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Origin and history

Villandry Castle, 15 km west of Tours en Indre-et-Loire, is a masterpiece of the First French Renaissance. Last of the large castles built on the banks of Loire in the 16th century, it marks the transition between the First and Second Renaissance. His architecture, commissioned by Jean Le Breton, Secretary of State for François I, is inspired by Chambord's innovations while announcing the achievements of Ancy-le-Franc and d'Écouen. The medieval 14th century dungeon, partially preserved, bears witness to its origin as a feudal fortress named Colombiers, a place of the "Peace of Colombiars" in 1189, where Henry II Plantagenet recognized his defeat against Philippe Auguste.

The current gardens, stretching over more than six hectares, are a faithful reconstruction of the Renaissance gardens, made between 1908 and 1916 by Dr. Joachim Carvallo. The latter leaned on the boards of the architect Jacques Androuet du Cerceau to recreate symmetrical beds, terraces and a decorative vegetable garden, typical of the sixteenth century. The estate, classified as a Historical Monument in 1934 and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, was saved from demolition at the beginning of the twentieth century thanks to the intervention of Carvallo, who also founded La Demeure Historique to preserve the private heritage.

In the 18th century, Michelangelo de Castellane modernized the castle by adding Louis XV-style commons and partially transforming the gardens into an English-style park. Architectural changes, such as the removal of the exterior Renaissance staircase or the addition of balconies, altered its original character. The castle changed hands several times in the 19th century, suffering periods of decline under the Hainguerlot owners, before being bought by Carvallo. Today, the estate remains the property of its descendants, who have maintained its maintenance and its openness to the public since 1920.

The medieval history of Villandry, then called Colombiers, is marked by its role as a castle of Tours. The fortress, built in the 12th century and modified in the 14th century, served both to dominate the local population and to symbolize seigneurial power. Passed into the hands of the Savary, Craon and Chabot families, the estate was finally acquired by Jean Le Breton in 1532, who had the fortress razed to erect the present castle. The gardens, divided into terraces, include a decorative vegetable garden, a water garden and a maze, reflecting the aesthetic and utility ideal of the Renaissance.

The revolutionary period and the 19th century saw the castle pass into the hands of controversial owners, such as the slave François Chénais or the financier Gabriel-Julien Ouvrard, before being handed over to Jérôme Bonaparte. The Hainguerlot, a family of Parisian financiers, made it a secondary residence in the 19th century, but the economic decline and costly maintenance threatened its survival. Without Joachim Carvallo's intervention, part of the estate could have been demolished to sell its stones. Today, the castle and its gardens, labeled Remarkable Garden, attract visitors from all over the world.

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