Thursday 13th June Chinon - Villandry - Chinon

An early appointment at the Chateau Villandry, I was rather excited! It was a beautiful day and the Chateau and it’s gardens were more than delightful.

First of all it was a walk through the castle with views to the gardens, oh this place was magical! After a checkered history, including the signing of a treaty when Henry the II if England capitulated to Philippe-Augustin of France, when it was called Colombiers. It was purchased in 1906 by Spanish physician Joachim Carvello, the present owner’s great grandfather, who restored it and the garden, mostly in the style that existed in the 16th century when it was first built by Jean Breton. Joachim used his American wife’s fortune but apparently she was just as passionate about Villandry.


The castle, or the part that was open to us, is nicely furnished, but not too over the top, it looks liveable, It also has some lovely floral displays. Pretty sure I saw the present owner around, I’ve seen him talking to Monty of course. 


Sorry that’s just my castle overshadowing my wee garden!


Nice bit of ceiling in the gallery


But the piece de resistance is definitely the gardens which are incredibly beautiful to look down upon, especially the more Topiaried ones but just as enjoyable to walk amongst, I only wish that I had had more time, two hours was good but three hours would have been just right. 

Villandry can speak for itself in photographs: My apologies for the enthusiasm, but these have been severely edited. 

From the top of the Keep







Yes I really was there









Then back down to ground level


This rose smelt divine, so much so I even attempted a selfie with it, the concentration doesn’t show too much







For those of you who are inspired and want to replant your garden next spring, this may help!





Broad beans anywone? 



On the way back from Villandry we stopped beside a little church in Lignieres -de-Touraine, as Trudy heard that when they had dstarted some repairs they had come across some really old frescoes that have just been restored, just a little village and a little church right on the roadside. 



Then another bloody chateau ! This one was Chateau d’Isse, we just took photographs because it it is very Disneyesque, and Villandry was enough for one day. Was a pretty scene from the bridge we were photographing from too.





Found a sandwich for lunch and had a wee walk around Chinon, by the river, beautiful florist on the main thoroughfare








Serenaded whilst eating my sandwich on a bench outside the town hall. It amazes me how they manage to grow these beautiful climbing roses out of a small patch of earth on the street.

We had a wine tasting in the afternoon, in one of the Caves. This cave was right under the Chinon Castle and you could look up a dry well to the sky above. 12 degrees down ther perfect for storing wine, they don’t use any preservatives either. There is a lot of mould growing down there but quite an experience.




Out for dinner that night with the group a a little French Restaurant with perfectly formed food, we started with an amuse bouche, cucumber and radish soup - only about 100mls but lovely, a seafood mouse with a bit of chilli and some olives, I had a shrimp and shrimp bavorois, followed by steak, with roasted verges, and chocolate mousse with lavender oculi’s, violet icecream 





Comments

  1. Claire BJune 15, 2024 at 9:48 PM

    Yet another very successful day. Nice photos of you. x

    ReplyDelete
  2. SAdelleJuly 4, 2024 at 6:10 PM

    Yum! So jealous of the French food and gardens.

    ReplyDelete

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