Page 302 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

on three levels: the jardin
13 "'\ potager (kitchen garden), the INSIDER TIP
Château de Villandry jardin d’ornement (ornamen tal Loire by Bike
garden) and, on the high est Ideal terrain for cycling,
! C4 ⌂ Indre-et-Loire level, the jardin d’eau (water the Loire has extensive,
£ Tours @ # Château: mid-
Feb–mid-Nov & mid-Dec– garden). There are signs to well-maintained cycle
paths and even a
early Jan: 10am–6pm daily; explain the history and dedicated cycle trail, the
gardens: hours vary, check meaning behind each plant: well-signposted Loire à
the marrow, for in stance, sym-
EXPERIENCE The Loire Valley Villandry was the last great Plants were also prized for km (559 miles) of paths,
website ∑ chateau
Vélo (loireavelo.fr),
bolized fertility; the cabbage,
villandry.fr
which follows over 900
sexual and spiritual corruption.
many along the river.
Renais sance château built
their medicinal prop erties.
Starting at Cuffy and
The humble cabbage was
in the Loire Valley, a perfect
ending at St Brévin-les-
example of 16th-century
thought to help cure hang-
Pins, the route passes
architecture. The Château
overs, while pimento was
through rolling
believed to aid digestion.
de Villandry's gardens were
countryside lined with
restored to their original splen-
dour in the early 20th century
51 km (32 miles) of box hedge
villages along the way.
mean that the 40,000 sq m
by Dr Joachim Carvallo, whose
(430,000 sq ft) of gardens
grandson continues his work. The delicate roots of the vineyards and pretty
The result is a patchwork of must be weeded entirely
sculpted shrubs and flowers by hand.
14 " '
Château de Langeais
The Château de Villandry's gardens were ! C4 ⌂ Indre-et-Loire
restored to their original splen dour in the £ Langeais # Jul & Aug:
early 20th century by Dr Joachim Carvallo, 9am–7pm; Sep–Jun 9:30am–
whose grandson continues his work. 5:30pm daily ¢ 1 Jan,
25 Dec ∑ chateau-de-
langeais.com
Compared with neighbouring
towns, Langeais is distinctly
untouristy and has a laid-back,
welcoming feel. Its château is
fiercely feudal, built strictly
for defence with a drawbridge,
portcullis and no concessions
to the Renaissance. It was
constructed by Louis XI in
just four years, from 1465 to
1469, and has hardly been
altered since that time. The
ruins of an impress ive keep,
built by Foulques Nerra in
AD 994, stand in the château’s
small picturesque courtyard.
A son-et-lumière display in
the Salle de Mariage represents
the marriage of Charles VIII and
Anne of Brittany in 1491. Many
of the rooms have intricate
designs on the tiled floors,
and all of them are hung with
caarefully restored Flemish
and Aubusson tapestries.
A burbling canal carving its
way through the Château de
Villandry's jardin d'ornement
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