Château de Villandry, Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley, France.
The Château de Villandry features Renaissance architecture combined with six distinct garden enclosures that include ornamental, water, vegetable, and medicinal spaces arranged in geometric patterns across the estate.
Built in the 16th century by Jean Le Breton, finance minister to King François I, the castle replaced a medieval fortress where King Philip II of France and Richard the Lionheart once met to discuss peace.
The gardens showcase a synthesis of medieval Christian symbolism and Italian Renaissance geometry, maintained using organic methods and featuring over 12,000 flowers (37,000 flowers) and 25,000 vegetables (77,000 vegetables) planted annually by a team of ten gardeners.
The castle opens daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm at 3 Rue Principale, with admission priced at approximately 11 euros ($12) for castle and gardens or 7 euros ($7.50) for gardens only.
The vegetable garden spans nearly 2.5 acres (one hectare) and is arranged in a checkerboard pattern of nine squares, with harvests donated to staff, visitors, and local charities as part of the estate's sustainable practices.
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