Vilandry Gardens, Indré-Loire

#aprilblooms #vilandry Gardens The Château de Villandry, located in the Indre-et-Loire department of France’s Loire Valley, is renowned for its exquisite Renaissance gardens, which are among the most celebrated in Europe. ⸻ 🏰 Historical Background • Medieval Origins: Originally known as Colombiers, the site began as a medieval fortress. A significant historical event, the “Peace of Colombiers,” was signed here in 1189 between King Henry II of England and King Philip Augustus of France . • Renaissance Transformation: In the early 16th century, Jean Le Breton, France’s Minister of Finance under King Francis I, acquired the property and constructed the current château around 1536, incorporating the original keep into the design . • 20th Century Restoration: By the early 1900s, the gardens had been transformed into an English-style park. In 1906, Dr. Joachim Carvallo and his wife Ann Coleman purchased Villandry and dedicated themselves to restoring the gardens to their Renaissance glory. Their meticulous work reestablished the gardens’ historical authenticity, and today, their great-grandson Henri Carvallo continues to oversee the estate Getting There - Attractions - Hotels - Food & Restaurants - Shopping -