Château de Villandry
Villandry, finished in 1536, was the last great Renaissance château built on the Loire, and it is visited for what surrounds it: the most famous formal gardens in the valley, recreated in the early twentieth century by Joachim Carvallo, whose descendants still own and run the estate.
The short version
- Villandry, finished in 1536, is visited for its gardens: ornamental parterres, a water garden and the geometric vegetable garden, on three terraces.
- Our Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau day from Paris visits Azay in the morning, Villandry before lunch and a family vineyard in Vouvray at 2:30.
- Admission is €14 for château and gardens, €8.50 for the gardens alone; children under 8 enter free.
- The gardens open every day except December 25. The château closes most of January and from November 12 to 27.
- Villandry is 15 km from Tours, about 20 minutes by car; bus line 32 stops 280 meters from the entrance.
The Gardens
The gardens descend in terraces: the water garden at the top, the ornamental salon gardens of clipped box drawn as allegories of love, and below them the celebrated Renaissance kitchen garden, nine squares of vegetables planted in patterns and replanted twice a year. Every season changes the picture; high summer and the September replanting show it fullest.
Visiting
The gardens open year-round and the château most of the year; current hours and prices are at chateauvillandry.fr. Garden-only tickets exist and suit a second visit; first-timers should take both. Allow two hours, and walk up to the belvedere above the water garden for the view the postcards use. The LinkParis.com Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau day tour from Paris covers both châteaux with admissions included and a Vouvray tasting in the afternoon.
Villandry sits 15 minutes from Tours and pairs naturally with Azay-le-Rideau or Langeais; see the top ten castles for the pairings.
Planning the day
Villandry takes two hours, most of it outdoors, so the weather decides the visit more than at any other château on the Loire. Hours shorten during heatwaves, and the kitchen garden is replanted twice a year, in spring and in autumn, which leaves a few bare weeks each time. The gardens-only ticket at €8.50 covers the winter, when the château is closed for most of January and from November 12 to 27 but the parterres stay open.
Azay-le-Rideau is 11 km south and Langeais 15 minutes west, and the three fit one car-based day west of Tours. Bus line 32 from Tours stops 280 meters from the gate for anyone without a car.
Our Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau day from Paris does the two châteaux in the morning and the Vouvray tasting after lunch; the 2-Night Loire tour comes here first on its second afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Villandry famous for?
Its gardens: terraced Renaissance parterres, allegorical box gardens, and a nine-square ornamental kitchen garden replanted twice a year. They are the most celebrated formal gardens in the Loire.
Who owns Villandry?
The Carvallo family. Joachim Carvallo bought the estate in 1906, restored the Renaissance gardens from old plans, and his descendants still own and manage it.
When are the Villandry gardens at their best?
From June through September, with the summer planting in full growth; the October replanting and spring bulbs give the shoulder seasons their own look. The gardens open every day of the year.
