Experts' Choice Award Chateau De Villandryswss Iki
What the experts agree on
Villandry's fame rests on its stunning Renaissance gardens across four terraces—a must for garden lovers—while the château itself blends Italian and French architecture atop an older fortress keep. Visit April–October for peak blooms.
“Green thumbs get weak in the knees at the mere mention of the Château de Villandry.”
– Fodor's
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Try to visit when the gardens are blooming, between April and October; midsummer is most spectacular." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"Laid out over four terraces, Villandry's gardens are the epitome of Renaissance architectural convention." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Built at the end of the Renaissance, the Château de Villandry has retained the keep of an earlier fortress." Full review
Independent "This imposing country pad was the last major Loire chateau built during the Renaissance, when Jean Breton – one of King Francis I’s ministers – transformed a feudal fortress by bringing in a swathe of Italian and French architectural elements: decorated pilasters, the steep sloping roofs and a gallery with arcades"
The best chateaux to visit in France’s Loire Valley
September 20, 2023
