Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cost and Hours: €9.50,€6.50forgardensonly,unnecessaryaudioguide-€3.50,daily
April-Sept 9:00-19:00, March and Oct 9:00-18:00, Nov-Feb 9:00-17:00, storage lockers,
tel. 02 47 50 02 09, www.chateauvillandry.fr . You can stay as late as you like in the gar-
dens, though you must enter before the ticket office closes and exit through the back gate
after 19:30. Parking is free and easy between the trees across from the entry (hide valu-
ables in your trunk).
Background: Finished in 1536, Villandry was the last great Renaissance château
built on the Loire. It's yet another pet project of a fabulously wealthy finance minister of
François I—Jean le Breton. While serving as ambassador to Italy,Jean picked upa love of
Italian Renaissance gardens. When he took over this property, he razed the 12th-century
castle (keeping only the old tower), put up his own château, and installed a huge Italian-
stylegarden.Thechâteauwaspurchasedin1906bythepresentowner'sgreat-grandfather,
andthegarden—a careful reconstruction ofwhattheoriginal might havebeen—is theres-
ult of three generations of passionate dedication.
Visiting the Château and Gardens: The excellent English handout included with
youradmissionleadsyouthroughthe château 's19th-centuryrooms.Theyfeelsolived-in
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