Villandry Castle Gardens (Chateau de Villandry). Castle of Villandry - Inimitable luxury and the world's only three-level garden Castle of Villandry - Inner luxury

“The castle garden of Villandry is one of the most visited gardens. He gained worldwide fame thanks to the grandiose decorative garden. The art of the kitchen garden originated here a long time ago.
A bit of history, or how the art of the kitchen garden originated.
... On July 4, 1189, King Henry II Plantazhene of England came to the King of France Philip Augustus to admit his defeat. In the medieval fortress, the "Peace of Colombier" is signed (that's how Villandry was called then).
... End of the 15th century. The young King of France Charles VIII had to retreat in a military campaign with Italy. The main "trophy" is the introduction of the king to the high art of the Renaissance. He writes with delight to the Duke of Bourbon: “My brother, you cannot imagine how beautiful gardens I have seen in this city. Truly, it seems that only Adam and Eve are lacking for this earthly paradise ... ”Seeing the Italian palaces and gardens, the king decides to have similar ones. This is how Italian art takes root in France, and with it the Renaissance park.

... Monastic gardens dominate in medieval Europe. But French gardeners of the 16th century need a special garden, in which there is a place for roses and outlandish vegetables brought from America. Thus, two currents were combined - the French monastery garden and the Italian, and the garden itself was called the "ornamental garden".
Villandry is one of the last Renaissance castles on the banks of the Loire. From the old fortress of the 12th century, only the donjon and the foundation on which the new castle was built in 1536 by the Minister of Finance of Francis I, Jean Le Breton, have been left. Previously, he was ambassador to Rome, and in his spare time he studied the art of gardens.
The descendants of J. Le Breton kept Villandry until 1754. Then the new owner, the Marquis de Casteland, rebuilds both the castle and the courtyard.
... XIX century. The traditional castle garden was destroyed and an English park was created in its place. ...
... The beginning of the XX century - the castle and the garden fell into decay, are subject to demolition.
Renaissance, or an embodied love story for the garden.
... 1906. Villandry was saved from death by Dr. Joachim Carvallo, a Spaniard by birth, a nobleman, a most educated person. He was fascinated by the picturesque nature of this place, the hills covered with forest and "embracing" the ancient castle and the marvelous garden. A connoisseur of history and architecture, Carvallo decides to revive this estate in the spirit of the Renaissance. He was so captivated by the idea that he abandons a brilliant career and devotes his life exclusively to Villandry.

18 years of hard work and the castle has been freed from the layers of reconstructions of the last three centuries. Now it looks like at the beginning of the 16th century, when the style of Henry IV reigned. The interior decoration reflects the owner's taste: exquisite Spanish furniture of the 18th century, a family collection of paintings from the 16th-18th centuries with paintings by Goya, Velazquez, Murillo. And also - the surprising vaults of the ceiling from the Moorish mosque, bought by Carvallo. They were collected from 3000 fragments ...
But most of the work was invested in the revival of the garden, which inscribed his name in history. The bottom line is that French Renaissance gardens have either fallen into disrepair or been converted into baroque ones. Later, most of them were replaced by English landscape parks. This destroyed the charm of the French gardens. Therefore, creating a Renaissance garden was a valuable choice.
Meticulous, selfless work, knowledge of history, search for disappeared sketches, drawings by Jeanne Androuet du Sersot (the best connoisseur of castles and gardens of those times), and the result exceeds all expectations - Villandry becomes the best garden in France during the Renaissance.
A walk in the garden, or a trip back in time.
The garden is split over three levels. You can take a look at it from above the watchtower, or belvedere. The lower level is occupied by a castle, surrounded by a deep moat with water. Walking bridges connect the carriage area, the lower courtyard with the outbuilding (courdoner) and the castle. There are many fish in the water. Plump and nimble, she exposes her greedy mouths and curious eyes, crowding each other.

The living rooms of the castle on the south side flow into the garden called the "Garden of Love". This ornamental garden is full of symbols-images inherent in that era. The colorful parterre is divided into 4 squares. The first embodies "Tender Love" - hearts are enveloped in a flame of love, in the center of the mask (they were dressed for the ball, which allowed any kind of conversation). The pattern is woven from sheared boxwood and is filled in the middle with red flowers. "Passionate love" - hearts struck by passion circle in a whirlwind of dance. "Frivolous love" - four fans in the corners symbolize the frivolity of feelings, between them there are horns of betrayal, and in the center of the letter are frivolous lovers. Everything is in yellow - symbols of treason. "Tragic love" - the blades of daggers and swords of the duelists. Red flowers - spilled blood.
Further, the parterre continues with squares with lilies and crosses - symbols of the victory of life over death: the Maltese cross, the Languedoc cross, the cross of the Basque Country.
Nearby, on the bank of the canal, there is an alley-pergola, where through the bunches of poured grapes one can see the "Garden of Music", another boxwood living room. Images of lyres, harps, candelabra are drowned in bluish-lilac sage, lavender, and it seems as if a blue haze is rising above them. A vine alley and a canal make up the central axis of the park, dividing the ornamental garden and the vegetable garden of the Renaissance - the hallmark of Villandry.
Kitchen garden, or vegetable chess.

The vegetable gardens are from the Middle Ages. Monks of many orders were famous as excellent gardeners and gardeners. It was believed that such work, like no other, purifies the human soul: after all, they were dealing with the earthly embodiment of the lost paradise.
In their abbeys, the monks planted vegetables in rectangular beds. The numerous crosses of the vegetable garden remind us of this long-standing culture. The garden itself consists of nine square beds of the same size, but with a different geometric pattern in the middle. Each square is further divided into four parts. Vegetables, spices, as if playing fabulous chess. Bluish onions, green curls of parsley, carrots, red cabbage, purple basil and green lettuce combine in shape and color to create a pattern for the beds.
There are small fountains at the intersection of the vegetable garden paths. In former times, they symbolized an inexhaustible source of faith in Jesus Christ, and also had a utilitarian meaning - for watering and washing. The fountains are surrounded by characteristic (hemispherical) medieval pavilions. They were densely braided with roses. You sit on a bench in the depths of the niche of the gazebo, and a wave of aroma covers you ... The sun gently warms, the water of the fountain murmurs, the colorful carpet of the garden pleases the eye - a real paradise. In the Middle Ages, plants were associated with allegorical overtones, which were of great importance. So red roses embodied love for God, white - the sorrow of the Virgin, yellow - her glory. Therefore, gardens were also decorated with roses. Over time, the roses planted here began to symbolize the monk who was digging the garden.
The plan of this part of the garden was developed by Carvallo, taking into account the found fragments of images of the garden of Benedictine monasteries of the 16th century. The idea - the creation of strict geometric shapes only from trees, bushes, flowers and vegetables - is brilliantly embodied! The clear visual frame of the garden is formed from boxwood - 52 km long! Each garden bed is a masterpiece framed by a flower border. It is complemented by a low hedge, along which cordons are planted with apple trees.

There are plaques next to the plants with the names and history of their use. Amazing volumes, scrupulousness of work on the beds for almost a century. How much patience, soul and love have been invested in them! After all, two plantings are made here every year: one in the spring (it stays in the beds from March to June), the second in the summer - from June to November. About 40 types of vegetables are used every year (except potatoes). Their location changes with each planting so as not to deplete the soil, and corresponds to a three-year sequence. They strictly adhere to the harmonious combination of color and shape. All this is a huge work, because 250,000 seedlings are planted here every year.
Captured by a thousand lindens, or the ancient guardians of the family hearth.
The owner of the castle planted 1200 lindens on the territory of Villandry. They divide parts of the garden, surround it, or form alleys. Linden Alley is amazing. You go under her shade and seem to find yourself in another world. Penumbra, silence, mystery.
Why did Carvallo choose linden? Even in ancient times, men worshiped oak, and women worshiped linden. In Western Europe, the linden tree is dedicated to the goddess Freya, the protector of the family hearth. It was considered a family tree; people gathered under it to solve common affairs. She was planted near castles, in city squares. Linden was known as a talisman for lightning. Later it also became a symbol of rural society.

Parallel to the linden alley, there is a garden of medicinal herbs. According to the canons of the Middle Ages, it is located between the vegetable garden and the church. More than 30 types of herbs, which have long been used in family treatment, are planted in the beds of the pharmaceutical garden.
The route of walking through the labyrinth takes us to the upper terrace to the playground and the English-style flower garden. This is the kingdom of luxurious, very tall grasses and flowers.
Behind the dense linden wall, a new contrast is the water garden. In boulengrin, on the green velvet of the lawn, lies a giant Louis XV mirror - an artificial reservoir, the water of which is connected to a canal. Around the parterre area with small round reservoirs, paths. Everything is surrounded by steep slopes with perfect lawn. You involuntarily stop, staring at this beauty. And then the thought flashes - the water mirror is arranged here so that the exquisite beauty of the garden can admire itself in it.
Joachim Carvallo's heirs still live in the castle. They cherish and continue his work, which was the meaning of his whole life. "

Where is: Loire Valley, 15 km from Tours.
How to get there:
- by car: from Tour on the D7 road
- by train: from Tours there are trains 2 times a day, travel time - 10 minutes, ticket price - 1.5 euros, go to Savonnieres station, which is 4 km from the castle.
How does it work: gardens - daily from 9.00 to 17.00 (winter) or 19.30 (summer); castle - from 9.00 to 16.30 (winter) or 18.30 (summer), closed from 15 November to 7 February.
Issue price: € 9.
Website . On the official page of the castle, you will find descriptions of ideas, gardens, a virtual tour, a monthly photo report on the life of the castle, the latest news and much more.

What to look at: this graceful castle rises near the Loire, not far from the building that stood here in ancient times. But the charm of Villandry Castle lies primarily in its unique parks. The history of France has never invaded its walls - it was neither the castle of kings nor courtesans.

History

The castle was built by the Prime Minister of King Francis I, Jean le Breton (whose coat of arms can be seen in the outline of the left dormer) on the site of the foundation of the feudal fortress, where on July 4, 1189, Philip II Augustus and Henry II Plantagenet signed a peace agreement. Jean le Breton, who was entrusted with the management of the construction of the castles of Fontainebleau and Chambord, razed the former castle to the ground, leaving one tower (in which the historical meeting of the kings took place), to which new buildings were added.
Breton, whose ancestors were from Scotland, decided to build his own castle, which would have an elegant, festive look, different from the austere appearance of medieval fortresses. The construction was completed in 1536. Thus, this castle is considered to be the last of the Renaissance palaces built on the Loire. The new building has a U-shape in relation to the ceremonial courtyard overlooking the Loire. The two large wings are typically Renaissance. They were built on the model of palaces that were erected at the beginning of the 16th century. Their facades are cut by large windows, framed by pilasters with capitals of the classical order, and decorated with friezes and large lucarnes with volutes and tympanes. The wide facades are given a slight asymmetry (in the lines of the windows, in their length and the direction of the wings); arched galleries run on both sides of the courtyard.

The descendants of Jean le Breton preserved 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 outbuildings 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. We did not manage to save everything - 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 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) in order 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 initial 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.

By castle
The furnishings of the 18th century have been restored in the building. The castle tower overlooks the Loire and Cher valleys. Climbing to the roof is a must to be able to take in all the Villandry gardens.

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 gained great fame. Villandry owns approximately 50 paintings and the current owners are keen to restore the original collection. All paintings belong to the Spanish realistic movement - 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.

Through the garden

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 so as not to damage 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 to 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 a kind of accompaniment to them. the 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 the buildings. The Villandry gardens meet these requirements in the best possible way.

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: the Garden of Love (Jardin d "amour), the Garden of Music (Jardin de la musique) and the Garden of Medicinal Herbs (Jardin des simples). Flowers and herbs are planted among short-cut shrubs, forming a whimsical ornament.

When designing, 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 at the corners by the fires 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 labyrinth, 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

The second garden - - symbolizes the 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 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. All of them you can identify thanks to the signs.

And finally, the third level - Vegetable garden (Rotager), the area of which is 12.5 thousand square meters. 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 beet red, carrot tops jade green) 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 beauty of this green landscape. In front of the plants there are information signs 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 necessary so as not to deplete the soil. Irrigation is carried out by a dug-in automatic irrigation system.

Outside 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 ensemble, 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 that time, 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 want to breathe in the aroma in the air, deeply. Stand and inhale. Fantastic!

To visit these unique gardens, it is a must to 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 remnants of the moat that once surrounded the castle, there are very voracious fish swimming!

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, which is considered one of the jewels of Touraine. Once upon a time 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 here the so-called “Peace of the Doves” (Paix de Colombiers). This humiliating agreement with Philip Augustus marked the victory of the Capetian over their English vassals and the transfer to their disposal of many territories, including Touraine. A hint of birds remained in what the locals are still called: Colombiens.

According to his demands, Henry II had to give up most of his possessions in France in favor of Philip. By that time, the health of the ruler of England was severely 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 condition 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 brutal 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 the field of 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 king's court, 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 for the improvement of 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 of "Marquis de Villandry".

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).

The doctor actually saved the castle, which was on the verge of destruction, 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. Its courtyard is not fenced off by castle buildings, but on the contrary is completely open from the outside. With this configuration, the castle absolutely lost its protective functions, and was a cozy mansion with 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 feudal times, organically fitting it into the complex of buildings of the Renaissance. The tower spiral staircase was redesigned to fully convey the flavor of the 12th century. Unlike Versailles, built a century later, the seemingly strict geometry of Villandry 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 to be 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 the 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 one there is an ornamental 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 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. The "cloud room" is made up of shrubs and plants with blue and white flowers. A fountain in the shape of a star surrounds the "sun room", designed in yellow and orange tones. And the last "room" - "children's" - a playground for kids among the apple trees.

The part of the ornamental decorative garden, which is, as it were, a continuation of the castle's living rooms, is called the Gardens of Love. Artfully trimmed shrubs and flowers in 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, and candelabra to illuminate the score.

Nine squares of the same size with different geometric patterns on the lower level - this is a garden-garden, created according to the ideas of the famous Androuet du Cerso.

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 the shape of 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 overlooks the Loire and Cher valleys. Climbing to the roof is a must 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 have been grown around the castle, which are in complete harmony with nature and stone.

In the dining room there is an interesting fireplace with a chimney shaped like a palm tree.

Le Breton, who served as Ambassador Francis I to 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 pronounced architectonic solutions. 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 the buildings. Their wide alleys are lined with flowering parterres, the outlines of which are emphasized by a hedge of trimmed bushes. The 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: the Garden of Love (Jardin d'amour), the Garden of Music (Jardin de la musique) and the Garden of Medicinal Herbs (Jardin des simples). Flowers and grasses are planted among short-cut shrubs that form a whimsical ornament.

By designing Garden of love, the creator of the park 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 fires of a love flame. In the center there are masks that were worn over the eyes during balls and allowed any kind of conversation, from the most serious to the most frank.

passionate love- hearts, but this time broken by passion. The arrays of boxwood are tangled and form a labyrinth, 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 - Garden of Music- 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.

Tip: do not forget to bring bread with you. In the remnants of the moat that once surrounded the castle, there are very voracious fish swimming!

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;
Short 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 am to 6:00 pm.

There are different ways to get to Villandry Castle. From Paris by car along the A10 road to Saumur and from there along the A85 road to Villandry. By train from Montparnasse station to Tours, and from there by taxi.
From Nantes by car, take the A11 road and then the A85 motorway. 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

And of course I will also remind you of several spectacular castles: or in Austria The original article is on the site InfoGlaz.rf The link to the article this copy was made from is

Not far from the Loire Valley, the majestic ancient castle of Villandry rises. This building dates back to the Renaissance. Although originally the castle of Villandry was a defensive fortress. It was here that a peace treaty was signed between the two sovereigns of the two great powers at that time - France and England. In the western tower of Villandry Castle, King Henry II Plantagenet of England and King Philip Augusta of France agreed on July 4, 1189 to end hostilities against each other. At the same time, it was France that received a significant advantage under this agreement.

A lot of time has passed since then, but Villandry Castle is still a favorite place to visit for all Frenchmen without exception. The guests of this country do not stand aside either.

History of Villandry Castle

Several centuries after the signing of the peace treaty, Jean le Breton took possession of the castle. This prominent figure of the state was engaged in the construction of other castles and fortifications. Under his leadership, the construction and reconstruction of the Fontainebleau castle went on. A little later, he supervised the construction of the Chambord castle.

Thanks to his knowledge and experience, he managed to transform the ancient castle of Villandry into a luxurious palace. The modern appearance of the castle no longer resembles a fortification. Jean le Breton had ancient Scottish roots and knew how to find beauty and grace in the world around him. Therefore, the construction of the castle was carried out according to sketches created in the light Empire style.

The buildings of the Villandry castle that we see today were built in 1536. The shape of the building was chosen in the form of the letter U with two independent wings. Inside the side buildings, there is a courtyard facing the bend of the Loire River. The light and graceful architecture was complemented by large hinged windows, balustrades, columns and various stucco moldings that adorned the facades. Both facades

were made in the same style, but with a slight asymmetry. This gave the building grace and lightness. The castle seemed to float in the air.

Villandry Castle is currently a private property. But the doors of the castle are always open to visitors on weekdays and weekends. The entrance ticket inside the castle costs from 2 to 5 euros, depending on the hours of the visit. If necessary, you can use the services of a guide who will tell the history of the castle and highlight the origin of its main exhibits.

Villandry Gardens

The famous Villandry Gardens appeared here immediately after the completion of construction. And they owe their appearance to all the same Jean le Breton. At one time he served as the French ambassador to Italy. It was in this country that he first became acquainted with massive gardens and parks richly decorated with flowering plants. Immediately after returning to his homeland, he laid out three-level gardens in his ancestral castle. This is how the Villandry Gardens first appeared.

The Villandry Garden of Love today is a massive architectural landscape group. Its distinctive features:

large area of plantations;
wide alleys;
parterres with flower beds along alleys and walking paths;
the outlines of the gardens are made up of neatly trimmed shrubs.

Villandry's Gardens of Love have three levels:

the highest level is a pond with a mirror-like surface of water;
the middle level is occupied by an ornamental garden with flower beds;
the lower level is traditionally used in France for growing vegetables.

It is not by chance that Villandry's gardens are called love gardens. The geometric shapes and arrangement of plants are kept in accordance with the allegories of love symbolism. In particular, the massif in the north and west is planted in the shape of a heart pierced by an arrow of Cupid. In the east of the garden, the plants are arranged in groups in their appearance resembling horns, fans and other symbols of treason. In the south, the gardens smoothly transform into a zone of passion. The color red prevails here. Symbols - tongues of flame, swords, duels.

France is a dream country for most travelers. Every tourist is eager to visit this European corner and be sure to take a picture against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, walk along the night streets of Paris, go shopping, where can you go without it, try national cuisine (cheeses, wines, croissants, many desserts), and also just enjoy the atmosphere of a country full of romance.

Today, however, we will devote an article not to the Eiffel Tower, but to another French attraction, which should be included in the list of must-see sites. The name of such a luxurious object is the Castle of Villandry.

Castle Villandry: history

The history of the masterpiece, which France can proudly boast of today, begins in the 1200s. At that time, the building itself was similar to a fortification, in no way resembling a castle. In addition, this structure was a so-called tidbit for most ill-wishing people.

But if you believe the historical facts, it was within these walls that very important negotiations took place between such personalities as the king of England and the king of France. 1189, or rather June 4 of this year, marked the signing of a peace treaty. The name of the treaty is Colombier. It was signed in favor of Phillip Augustus (King of France). Years and centuries passed, and the fortified fortress served as a haven for soldiers, instead of being a chic, luxurious castle, which boasts excellent interior decoration, as well as very large rooms.

It wasn't until the mid-1500s that some change began to take place. Now the castle of Villandry was transferred to the management of the secretary of Francis I. The name of the secretary is Jean le Breton. Since that time, the building has healed in a new way.

Construction features

Jean decides to build his own building, which will be significantly different from other similar buildings, as well as stand out against their background. He wanted Wildlandry Castle to have extraordinary architecture, a festive look, in addition, it would be much better than the existing palaces, castles of the Middle Ages. To realize all his ideas, he had to order to demolish almost all the ancient buildings of Villandry.

But he orders to leave only one main tower, located inside the keep (fortress). With the arrival of 1536, the construction of a new building begins. It will be built around the palace in the shape of the letter "P". The main entrance of the erected masterpiece overlooks the banks of the famous Loire River.

According to the stories of most modern architects, both so-called wings of the erected masterpiece were executed in the classical style inherent in the Renaissance period. Among the main characteristics are:

Dimensional windows. They are framed by semi-columns (pilasters), and the windows are crowned with capitals.
Spiral curls. They have an inherent so-called peephole located in the center.
Niches. Among architects, niches have their own name - tympans.

At the same time, the construction of arched galleries was carried out. These galleries served as decoration of the courtyard on both sides.

Jean le Breton

The king sent Jean to Italy several times for the purpose of a diplomatic visit. These trips allowed the French official to become better acquainted with the works of Romanesque artists. Their masterpieces date back to the Renaissance. Among the beautiful masterpieces, there are unique paintings depicting beautiful gardens, which are impressive both in geometry and in harmony with the architecture of Villandry.

The government official was impressed by everything he saw in the Italian countryside. For this reason, he decides to use wildlife instead of huge fortress walls. Although the gardens, which the castle of Villandry and France itself can rightfully boast, occupy an area much larger in comparison with the so-called templates of Italy.

Reconstruction of the castle

With the arrival of 1754, the castle passed into the possession of another person. It was the Marquis Michel-Ange de Casteland. He decided to carry out work on the reconstruction of the building. Note that he planned to change the architectural style of the building, to make it characteristic of his time. Restoration work, involving the restoration of certain parts of the castle, was not included in his plans.

Under the Marquis de Castelane, the window openings changed slightly, they acquired smaller dimensions. In addition, new arches were framed and balconies were erected. Also, instead of colonnades, kitchens, corridors were added, now walls were located in their place. In this form, Villandry Castle existed for about two centuries.

At the beginning of the 19th century, this masterpiece of architecture was in the possession of Prince Jerome Bonaparte, who was the younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. At that time, the castle acquired a richer look, which, in fact, corresponded to the style of the emperor. After Jerome, the building passed into the possession of the Engerlo family.

Return to original appearance

In 1906 this architectural masterpiece found new owners again. They were people who were very fond of art: the wife of Anna Coleman, a doctor named Joaquim Carvalho. It occurred to them to give the castle its original appearance. Therefore, Villandry could boast of the original appearance of the windows, rebuilt by arcades. In addition, the couple took care of the creation of the gardens. The halls located inside the castle and the south-facing façade, made by the Marquis Michel-Ange de Casteland, were not affected during the restoration work.

Now anyone could admire the beautiful palaces and other structures that were located in the valley of rivers such as Laura and Cher, thanks to Carvalho. It was he who initiated the organization of an association of owners of historical monuments. At the present time, the castle of Villandry is the property of Joaquim's great-grandson. His name is Henri Carvalho.

Villandry's interior

Among the many architectural masterpieces around the world, there is a huge number of those objects that can boast of their unique, unsurpassed interior decoration. If a tourist has a country like France in his travel plans, he must definitely visit this attraction of the country. Usually travelers cannot convey in words all the charm of the wealth and splendor inherent in Villandry.

Undoubtedly, the interior appearance of any room in the building impresses with its beauty. Most of the rooms have chairs and armchairs from the 18th century with silk upholstery and precious woods. If we talk about silk fabric, it was produced in Tours in a weaving factory. Note the fact that the factory is still in operation today. Magnificent, chic bedrooms cannot be ignored. They were intended not only for the owners, their children. Guests could also relax in the bedrooms.

Features of the rooms

Work was carried out to restore Jerome Bonaparte's room. The room of this man impresses with its red tones, which, in fact, only emphasizes the wealth and power inherent in the old days of the French Empire. The main items of the room:

furniture made of expensive mahogany wood;
curtains that match the furniture color.

As for the walls of the bedroom, they are draped with a red fabric. Now let's pay a little attention to the living rooms. This castle, which France is proud of, has its own ceiling decoration feature. Note that the ceilings have the shape of domes, but the "highlight" is different. A special feature of the ceiling decoration is a unique, magnificent pattern. It was laid out from a large number of layers of wood.

By the way, each layer is gold plated. Villandry Castle has four living rooms. To date, only one such ceiling is available to tourists. The other three patterns have found their secluded spot in the best European museums, serving as exhibits there.

Castle and UNESCO

Travelers who go on an excursion to the Castle of Villandry, want to get to know a country like France better, have a unique opportunity to visit one of the towers of this magnificent masterpiece of architecture. The view overlooking the valley will impress any person and will remain in memory for a long time. After all, two parallel rivers - Cher and Laura are incredibly beautiful, will not disregard those who love to enjoy nature and its creations. By the way, now France can boast of the fact that this magnificent landscape is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Villandry Gardens

Now let's talk about one important advantage of this French landmark - its gardens. We can talk about them for a very long time, because they are unusually beautiful, their special difference is their three-level arrangement. When we looked at history, we mentioned that it was Jean le Breton who met them in the paintings painted by Italian artists, then studied all the subtleties of the art of landscaping.

After that, Jean decided to bring to life everything he had studied and seen, to decorate his castle. Since their inception, they have caused the disappearance of stone fences from the gardens, and the alleys were surrounded by flower beds. If we talk about a specific example of French park art, they are undoubtedly the Villandry gardens, the levels of which rise one above the other. At the present time, such a French miracle is able to impress any person who comes to these parts.

Features of levels

Upper

This level has its own name, which sounds like "Water Mirror". The main components of this ensemble include a smooth lake surrounded by various fruit trees. It also includes paths winding between trees.

Average

This level is divided into 4 large squares, called "Gardens of Love". Everything turned out as it was planned: the first level, which has the castle of Villandry, as well as the middle garden level, are the same. The garden itself is a reflection of love. That is, he is characterized by various feelings: love, infidelity, tenderness, tragedy and passion. The decorator was able to realize all of the above feelings thanks to various axle arrays of bushes.

The guests are presented with masks, love notes, a heart pierced by an arrow, and many other elements. Tourists have the opportunity to see all this and much more in incredible, unique squares. France knows how to surprise travelers! For example, 3 diamond-shaped massifs located in the southern part make a great impression. These arrays are a display of heraldic symbols. Array symbols are crosses:

Basque;
Languedoc;
Maltese.

Lower

There are real small vegetable gardens here. That is, the lower level is a place where various vegetables grow (for example, pumpkin, beets), trees - pears and apple trees. The entire composition is framed by small star-shaped fountains with eight ends. The star itself serves both for decoration and for watering. At the present time, the garden is watered with water from a water channel, because it surrounded the entire castle of Villandry.

In conclusion, I would like to say that France was, is and will be a wonderful corner of our planet, worthy of the attention of every traveler. We recommend all tourists to visit as many interesting, unusual, famous objects that France offers. In addition, you need to take a photo, shoot a video, so that many years later you will remember the bright moments from your life.

Villandry Castle Gardens (Chateau de Villandry). Castle of Villandry - Inimitable luxury and the world's only three-level garden Castle of Villandry - Inner luxury

History of Villandry Castle

Villandry Gardens

Castle Villandry: history

Construction features

Jean le Breton

Reconstruction of the castle

Return to original appearance

Villandry's interior

Features of the rooms

Castle and UNESCO

Villandry Gardens

Features of levels

Upper

Average

Lower

The last

You need to know