Château &Gardens Of
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Press pack 2014 Château & Gardens of Villandry Château et Jardins de Villandry 37510 VILLANDRY FRANCE 00 33 (0)2.47.50.02.09 www.chateauvillandry.com Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 There is a place that attracts us forever. We go there again and again, to breathe in that timeless air and look out for new things: Villandry with its 6 hhectaresectares of gardens laid out in the shelter of a hillside on the Loire, A beautifully simple, simply beautiful Renaissance castle… a place full of harmony. Whether or not you are familiar with Villandry, comcomee and explore the smootsmoothh changes that have been made since 1906… 2 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 Festivities in 2014 Events in 2014 Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1st June : Meeting in the gardens « Child in the garden » Usual rates apply Saturday 7 June : Concert of the ‘Festival des Musicales en Confluence’ Chorale du Delta Rate 5€ - Concert at 8.30PM Friday 4 and Saturday 5 July : Nights of a Thousand Fires The garden lit up with candles and a spectacular firework display Special rates: adults €9.50 / youth €7.50 / children under 8 free For people who have visited the castle or the gardens during the day: €3 surcharge Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September : European Heritage Days Usual rates apply – but free for under 18s On Sunday: passage of the Marathon Touraine-Loire Valley in the kitchen garden Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September : Kitchen Garden Days When visitors can meet the Villandry gardeners Usual rates apply Exhibitions in 2014 Included in the visit to the castle « Soaring silk at Villandry» Brigitte Chappaz from March 15 to June 10, 2014 « Villandry and its birds » Photographic exhibition in collaboration with the LPO and the Association La Cambrousse from June 14 to September 10, 2014 « Made of Love and bronze » Marine d’Harcourt – exhibition in the Sun Garden from June 14 to September 10, 2014 « Garden at night » Fabrice Verrier from September 13 to November 16, 2014 3 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 Summary The events The appointments at Villandry: Nights of a Thousand fires , Friday 4 and Saturday 5 July p 6 Kitchen Garden Days , Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September p 7 National events: Meeting in the Gardens , Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1st June p 8 European Heritage Days , Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September p 9 And also: Passage of the 1st Marathon Touraine-Loire Valley, Sunday 21 September p 10 Concert of the Chorale du Delta , Saturday 7 June p 10 The exhibitions « Soaring silk at Villandry », Brigitte Chappaz p 11 « Villandry, kingdom of birds », in collaboration with the LPO p 12 Focus on… The first outdoor and sculpture exhibition at Villandry : « Made of love and bronze », Marine d’Harcourt p 13 « Garden at night », Fabrice Verrier p 14 A family visit Entrez dans la Cour des Grands p 15 Activity booklet « Le sortilège de Jean Le Breton » p 16 The maze p 16 A playground for children p 16 The gardens A focus on the gardens over the centuries p 17 The six gardens at Villandry… p 19 A turning point: going organic in the gardens p 21 Lawn tennis Wimbledon style p 23 4 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 The castle Villandry past and present p 24 A living and furnished castle p 25 A focus on the Spanish painting collection and its enhancing p 27 The latest news from Villandry Villandry improves its access for people with disabilities p 28 A smartphone app to guide you round the château and gardens p 29 TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence p 29 Launch of the book « Villandry, un château au cœur de l’histoire de France » p 30 Focus on… the geographical origins of our visitors p 30 A site with certifications The Qualité Tourisme certification p 31 Others distinctions and certifications p 31 Refuge – LPO accreditation (French Society for the Protection of Birds) p 32 The shops La Boutique du Château p 33 La Boutique du Jardinier p 33 La Doulce Terrasse Restaurant and tearoom p 34 Room rental and caterer p 35 Practical information Rates p 36 Schedules p 36 To get here p 37 5 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 The events THE APPOINTMENTS AT VILLANDRY Nights of a Thousand Fires Friday 4 and Saturday 5 July For 14 years now, the "Mille Feux" have been attracting lovers of beauty and poetry. For two evenings in a row, the gardens will be lit up by 2,000 candles and brought to life by musical entertainments… ndra Daveau : : Sa Imagine how different it can be! Crédit Open exceptionally at night, the gardens are bathed in light and you can wander up and down the paths of Villandry at twilight. And when the sun sets, the 2,000 candles sparkle in a blaze of glory. This fairy-like tour ends with an incredible firework display reflected in the pond, Justly known as the "water mirror". Not until midnight will the visitors return home, delighted and completely dazed by such a magnificent show, very, very far from the traditional “son et lumière” [sound and light] displays. Special rates apply: Adults: €9.50 Reduced rates: €7.50 Children under 8: free For those who have visited the gardens or the castle during the day: €3 additional fee . : : Daveau Sandra Crédit 6 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 Kitchen Garden Days, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September The Villandry gardeners explain their knowledge and skills… Workshops, demonstrations, guided tours and also activities for children and exhibitions… Visitors can taste freshly pressed apple Juice, made in the old- fashioned way at the castle; children will be made up as flowers or animals and go home delighted and amazed, Just like their parents, by the incredible work of Frédéric Jaunault, French and European champion of sculptures on fruit and vegetables. These two days will provide enJoyment for all, in a warm, friendly atmosphere. The whole family will have great fun wandering around the gardens! The activities are included in the admission price for the gardens. 7 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 THE NATIONAL EVENTS Meeting in the Gardens Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1st June During the “Rendez-vous aux Jardins” (“Meeting in the gardens”), a range of activities brings the gardens to life. During this weekend there will be guided tours of the gardens and promenades in horse-drawn carriages. Villandry also has a remarkable grass tennis court on which visitors can test their skills of lawn tennis with the help of a tennis coach (see p. 23). Several Russian painters with international reputations are coming to the gardens to paint and to offer families portraits of their children, while the association Vivre et l'Ecrire en Touraine is leading young people's writing workshops and "poetry paths"… Unmissable events: Saturday 31 May: Lecture by Pierre Audin who will be signing his new book "Villandry, un château au cœur de l’histoire" . See p. 31 Sunday 1 June : tour with Henri Carvallo, owner of the château For this event, the usual rates will be maintained. 8 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 European Heritage Days, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September The theme of the thirty-first European Heritage Days will be "Cultural heritage and natural heritage". There will be demonstrations by craftsmen and rides in a horse-drawn carriage … This year visitors will have an exceptional opportunity to discover the underground passages and orangeries hollowed out of the rock … For the second year in a row, Villandry will also welcome craftspeople from the region who will present their work and their creations and talk to visitors eager to discover the skills involved in preserving our heritage . As Villandry is a private castle, the usual rates will be maintained but for this occasion, admission is free for children under 18. 9 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 AND ALSO … Concert by the Chorale du Delta as part of the festival "Les Musicales en Confluence", Saturday 7 June at 8.30 pm The orangery at the Château de Villandry will welcome the Chorale du Delta for a concert given as part of the thirteenth "Les Musicales en Confluence" festival. The Château de Villandry is continuing with its ambition to encourage cultural activities in the region by welcoming regular concerts and choir performances. The Chorale du Delta is a choir of amateurs (musicians, actors, music lovers) with a meticulous approach to an eclectic repertoire covering the history of music from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century. The concert will take place outside the château opening hours.