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May 22, 2011

En route: Villandry



Travelling back from the Dordogne to Mont Louis sur Loire, we stopped for lunch at a little bistro ,and discovered the Villandry gardens and Chateau. 


An imaginative twentieth century re-creation of a renaissance castle garden. The moated Chateau dates from c1536 and had a formal garden in the eighteenth century. The present garden dates from the years after 1906 when it was bought by a Spaniard, Dr Joachim Carvallo. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, he wished the garden to have a sixteenth century character. Great horticultural skill was deployed, especially in the use of vegetables. An arbour of grape vines leads to a great parterre, conceived as a Garden of Music. On the other side of the canal is a Garden of Love. Symbolising the moods of love, it looks rectangular from the chateau but is actually trapezoid. The aesthetically designed vegetable garden is based on an illustration from Du Cerceau's Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576). Despite its origins, Villandry is the work of a twentieth century imagination.


the following images are of architectural elements and fabric textures that I liked inside the Chateau..







en suite bathroom....


Intricate patterns underfoot

 




 

.The unique "Renaissance" gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating gardens of France and of the World . Villandry’s Ornamental Gardens ,water Garden ,Herb Garden, and kitchen Garden have an international fame...






 

 Most impresive and very inspiring.I would like to go back and spend more time here...must be quite something to see the change of season ...
































Col x

all images by: la Brocanteuse



I dedicate this post to Trish from TROUVAIS who encouraged me to start blogging...

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24 comments:

  1. Linda CarswellMay 22, 2011

    Oh how fabulous is this!!!! I shall certainly take note of this beautiful place for my next vist...amazing!!

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  2. renildeMay 23, 2011

    Gorgeous, so restful all those greens, beautiful photos Colette, x

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  3. FayMay 23, 2011

    Colette Lucky you isnt it wonderful and i adore the lollipop rose treess like Chenonceau thankyou for the history too truly amzing
    I went to Villa I Tatti last week but it s vey tiny in comparison Great wasy to start the week thankyou enjoy your trip fay xx

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  4. FayMay 23, 2011

    Ps Colette I will take the ensuite bathroom too its divine ! xxfay

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  5. Belle de VilleMay 23, 2011

    What a wonderful post. Those gardens are one of the wonders of France.
    The Chateau isn't bad either.

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  6. Just VerteMay 23, 2011

    I had the pleasure of visiting Villadry many years ago, and it was the gardens that started me on the path of creating little boxwood mazes, trellises with climbing roses and adding vegetables in with the flowers.

    Thank you for so many wonderful pictures of this amazing home and gardens!

    April

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  7. TrouvaisMay 23, 2011

    I might have to come back to this post daily! Merci for the dedication...and for all the beauty you've cast into the blog world! Love following you about! XO Trish

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  8. henriquewildingMay 23, 2011

    wow, almost unreal. amazing.

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  9. SplenderosaMay 23, 2011

    This is one of the finest blog post I've ever seen. What amazing work you put into this. Thank you thank you thank you. I will keep this for certain. What an amazing place you've discovered for all of us to enjoy. Sending love from Houston...

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  10. La BrocanteuseMay 23, 2011

    Thank you to all your lovely comments - Villandry is really spectacular and this post is really only a indication of the full eperience. xo Col

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  11. Sharon Lee JohnsonMay 23, 2011

    Quite spectacular - it almost doesn't look real. Imagine the work that goes into maintaining those gardens! I'm saving this post in my "When I get to France "file. x Sharon

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  12. Mary Ann PickettMay 23, 2011

    Truly stunning. I have never seen such an ornate garden. Very enjoyable.

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  13. VickiMay 24, 2011

    I so enjoyed looking at these photos, they took me back to our visit 6 years ago. How absolutely suburb they are. And the furnishings, the embroidery, the parquetry!
    Thank you,
    Vickixx

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  14. The Paper Mulberry - Glenda SteelMay 25, 2011

    Oh what wonderful pictures and such a wealth of inspiration! I am so pleased to have found your gorgeous blog, you have a new and avid follower!!! Warmest wishes from England - Glenda

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  15. AnonymousMay 25, 2011

    Aren't those gardens just fantastic! Lovely images, all of them..you'll have to come back to see the gardens covered with "potirons"..like you say..quite something, the change of season.
    bisous
    Ronelle

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  16. designchicMay 28, 2011

    The gardens are fabulous...can you imagine the work it takes to keep them looking so perfect?!

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  17. Blooming Rose MusingsMay 30, 2011

    The gardens and chateau are absolutely spectacular! I can only imagine the work that goes into maintaining it. Your photos are superb. Thank you so much for taking us along for the tour, it is an exquisite place.
    Your lovely dedication to Trish is perfect and beautiful.
    XO

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  18. S xxJune 03, 2011

    One word describes this

    BREATHTAKING !

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Sacha xx

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  19. Mona ThompsonJune 05, 2011

    I've been so absent and so sorry. These are the most breathtaking images I've seen in a long time. There is not a word I can say that will describe the beauty of these gardens. An those textiles...I know that Debra is just dying over those. all just fabulous! I hope that you are doing so well right now and have lots of fun plans for the summer. Sending hugs to you. Mona

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  20. Janette@the2seasonsJune 07, 2011

    Your photos are beautiful. We are riding our bicycles from Normandy to the Med in September. It will be great to get back to cycling in that beautiful country.

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  21. BohemianJune 09, 2011

    MAGNIFICENT!!! These images took my breath away... I would love to visit and stay at such a place! Thank you for taking us on the virtual tour...

    Dawn... The Bohemian

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  22. AnonymousJune 13, 2011

    Colette-your images are absolutely beautiful...they make me want to book a trip abroad immediately!You must have had a wonderful time....as for the linens and textiles....what is it about old linens and furniture which have the patina of time?I think they speak to us of a more gentle and elegant era....you have such a great eye!
    Julie

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  23. Divine TheatreJuly 20, 2011

    The gardens at Villandry have been such an inspiration to me! The interior of the home is just as stunning as the exterior!
    Thank you for taking the time to post this!

    xoxo
    Andie

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  24. Shirley @ The Gardening LifeAugust 01, 2011

    Wow! These gardens are manicured to the minutest of detail. Superb!

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