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  Château de Villandry
Location: 15km west of
Tours on D7 road south of the Cher.
General info: Chateau open from mid Feb-mid Nov in 2007 and during Christmas school
holidays. Gardens open every day. Free for under 8’s. Tel No:
0(2) 47 50 02 09.
Description: Possibly the best Loire chateau for the
family, as it has something for everyone.
Villandry is known worldwide for its gardens which combine flowers and
vegetables in intricate beds, best viewed from the castle tower. There are lots of rooms to see in the castle,
all beautifully decorated. The gardens are vast with lots of walkways
taking you to high viewing points and along the parterres. Make sure you
get a map at the ticket desk which will show you all the possible routes
around the gardens.
Our recommendations: Don’t miss the climb up the tower from the top
of which there are wonderful views over the gardens and beyond.
Care must be taken with very young children as in typical French style
there are areas of unfenced waterways and moats. For 2007 there is
a Night of a Thousand Fires on July 6th and 7th when the grounds will be
magically lit by 2000 candles, culminating in a grand firework display
at 11.00 pm.
For the kids: There is a childrens’ playground and a maze to get
lost in! Villandry is also part of the ‘Sur la piste de l’enfant
Roy’ in which 7-12 year olds can get booklets with puzzles and games to
increase their enjoyment of the chateau and its grounds. The restaurant
has special baby and childrens' menus including home made ice-cream. |
Our favourite Chateaux in
the
Loire valley:
- Angers Castle
- Château de Brézé
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Château de Chambord
-
Château
de Chenonceau
-
Château de Villandry
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Best
Loire Chateaux
When
it comes to chateaux the Loire valley gives the Dordogne a good run for
its money! However whereas the Dordogne chateaux are generally
situated on craggy cliff tops, many of the most impressive Loire chateaux
are majestically set in river valleys, in forest clearings or, in the case
of Chenonceau, straddling the river! Unlike the
Dordogne chateaux, the Loire chateaux were
built with luxury and pleasure as their raison d'être!