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. Entry costs €5.
Villandry on the first Touraine-Loire Valley Marathon Sunday 21 September
Villandry, already a sporting destination in 2012 and 2013, is continuing the tradition in 2014! Fabrice Santoro came to play on the grass tennis court in the Villandry gardens in 2012; in 2013, the Tour de France took the Loire châteaux route and passed by Villandry.
In 2014 it will be the turn of the first Touraine-Loire Valley Marathon to make its mark at Villandry. Taking place on 21 September, the marathon will set off from Tours along the "Loire à Vélo" cycling route. Arriving at the Villandry gardens at the half-marathon point, the competitors will run round the kitchen garden before returning to Tours.
This will be an exciting day, as the Marathon is being held during the Heritage Days . Visitors will be able to enjoy an unusual spectacle and the kitchen garden will be the best vantage- point for an event that is sure to have a great future.
Photo credit: TLV Marathon Organising Committee 10 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Exhibitions
"Soaring silk at Villandry " Brigitte Chappaz 15 March to 10 June 2014
Brigitte Chappaz is an enthusiast of ancient and precious silks , which she seeks out at flea markets. For the last 20 years, she has been using them for her virtuoso embroidery, creating motifs, large-format tapestries, small pictures and even bound books. Crouching patiently and always passionately over her work, she is hardly aware of time passing.
Nature is always her principal subject . Embroidered on pieces of silk with painted backgrounds, roses, butterflies and sweet briars are picked out with antique beads, giving them a timeless quality.
In this exhibition, Brigitte Chappaz presents her new creations featuring the birds of Villandry , inspired by a series of photographs taken in the gardens, including a remarkable work "of feathers and silk". Remember that the garden's birds are Villandry's theme for 2014, with an educational exhibition running throughout the summer.
From 14 to 23 April, the embroiderers of the Conservatoire de la Broderie de Touraine will join Brigitte Chappaz to present their centuries-old skills. You will be able to discover the techniques and history of white embroidery : plumetis, openwork, cordonnets and pulled- thread work will have no more secrets for you! Several head-dresses , masterpieces of finesse , with floral motifs and garlands of leaves, will also be on display. A beautiful tribute to our Touraine heritage, born around 1870 on the banks of the Loire…
11 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
"Villandry and its birds" with the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux from 14 June to 10 September 2014
Robins, white wagtails, swallows – these are just a few of the guests to be found in our gardens. Thanks to this photographic exhibition, organised with the help of the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO, bird protection league), young and old alike will be able to discover the birds that populate the park and gardens at Villandry.
This educational exhibition stems from the 2012 award of the "Refuge LPO" label to the Villandry gardens by Allain Bougrain- Dubourg (see p. 32). With the richness of nearly 90 bird species , the château park is an ideal habitat thanks to its large insect population, made possible by the use of organic techniques in the gardens. Mute swan Building on this quality label, Villandry welcomed the association La Cambrousse during the 2013 season to produce a magnificent photographic record and immortalise large and small birds through the lenses of the association's photographers.
A selection of the most beautiful images , accompanied by notes on the life, habitat and features of these birds, is presented on information panels.
Swallow European greenfinch
Photo c redits: Association La Cambrousse 12 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Focus on…
The first outdoor and sculpture exhibition at Villandry "Made of love and bronze" Marine d’Harcourt 14 June to 10 September 2014
Marine d'Harcourt has the honour of being the first artist to show her work in the Villandry gardens, of which she is particularly fond… The first art exhibition in the gardens, but also the first exhibition of sculpture at Villandry. The Sun Garden was chosen to house these human-sized works by the sculptor, originally from the Paris region.
In both her clay and bronze work , Marine d'Harcourt sculpts and immobilises the rare moments in which a human being is fully aware of their own presence.
These moments are precious, because in our daily lives we are more used to absence. Our attention is flighty, skipping from one subject to another: our body is in one place but our thoughts are in another, and we are rarely conscious of living in the present moment. We need these moments of illumination to light our way .
Marine d'Harcourt does not use words – this presence is not spoken; it is experienced, tasted. She sculpts bodies in harmony, in unison. Her sculptures are often stretching upwards, away from the material, and it is at that precise moment that a unique vibration resonates out to the cosmos. Magical, unique, ephemeral instants. Being, and knowing it , being moved by existence to a peak of joy mixed with gratitude. Moments of presence rise up in the universe like smoking incense.
13 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
"Garden at night" Fabrice Verrier from 13 September to 16 November 2014
Like a herbalist, Fabrice Verrier reveals the tiniest anatomical details of plants, the plants we often glimpse by the roadside or in our gardens. Common plants, certainly, but plants whose names we know all too little…
Highlighting subjects so ordinary we do not notice them , illuminating daily banality – this is the main aim of the series "Nocturne Jardin".
Unveiling the tiniest "anatomical" details of plants with a documentary approach , as in a herbarium ; trying to give them a magical aspect without artifice and with minimal manipulation has led Fabrice Verrier to use an original photographic approach.
The special light of the camera combined with the possibilities of post-production software pull the plant out of the darkness and reveal it in its rawest state.
A film and animation production administrator, Fabrice Verrier is above all a self-taught photographer who has been developing his practice for many years.
During his childhood in Burgundy, one of his favourite playgrounds was a little garden he was lucky enough to be able to "cultivate". Today, it is another garden that is "confronted" with the same intrusive but very common plants. So it is only natural that these plants were the first to reveal their true nature in this series of images entitled "Garden at night".
14 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Villandry en famille
Entrez dans la Cour des Grands
Villandry castle has taken part in the operation "Entrez dans la Cour des Grands" since its inception. This operation is conducted jointly with the Touraine and Anjou Departmental Tourist Boards to encourage families to visit the main heritage sites by making the visits more fun:
www.entrezdanslacourdesgrands.com
At Villandry families receive a special welcome:
A fun and intelligent way of understanding the gardens thanks to the interpretation stations
which encourage parents and children to discuss the question: What is a garden for?
Six stations give plenty of information about the plants, the gardens, and also the way the site has changed over the centuries, completed by two stations.
One of this new stations explains the landscape and in particular Villandry and the Loire Valley, showing the continuous occupation of the area since the Neolithic period.
15 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 other is a fun presentation of the responsible water management in the gardens. Activity booklet "Le sortilège de Jean Le Breton"
This booklet is given to children aged 7 to 12 at the ticket office. It provides a tour of the gardens in the form of a treasure hunt.
The children plunge into the gardens, pass through the forest, get lost in the maze, explore the kitchen garden and the Love Garden in a quest to save the builder of the Château de Villandry from an evil spell! Parents will love the historic and cultural content.
Observation, reflection and logic, but also relaxation and pleasure, are the order of the day!
The maze
The hornbeam maze provides fun and games for the whole family as they set off not to look for the way out but to reach the hut in the middle.
The maze is inspired by the Christian religion and symbolises man’s earthly passage, and his quest for human and spiritual enlightenment and elevation.
A playground for the children
Located in the continuity of the Sun Garden, this space dedicated to children is conducive to a relaxing time for all ages.
16 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 gardens
A focus on the gardens over the centuries
XVI e century
This was when the Renaissance castle was built by Jean le Breton. Thanks to archaeological digs, we know today that there was a decorative vegetable garden at the time, right next to the castle, such as those you can see in the illustrations of the Plus Excellents bâtiments de France, a work by Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, a brilliant Renaissance architect. This conviction was consolidated by the recent discovery of an 18th century blueprint which proves the existence of two terraces, one cultivated as a vegetable garden and the other as an ornamental garden. Plan of the garden in the late 17th century representing the gardens at the end of the Renaissance period.
XVIII e century
At this time, Villandry became the property of the Marquis de Castellane who, from 1760 onwards, extended the gardens begun in the 16th century. For this, he bought plots of land from the villagers extending right up to the church. He thus created a fine classic French style garden. A third level of terraces was added to the vegetable garden – situated between the church and the castle, and the ornamental garden.
On this last terrace, he created a pond in the shape of a Napoleonic land registry, 1808 Louis XV looking glass.
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Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
XIX e century
The property then fell into the hands of the Hainguerlot family, and the gardens underwent considerable change: they were transformed into a romantic English style park. This type of grounds became fashionable in the late 19th century under the impulse of the Romantic Movement, and required much less maintenance than a French style garden. It was presumably for both these reasons that the Hainguerlot family decided to change to a landscape of winding paths, curves and clusters of trees and shrubs.
The grounds in the 19th century (watercolour by D. Moreau-Granger)
Early XX e century Between 1908 and 1918, the new owner of Villandry, Joachim Carvallo devoted himself to restoring the Renaissance gardens. Why did he do this? Because he believed that the Renaissance castle – which he restored to its original beauty – should have the right gardens.
He therefore set about gathering the necessary information: first he led archaeological digs in the gardens and found the vestiges of base walls and pipes which enabled him to re-site the decorative vegetable garden. Then he consulted two important literary Joachim Carvallo's work plan in 1910 sources in particular: Les Plus Excellents bâtiments de France and the Monasticon Gallicanum which gave him an idea of what Renaissance gardens were like.
He also consulted old blueprints, like that of the Marquis de Castellane and the Napoleonic land registry, which helped him in his quest.
And today…
The gardens have once again been extended with the creation of the Sun Garden in 2008. This was created on a fourth terrace, from a sketch left by Joachim Carvallo
The Gardens Today (watercolour by D. Moreau-Granger)
18 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 six gardens at Villandry…
There are a total of six gardens at Villandry.
The Villandry gardens are laid out in a succession of terraces, and each garden has its own strong identity and aesthetic principles:
- At the lowest level is the decorative vegetable garden, which has to feed the household, but not just in any old manner: it has to be quite simply magnificent as it is situated just next to the castle. Made up of nine squares of identical size but with different motifs inside, it covers an area of almost one hectare. There are two planting schemes per year: the spring scheme from March to June and the summer one from July to October.
A focus on… the origins of the decorative vegetable garden: The vegetable gardens originate way back in the Middle Ages: monks at the time laid out their vegetables in geometric shapes. The many crosses in the garden remind us of this affiliation, as do the standard roses which symbolize the monks digging their vegetable squares. The second influence is Italian, and gives the monastic vegetable garden its decorative elements: fountains, pergolas and flowerbeds. These two movements, combined by the French gardeners in the 16th century, gave rise to the decorative vegetable garden.
- On the intermediary level are the ornamental rooms designed as outside reception rooms: these are a natural extension of the castle rooms and are planted with tall boxwoods and flowers whose motifs are the timeless subjects of conversation: love, music and religion.
- On the third level are the water
garden, the herb garden and the maze.
19 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 water garden, surrounding a fine pond intended to be the mirror reflecting the sky, is designed as a place for meditation. It is also a marvellous water reserve for watering the gardens.
‘ The maze, with its long, winding paths, but containing no difficult pitfalls, symbolises man progressing serenely and smoothly towards God.
‘ Finally, the herb garden, just like the vegetable garden, supplies all the plants necessary for family life: medicinal plants, aromatic plants and herbs.
‘ Finally, on the last level, you can enjoy the brand new sun garden
The most recent of the gardens, the sun garden, is a place to dream and get away from it all. The plants are cleverly placed in a delightful impression of disorder, which of course is only an impression. 80 years after the completion of the gardens, Henri Carvallo made news at Villandry in 2008 by creating the Sun Garden.
He commissioned the design – from a sketch by his ancestor Joachim – and the creation to Louis Benech and Alix de Saint-Venant.
The Sun Garden observes the same general principles of organisation in all the gardens at Villandry and forms a cloister of greenery, with lime trees and hornbeam, and comprises three rooms:
The sun room, the central part of the garden, where there is a pond in the shape of the sun, the eight-point star designed by Joachim Carvallo, and beds of perennials in various hues of orange.
The cloud room where the grassy paths form triangles winding in and out of the roses and blue-hued shrubs.
The children's room with open-air games and crab apple trees.
20 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
A turning point: going organic in the gardens
Since his arrival at Villandry in 2009, the head gardener, Laurent Portuguez, has had one thing in mind: to make the magnificent Villandry gardens organic.
The first efforts focussed on the kitchen gardens, where the working methods have been entirely rethought, with the motto “observe to anticipate and anticipate to avoid using chemical treatments”. For the team of gardeners, this is no mean task: in addition to a new work organisation, certain tools have appeared in the sheds, and each gardener has to keep a close watch on all the plants to prevent pests and diseases.
Here are a few concrete examples of what has been done since 2009 in the gardens:
‘‘‘ Stop pesticides All pesticides have been eliminated from the gardens and replaced either by parasitic or predatory auxiliaries or by nematodes, which feed on diptera larvae (flies, etc.).
For example, native predators of the lime might have been introduced following the recommendations of the university technology and skills transfer unit Innophyt specialising in organic methods of preventing the spread of lime mite, which cause discoloration and leaf fall in the lime trees in the Villandry gardens. These natural predators are being introduced in controlled conditions so that they eventually become permanent residents of the gardens.
Finally, since we have stopped using chemical insecticides, insects hitherto naturally present have started to come back in the kitchen garden, and many of the natural enemies of aphids (green or black fly), such as syrphus flies, green lacewings, and parasitic wasps, are present and are at work to attack these pests.
In addition, four beehives were installed on the
south terraces of the gardens in spring 2010.
‘‘‘ The natural fungicides At the same time, we are fighting against fungus borne leaf diseases without using synthetic
21 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 treatments: by stimulating the natural defences of roses, vines and fruit trees with treatments using minerals, trace elements, essential oils, slurry and decoctions to strengthen the plants and make them more resistant to disease.
‘‘‘ The organic fertilization Chemical fertilisation has been eliminated and has now been replaced by organic fertilisation, in the form of compost comprising a variety of granules supplying nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. All the fertilisers can be used in organic farming but require several targeted applications as and when needed to avoid the soil becoming impoverished.
The elimination of the chemical fertilization was with few changes:
- Changes in growing methods: multi-tined spades are now used to preserve the activity of the bacteria contained in the tope 10 to 15 centimetres of soil. Unlike ordinary digging, it avoids burying this microscopic life 30cm under the surface. Hoeing is also done more frequently to make the watering more efficient.
- Changes in the choice of plants: introduction of plants, seeds and growing composts with “organic farming” certification. So the spring and summer planting schemes are now fully organic.
‘‘‘ The weeding We no longer use glyphosate or any other anti- germinating treatment. The whole site is weeded traditionally with tools such as wheel-mounted hoes and harrows… and some very patient gardeners! This year we are experimenting with thermal weed control and a natural weedkiller based on acetic acid.
For lawns: scarification removes straggly growth and the use of Verti-drain aerates the soil, improving the quality of the lawns and encouraging faster growth without chemical treatment.
The green waste management is outsourced to a specialised company which has a composting centre.
22 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Gardens of Villandry in figures
‘‘‘ 52 km of boxwood are pruned twice a year, in May and August. About 300 hours are required just to prune the small box hedges in the kitchen gardens.
‘‘‘ 115,000 flower and vegetable plants are planted out in the kitchen gardens or the garden rooms. About half the plants are prepared by the gardeners in the castle glasshouses (seeds are sown and seedlings planted out, etc.).
‘‘‘ 2 planting schemes each year, established aesthetic and agronomic criterias: 1. from March to June 2. from July to November
‘‘‘ 1,016 lime trees spread all over the property are pruned every winter. This takes a team of four men two months to complete, i.e. 1,100 hours of work, in addition to the 400 hours of work to prune the vines, rose bushes, pear and apple trees.
‘‘‘ 196 topiary yews , pruned twice a year, in June for the first ornamental room, and in October for the second one Lawn tennis Wimbledon style
The old tennis court in the gardens of Villandry was renovated in the spring of 2010 in the pure Wimbledon style. The gardeners have once again shown proof of their skill and today you can admire an almost unique spot in France: a splendid "high tech" lawn tennis court, which every month, is de-thatched, reseeded, mown and relined. In addition to the joy it gives to tennis players of all levels, the spot also reveals another aspect of the gardens: as a place for games and competition, with a sporting attitude to boot. The spot is visible to the public and is open to experienced and amateur players during some of our events:
Meet us in the Gardens and the European Heritage Days in particular.
To celebrate the tennis court, Fabrice Santoro was guest of honour at the “Rendez-vous aux Jardins” event in 2012.
23 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 château
Villandry past and present: the incredible story of an exemplary rebirth
‘ In ancient times: a Roman villa, the "Villa Andrick", occupied the site.
‘ In the Middle Ages: a fortress was built. It was here in the keep in 1189 that the "Paix de Colombier 1" was signed, in which Henry II Plantagenet, King of England, came before the King of France, Philippe Auguste, to acknowledge defeat.
‘ During the Renaissance: Jean le Breton, Finance minister under King François I, bought the estate in 1532 and in 1536, on the site of the old fortress, built a Renaissance castle, although the keep remained. The architectural style of the Renaissance castle was a precursor of Anet and Fontainebleau and later became the Henri IV style.
‘ From the Classical Period to the 20th century:
In the 18th century, the property came into the hands of the Marquis de Castellane who wished to bring it up to the levels of comfort in vogue at the time and therefore had a number of modifications made to both the interior and the exterior.
The castle remained in the family until the Revolution, but then had a succession of
1 The name of Villandry in the Middle Ages 24 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014 owners from a wide range of horizons, who took little interest in its future, or indeed its upkeep. At the same time, the gardens were also altered in line with the current trend for all things English: the Renaissance kitchen garden was destroyed to transform the whole estate into a large, English-style park.
‘ Very early in the 20 th century:
Everything changed in 1906. Joachim Carvallo, of Spanish origin, and his American wife Ann Coleman bought the site. This marked a turning point, for them and for the castle: Joachim and his wife gave up their career in science, converted to the Catholic faith and devoted their fortune to restoring the monument. Joachim was a cultivated man, with a passion for botany, architecture and Spanish art. In the first few years, the couple concentrated on restoring the stones, and gradually the place recovered its soul… But very soon (in around 1908), Joachim Carvallo began to restore the castle to its Renaissance style, which meant bringing back the Renaissance garden in the place of the romantic English park. And so began the great adventure of restoring the grounds by recreating the four levels of terraces and each of the gardens: the decorative vegetable garden, the garden rooms and the water garden.
Today his great-grand-son, Henri Carvallo, heads Villandry.
A living, furnished castle…
The castle often suffers in the shadow of its magnificent gardens… And yet it is really worth a visit!
Although it was never really marked by history, the castle is a friendly, welcoming family place, in which visitors can easily see themselves, and where it is pleasant to just wander round.
25 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Today there are some fifteen rooms to visit , each one different from the next, furnished in a harmonious style and decorated with taste.
Visitors will no doubt enjoy the fact that fresh flowers are placed in all the rooms.
In addition to the tour, there is a fine collection of Spanish paintings that visitors can see in each room and especially in the main gallery.
The tour ends with the Oriental room , which leaves no one indifferent for the beauty of its imposing ceiling.
A note on the Oriental room
This superb room was restored from floor to ceiling. The latter, in Mudejar style, dates back to the 15th century. Originating from Toledo, it is made up of over 3,600 pieces of wood. In addition to the aesthetic and technical prowess that it represents, the ceiling is a magnificent testimony to the cultural and religious syncretism in Spain after the restoration of Christianity which lasted from 718 to 1492: you can see the famous scallop shells, Franciscan knot and the eight-pointed Arabic star. Also on display in this room are Arabian artefacts and four beautiful paintings showing episodes in the life of the Marquis Michel- Ange de Castellane, the owner of Villandry in the 18th century, who was also a brilliant diplomat, ambassador of Louis XV between 1741 and 1747 with the Ottoman sultan, Mahmud I. These paintings from the Van Mour School and dated 1742 show the customs and etiquette at the Ottoman court in the 18th century.
All this is enhanced by a silk brocatelle hanging on the walls, with exclusively designed motifs, woven by the Maison Roze, a silk manufacturer based in Tours since the 17th century.
26 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Spanish painting collection
Villandry castle has a magnificent display of a collection of mainly Spanish works dating back to the 17 th century, considered as the golden age of Spanish art. This collection was begun by Joachim Carvallo, who was passionate about Art, history and spirituality. It was in fact the size of this collection that led him to decide, with his wife Ann Coleman, to buy "a large house in the country" to display his art treasures.
Today, in spite of the inheritances which have seen the departure of some of the largest works to our national museums, including the Louvre, visitors to Villandry can admire nearly a hundred works of art.
The current owner, Henri Carvallo, is endeavouring to reconstitute this collection, by purchasing the works which were part of the initial collection owned by his ancestors.
Renovation and lighting work was carried out in the gallery in early winter 2013. The walls and ceiling were looking tired and cracks were beginning to appear, so they were repainted over the course of a month. At the same time, a new lighting system for the paintings was installed. This consists of LED spotlights, which are more economical (using 20 times less electricity!), do not damage the paintings and provide a pleasanter light for admiring the paintings in the collection.
Focus on… The Annunciation by Ignacio de Ries (1612-1661)
From the brush of Ignacio de Ries, this Annunciation, a recurring theme in religious art, follows in the pictorial footsteps of Zurbarán and the Annunciation he painted in 1638. It contains many traditional symbols: the lily of virginity, the Bible containing the prophecy of Isaiah " Ecce virgo concipiet " and the dove of the Holy Spirit evoking divine power. The painting will be lent to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, which is organising a retrospective exhibition in summer 2015 dedicated to Zurbarán, the iconic figure of the Spanish Golden Age, his pupils and the painters who frequented his studio.
27 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
News from Villandry
Commitment to seeking the " Tourisme et Handicap " quality label for disabled access, creation of a mobile app to offer our visitors a multimedia tour, the award of the TripAdvisor 2013 certificate of excellence, the launch of the book " Villandry, un château au coeur de l'histoire de France " – Villandry is always full of life and always evolving!
Easier access to the site for visitors with disabilities
Having started to install facilities to make access easier for as many people with disabilities as possible, the château and gardens of Villandry have begun the process of seeking the "Tourisme et Handicap" quality label.
Our visitors can already benefit from facilities tailored to several types of disability:
Tour booklet in Braille and touchable model of the site so that visually-impaired visitors can feel the shapes and reliefs that characterise the château and its gardens
Film in the screening room on the ground floor of the château, enabling visitors with motor disabilities to view the interiors of the upper floors, which lack disabled access. The film also has sub-titles in French for visitors with hearing loss and in English for foreign visitors.
Improved accessibility in the disabled toilets, the shop, at the entrance to the château (fixed access ramp) and on the path to the gardens.
The application for the "Tourisme et Handicap" label has been submitted and the national labelling committee will issue its decision at the end of the winter. Villandry is delighted that the local committee has already given a favourable opinion on its tours, the château and the gardens (which are subject to separate applications given their specific characteristics).
28 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
A smartphone app to guide you round the château and gardens
The Château of Villandry developed an innovative new promotional tool in 2013, a mobile application for Android and Apple smartphones and tablets.
This free application, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play, offers mobile users rich video and image content of the château interior and the gardens. Each room in the château and each garden is presented and described.
The goal is to publicise the site using a modern tool based on new technology. The application is aimed at both French and foreign visitors. Five versions can be downloaded in the languages most spoken by our visitors: French, English, German, Spanish and Italian.
The application also has the advantage that it can be used as a videophone during your visit to Villandry if you download it before coming.
TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence
Villandry rewarded as a tourist site acclaimed by the travelling community at the world's largest travel website.
The award, which recognises excellent hospitality, is only given to sites that regularly receive exceptional reviews from travellers on TripAdvisor. It applies to locations all over the world. Only 10% of the best- performing sites on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious recognition.
To receive a Certificate of Excellence, the average score given by travellers to a site on TripAdvisor must be at least 4 out of 5 , and the site must have been listed by TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. The number of reviews received in the last year is also a criterion for the award.
Villandry currently has 511 reviews and an average score of 4.67/5 , with 493 reviews placing the site in the "Excellent" or "Very Good" categories. 29 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Launch of a new book on Villandry
While the history of Villandry since the château's acquisition by Joachim and Ann Carvallo in 1906 is familiar to us, and described in several books, the same cannot be said for the period before the twentieth century .
This is why we have commissioned a new book from Pierre Audin, a regional historian, the author of several works and an eminent member of the Touraine Extract from Cassini's map of 1778 Archaeological Society, in collaboration with Edouard de Vienne, Henri Carvallo's uncle and the President of the Association of Friends of the Château of Villandry. After several years of research, "Villandry, un château au coeur de l'histoire de France" (Villandry, a château at the heart of the history of France) will be published in spring 2014. The book traces the history of the château and its owners over the centuries: the truce of Colombiers-Villandry, the battle of Bouvines, Jérôme Bonaparte and many other events and figures from the history of Villandry.
Focus on… the geographical origins of our visitors Although almost all the visitors to events at Villandry, such as the Nights of a Thousand Fires and the Kitchen Garden Days, come from the local and regional area, the same is not true for day-to-day visitors. 43% of Villandry's annual visitors come from abroad . Top of the list are the Germans , who have overtaken the British, the previous majority, since 2011, followed some way behind by the Italians, whose numbers are falling fast due to the economic crisis (-50% since 2007), and the Spanish, whose numbers are stable. In 2013, 55% of our foreign visitors came from France's neighbouring countries .
In the last few years we have also welcomed new groups of visitors from emerging countries , primarily Brazilians (+250% since 2007), Russians (+150% since 2007) and Chinese. Ultimately these visitors from more distant countries could represent a significant proportion of our customer base. In general, we see a strong correlation between tourist activity and variations in the dollar exchange rate . Finally, in terms of French visitors, Indre-et-Loire accounts for 15% of our visitors , with another 5% from the five neighbouring départements. Ile-de-France, and chiefly Paris, comes second with 8%.
In 2013 , the global number of visitors (340,000) was slightly higher than in 2012 and 2010, but lower than in 2011, when weather conditions were very favourable. Visits to the gardens obviously depend heavily on the weather .
30 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
A site with certifications
The Qualité Tourisme accreditation
Since 2006, Villandry had been part of a discussion on quality in the Loire Valley, conducted together with a number of tourist sites in the region and the Touraine Departmental Tourist Board. Villandry Castle and two other sites in Indre-et- Loire received their certification at the end of 2009. Since then a number of other sites have joined us… Quality accreditations are progressing and becoming well established in the Loire Valley!
In January 2013, the Château de Villandry was awarded a renewal of the Qualité Tourisme accreditation for three years. Other distinctions & certifications
‘ The gardens have been awarded the " Refuge LPO " certification by the League for the Protection of Birds in 2013. Villandry is the first castle to obtain this label.
‘ The gardens were the first green space in the Centre Region and the first of the castles of the Loire Valley to receive the " Label Eco-Garden " in 2013.
‘ The gardens were acknowledged by the " Loire à Vélo " association in 2009
‘ In 2005 the gardens were designated by UNESCO as an "Ambassador Site " for the Loire Valley, and placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
‘ In 2004 the gardens were awarded the " Jardin Remarquable " certification by the Culture and Communication Ministry
‘ The chateau and the gardens were listed as a "Historic Monument" in 1934 and are founder members of the "Demeure Historique", an association of the owners of private listed monuments
‘ www.tripadvisor.fr TripAdvisor is the greatest travel review site listing no less than 35 million different points of views about hotels, restaurants, attractions, museums...
In 2013, Villandry was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013. It ranks second among the castles of the Loire, with a score of 4.67 / 5, just behind Chenonceau.
31 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
LPO Refuge accreditation from the French Society for the Protection of Birds
Villandry: the first castle to obtain the accreditation “LPO Refuge”.
Crédits photos : Association La Cambrousse
As part of their biodiversity policy, the Château de Villandry contacted the Touraine region delegation of the French Society for the Protection of Birds (LPO) to have the site listed as an LPO refuge.
In 2012, a weighted abundance index study was carried out to draw up an inventory of species present on the site. Nearly 90 species of birds were counted in the 25 hectares of the site, comprising 16 hectares of walled areas, 9 of which are forest and 6 garden, and 9 hectares of meadowland along the River Cher.
The following are just some of the species that have been seen at Villandry: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Marsh Tit, Sand Martin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Cattle Egret, Redwing, Common Firecrest, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Reed Bunting.
After the conclusive results of this study, the Villandry Gardens were presented with the “LPO Refuge” accreditation in 2012 by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, President of the French Society for the Protection of Birds. In 2013, Villandry has continued its interest in its birds by a major photographic documentary realized throughout the whole season
Photographers from the association La Cambrousse have come throughout the year, equipped with powerful lenses and familiar with the specific close-up techniques required for bird photography, to immortalise the birds at Villandry.
This photographic documentary will be on display in the exhibition "Villandry and its birds", in the castle in June 2014.
32 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 shops
La Boutique du Château
Cards, books and guides, souvenirs and gifts, books about nature and children's games
La Boutique du Jardinier
Decorative objects for house and garden, books, gifts, plants, clothes inspired from the garden and tools.
Here are some books on sale in the shop:
a Le Château de Villandry et ses jardins
This book gives a brief history of the castle and its various gardens and a calendar of work done in the gardens. Editions Valoire-Estel, 48 pages
a Les jardins de Villandry
A beautiful book that shows the gardens in a poetic, yet well-documented light, including the new organic methods. Words by Sonia Lesot; Original photographs by G. Lévêque. Editions Ulmer, 96 pages
a La collection Carvallo au Château de Villandry
A catalogue presenting the art collection of the Carvallo family, including reproductions of paintings and accompanying commentaries. Editions Le Livre d’Art, 64 pages
a Louis Benech, douze jardins en France
(Louis Benech, Twelve Gardens in France ) This book presents twelve gardens created by Louis Benech in France, including the Sun and Cloud garden at the Château de Villandry. Words by Eric Jansen, photographs by Eric Sander, Published by Gourcuff Gradenigo.
33 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
La Doulce Terrasse
Restaurant and tearoom
This restaurant, which also has a tearoom, shows the gourmet side of the castle!
The menu changes with the seasons, depending on the vegetables from the kitchen garden.
All the dishes are made with regional produce and served with wines from the Loire Valley, selected with great flair.
In short, it is a friendly, original restaurant that combines good tasting food with good taste in decoration: the presentation of the dishes is amazing and the use of spices and herbs, surprising!
Prices: Menus start at 16 euros. But you can also just have one of the "tartines du potager" (kitchen garden sandwiches), a selection of dishes, homemade pies or traditional ice creams… or, on the contrary, treat yourself to a whole gourmet menu.
Non-stop service from 9:30am to 7pm
Bookings: +33(0)2 47 50 02 10
La Doulce Terrasse is selected by the Michelin Green Tourist Guide , features on the TripAdvisor site, and heads the list of restaurants at Villandry. 34 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Room rental and caterer
For a number of years, the Marquis de Castellane room has been available for hire by companies, where they can enjoy the magical setting of the gardens for their seminars and business meals.
The orangeries are also available for gala evenings for example.
The Marquis de Castellane room
The Orangeries 35 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
Practical information
Chateau & Gardens Only Gardens RATES 2014 (2:00) (1:00) Adult s € 10 € 6.50
Youth * € 6.50 € 4.50
Group s (15 people minimum)** € 8 € 5
Audio guide (version adulte ou enfant ) € 4
Free for children under 8 years (*)Young people aged 8 to 18, students under 26 years with up to date cards Group: minimum of 15 paying visitors – 2 free tickets per group Pass gardens one year: € 25
‘‘‘ Opening:
The gardens are open every day, all year round, from 9:00 am, until nightfall. The castle is open at 9:00 from 15 February to 16 November 2014 and during the Christmas holidays.
GARDENS CHATEAU - from 01/01/2014 to 14/02/2014 09.00 – 17.00 * - from 01/01/2014 to 05/01/2014 09.30 – 16.30* - from 15/02/2014 to 28/02/2014 09.00 – 17.30 * - from 06/01/2014 to 14/02/2014 Closed - from 01/03/2014 to 29/03/2014 09.00 – 18.00 * - from 15/02/2014 to 28/02/2014 09.00 – 17.00* - from 30/03/2014 to 30/06/2014 09.00 – 19.00 * - from 01/03/2014 to 29/03/2014 09.00 – 17.30 * - from 01/07/2014 to 31/08/2014 09.00 – 19.30 * - from 30/03/2014 to 30/06/2014 09.00 – 18.00 * - from 01/09/2014 to 30/09/2014 09.00 – 19.00 * - from 01/07/2014 to 31/08/2014 09.00 – 18.30 * - from 01/10/2014 to 25/10/2014 09.00 – 18.30 * - from 01/09/2014 to 25/10/2014 09.00 – 18.00 * - from 26/10/2014 to 16/11/2014 09.00 – 17.30 * - from 26/10/2014 to 16/11/2014 09.00 – 17.00 * - from 17/11/2014 to 31/12/2014 09.00 – 17.00 * - from 17/11/2014 to 20/12/2014 Closed - from 21/12/2014 to 31/12/2014 09.30 – 16.30*
* Last tickets sold
‘‘‘ General contact information:
Château et Jardins de Villandry 37510 VILLANDRY Tel.: 00 33 (0)2.47.50.02.09 - Fax: 00 33 (0)2.47.50.12.85 [email protected] www.chateauvillandry.com
36 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
‘‘‘ There is indeed a rich variety of activities available at Villandry:
In addition to the tours with information leaflets and guided tours in French, the site offers:
‘ guided tours for groups in foreign languages: English, German and Spanish
‘ a conference and reception room where companies can enjoy the magnificent setting of the gardens and have their lunch in perfect conditions of comfort, peace and quiet.
‘ tours with audio-guides in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish
‘ as part of the operation "Entrez la Cour des Grands", the site also offers a tour specially adapted for children comprising eight interpretation posts in the gardens and a visit with audio-guides for the younger visitors.
‘ New in 2014: Villandry smartphone app available for free in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish on Apple Store and Google Play.
‘‘‘ To get here: now, with the A85 motorway, Villandry is just half an hour from Chenonceau!
If you're coming from Paris:
‘ by car (240 Km): A10 junction 24 (Joué-lès- Tours) then A85, towards Saumur, junction 8 (Villandry)
‘ by train from Montparnasse station (55mn) then take a taxi from Tours or Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station (20mn)
If you're coming from Nantes:
‘ by car: A11 then A85 junction 8 (Villandry)
‘ by train (90mn) then take a taxi from Tours or Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station (20mn)
If you're coming from Tours:
‘ by public transport: the "Fil Bleu" shuttle runs every day
‘ and… by bike! Follow the "Loire à Vélo" route (15 Km)
37 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09
Château and Gardens of Villandry – Press pack 2014
38 Press contact: Astrid de la PASTELLIERE – [email protected] – 00 33 (0)2 47 50 02 09