Château de Villandry is home to perhaps the most spectacular gardens you will ever see. Built on the site of an ancient fortress, the château has become famous for its elaborate gardens. The estate is owned by the Carvallo family and after opening it up to the public, it has become one most visited tourist attractions in France, with over 300,000 annual visitors, and for good reason!
The impressive grounds boast three different styles of Renaissance gardens, including a Water Garden, a Kitchen Garden, and an Ornamental Garden.
The majestic gardens were created by Spanish doctor Joachim Carvallo and his American wife, Ann Coleman. The couple met while working on a medical research team in France and purchased the property in 1906.
During World War One the château hosted a military hospital, and Carvallo served as a doctor for the French Army. After this the couple went back to their dream and worked on completing the extraordinary gardens, which took them over twenty years.
Throughout the year plants are replaced, and different colors paint the seasons. Nine gardeners are employed to maintain the gardens and replace seasonal flora. There is also a nearby church, and an herb garden sits between it and the Kitchen Garden.
The Ornamental Gardens rest among cascading terraces and feature bold topiary hedges. They consist of four different salons, each with a different theme: The Garden of Music, The Decorative Flower Garden, The Garden of Simple Delights, and the more famous Garden of Love.
The Kitchen Garden, known as “La Potager”, is a magnificent work of vegetables, lattice gazebos, and vibrant colors. This decorative vegetable garden was the reason Château de Villandry first became well-known. Covering three acres, it is home to forty types of Renaissance era vegetables and 250,000 plants.
In 1934 the Château was declared a 'Monument Historique', a French national monument, and more recently as part of the Loire Valley it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Below you can see the Water Garden.
The Garden of Love features four symmetrical quadrants, each representing a different aspect of Renaissance love: Tender Love, Passionate Love, Fickle Love, and Tragic Love.
Over the summer the garden is open one evening for a festival called 'The Night of a Thousand Lights'. Two thousand candles illuminate the garden, and Baroque music is played live as you take a romantic stroll through the gardens.
Enjoy Gorgeous Flowers Accompanied By Inspiring Quotes
These flowers are truly stunning, and when they're juxtaposed with some amazing quotes, their beauty is even more apparent. Enjoy this beautiful post.
These Flowers Capture a Starry Night On Their Petals
These wonderful flowers appear to have the night sky captured in their very petals. View some stunning photos of them and learn more about them.
These 12 Amazing Places Look Like They're on Another Planet!
Despite space exploration and the universe developing greatly over the last few centuries, there is still no substitute for our Earth.....
Take a Unique Trip Through the Hanging Gardens of Haifa
Have a good look at the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, which have often been considered as a potential Eighth Wonder of the World.
16 Gorgeous Gardens I'd Be Delighted to Stroll Through...
A stunning collection of 16 different landscape designs that will excite every nature lover out there.
Nothing Beats the Beauty of An Ecuadorian Botanical Garden
In the city of Quito lies this stunning botanical sensation, a garden, park, and arboretum that houses the natural treasures of Ecuador.
15 Magnificent Royal Residences From All Around the World
In this article, we’ll show you 15 of the most magnificent and extravagant royal palaces around the world, many of which are open to visitors
I Bet You've Never Heard of These 20 Picturesque Towns
These 20 hidden towns of Europe are beautiful! Almost nobody knows about these stunning locations and I can't figure out why.
Experience the Thrill of Riding the World's Fastest Train
Japan's upcoming maglev trains are supposed to be the world’s fastest. But are they really worth the hype?
The 10 Oldest Gardens in the World One Can Still Visit...
This article showcases the 10 oldest gardens founded by humans centuries ago that still exist today and are well-preserved.
This Dreamy Town in France Will Take Your Breath Away
This is one of France's most beautiful towns!
Two Weeks of Spanish Magic: The Recommended Itinerary
If you've always wanted to see all that Spain has to offer, this itinerary will make for a true full of opportunities to make good memories!
This Fantastic Tour of New York City Will Leave You in Awe
Ever wanted to visit New York City, but haven’t had the chance yet? This great video will whet your appetite until you get a chance to visit yourself!
18 Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites to See in Italy
Apart from well-known attractions like the Colosseum, Pompeii, Rome, Venice, and Florence, there are 18 impressive locations that showcase a captivating blend of natural landscapes and ancient architectural wonders.
The Uncompromising Beauty of the Southern Pole...
In this video you can see the storm of color that is the Aurora Australis, streaking across the skies of the most southern point on our globe.
Is This the Most Beautiful Place in Italy? We Think So!
Take a look at two breathtaking UNESCO sites in Tivoli, Italy: Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este.
The 7 Oldest Cities on Earth that Still Stand
Many cities have been erected through history, and many have fallen to natural disaster or war. These cities have stood the test of time.
The Most Unusual Aspects of Life in Germany – 15 Pics
Germany is full of famous and spectacular places. However, these images shoe some of the unique and quirky aspects of life in Germany.
The Most Unusual Christmas Characters Around The World!
Let’s meet the holiday season's most interesting characters from around the world.
The Beauty of Guyana Is Sure to Take Your Breath Away
Guyana is an English-Speaking country in Caribbean South America that houses an incredible variety of plant and animal life.
Pearl of Southeast Asia: 5 Reasons You Need to Visit Burma
A comprehensive travel guide to Myanmar in Southeast Asia
Chile Has So Many Beautiful Natural Wonders It's Unfair
These photos will show you just why more than 2 million people come to Chile every year.
I've Never Seen Gardens as Beautiful as the Japanese Ones
These Japanese gardens will leave you just wishing for a calm walk in such a beautiful place.
Welcome to One of the Most Beautiful Isles in the World
This video will take you all around Koh Samui with the help of a drone.
February Is a Gloomy Month, So Why Not Take a Vacation?
February isn't generally the most pleasant of months, so why not hop on a plane and go somewhere fun? These are the 10 best places to be in February.
There's a Whole World of Cookies Out There, Let's Show You
Every country has a signature cookie. Find out what some of the most ICONIC international cookies are right here!
13 Free Attractions to Enjoy in the City of London
Remember that exploring London doesn't have to be an expensive venture - with careful planning and inclusion of free attractions in your itinerary...
Pack Your Bags Because You Have to Visit These 10 Islands
Get away from it all with a trip to a tropical island. Here are 10 islands that will make you want to travel. Looking at the stunning images is a vacation in itself.
The Most Exclusive and Extraordinary Hotels in the World
Behold a collection of the most unparalleled and exceptional hotels on Earth, like an underwater hotel, or a hotel made completely out of ice
Surprising Facts to Know About the Aztecs and Their Empire
The Aztecs were way ahead of their time!
COLLECTION: The Incredible Beauty of Historical Europe
Discover this huge collection of articles dedicated to the beauty of historical architecture and unique places throughout Europe.
21 Oddly Beautiful Street Scenes Caught on Camera
Here are some wacky and amusing photos from the "Street Photographers" Instagram page.
Nantes, France: 11 Gorgeous Sights in this Unique City
Eleven beautiful and wonderful places in one of the most charming French cities - Nantes.
28 Places of Humbling Beauty You Can Find In Asia
Asia is a stunning and highly diverse continent with countless locations to explore. It's time for you to see 28 of the most humbling, beautiful places there.
Step Inside This Incredible ROTATING HOUSE
Step inside the world’s ‘most famous’ rotating house in San Diego.
These Are 7 of the Most Beautiful Gardens in the World
These must-see gardens from all over are among the most beautiful in the world.
These Amazing Hotels Are the Oldest in the World
The oldest hotels in the world have fascinating histories, and the oldest one of all is well over 1,300 years old. Find out all about them in this guide.
Lofoten, the Most Gorgeous Place You've Never Heard Of
I thought I knew where Europe's most beautiful places were, but then I saw Lofoten. This is simply the most gorgeous part of the world I never knew about.
The World's Best Underground Train Systems, Revealed
Today, let us take you on a ride on some of the most impressive metro systems in the world.
Are These the Most Beautiful Streets in the World?
There's something so charming and beautiful about these streets that are surrounded by trees. Take a look at these stunning streets.
Fascinating! Never-Before-Seen Images of the Titanic
Explore the Titanic like you've never seen it before with these rare photos.
INTERACTIVE: 16 Gorgeous Places to See in Canada!
With this interactive map, you will be able to travel to some of the most beautiful places in a land already inundated with so many.
Why Do Passports Have Different Colors?
Most people don't suspect that the color of their passport actually has quite a lot of intention behind it. Here's what common flag colors really mean...
These Step Pyramids are the Most Impressive in the World
Curiously, step pyramids were important to many ancient cultures that constructed them for a variety of reasons. Take a look at some of most impressive ones.
Austria's Lake District Is Gorgeous Beyond Belief!
I have rarely been as stunned as I was when I saw how beautiful Salzkammergut in Austria is. Visit this amazing lake district in Europe.
What an Amazing HD Tour of the Great Wall of China!
This drone tour of the Great Wall of China doesn't disappoint at all. In fact, the HD footage is so crystal clear that it's (probably) better than going there!
Denmark Has So Much to See, You Won't Know Where to Start
Denmark is a beautiful little country, forming part of the European region known as Scandinavia. Attractions abound in this nation. Here are the top 10 places.