Château de Villandry in France

The Château de Villandry would make anyone in their right mind turn country. It was the last of the Renaissance châteaux to be built along the Loire river. It is known for its astounding terraced gardens and is one of the most visited châteaux in France.

You can find this impressive estate in what is considered the ‘Châteaux of the Loire.’ It is in the middle stretch of Loire River in central France and has been deemed a World UNESCO Heritage Site. Covering 310 square miles from Sully-sur-Loire (Loiret) to Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Anjou), it is one of the largest areas ever to be registered.

From the World Heritage Inscription:

Criterion (i): The Loire Valley is noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Blois, Chinon, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular in its world-famous castles, such as the Château de Chambord.

Criterion (ii): The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape along a major river which bears witness to an interchange of human values and to a harmonious development of interactions between human beings and their environment over two millennia.

Criterion (iv): The landscape of the Loire Valley, and more particularly its many cultural monuments, illustrate to an exceptional degree the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on western European thought and design.

Although the country house is impressive, the Renaissance gardens at Chateau de Villandry are remarkable.

Our Trip (Dave’s Trip) to France

Dave and his mother took a road trip throughout all of France one summer. They began in Paris, unbeknown to them during the celebration of Bastille Day, one of the biggest parties of the year! Oops. Both said it was an unforgettable experience, but probably one they wouldn’t choose to do again. Next they meandered through quaint towns and grandiose estates tucked away in the charming countryside. Then they made sure to remind themselves of how poor they really are by gallivanting through the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera coast. Definitely a trip of a lifetime for them!

Have you visited France? What is your favorite place in the Loire Valley?

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