gardens : about 13 € for an adult.
• Gardens only : about 8 €.
• Reduced rates for children, students and groups.
• Free for children under 8.

How long does it take to visit Villandry?

• 1h to 1h30 to visit the castle.
• 1 to 2 hours to discover the gardens.
• For a complete tourplan ahead about 3 hours.

Why are the gardens at Villandry so famous?

Visit Villandry gardens are considered one of the finest examples of French gardens in Europe. They are organized into several areas:

• Visit ornamental gardenwith its symbolic love motifs.
• Visit decorative vegetable gardena geometric masterpiece.
• Visit water gardenoffering a peaceful ambience.
• Visit labyrinth and the SUN GARDENperfect for a stroll.

When is the best time to visit Villandry Gardens?

The gardens are beautiful all year round, but the spring and summer are the best seasons to see flowers and vegetables in full production. Visit fallthe colors change and offer a different charm.

Can we eat there?

Yes, there is a restaurant and tea room near the château, and a picnic area nearby.

Where can I park in Villandry?

A free parking is available at the entrance to the site, just a few minutes' walk from the château.

What other places should I visit around Villandry?

• Visit Castle ofAzay-le-Rideauabout 10 km away.
• Visit Castle of Langeaiswith its medieval drawbridge.
• Visit troglodytic caves in the Loire Valley.
• Tours, the nearest town, with its historic center and museums.

Is it possible to sleep near the Château de Villandry?

Yes, there are several B&Bs, hotels and self-catering cottages in and around the village.

Are there any events at Château de Villandry?

Yes, the château organizes candlelight evenings in summerand plant festivalsand other themed events throughout the year.

Past testimonials

"Villandry is a grand 16th-century château, a magnificent successor to an early feudal fortress, the Château de Colombier, which played its part in the struggles between Philippe-Auguste and Jean-Sans-Terre.

Under the beautiful shades of a park, it's a noble two-storey facade topped by large Renaissance dormer roofs, between a high corner pavilion and a strong square tower with a keep figure, which must date from the last years of the 15th century and probably succeeded the primitive keep of Colombiers." The Loire Castles by A. Robida