Chateau de Villandry located in Villandry, Indre-et-Loire. The official website is http://www.chateauvillandry.com/ . It offers a lot of info and, as you can see, 2010 promises to be an abundant in events year, so pack the suitcases and check below for accommodation ideas!
The castle is built on lands where an ancient fortress stood once. In the original 14th-century keep King Philip II of France met Richard I of England (“the Lionhearted”) to discuss peace. The chateau remained in Le Breton family for about two centuries before being acquired by Marquis de Castellane. During the French Revolution it was confiscated and it's a small wonder that Emperor Napoleon acquired it for his brother Joseph Bonaparte - the place is a stunner.
In 1906 Chateau de Vilandry was acquired by Dr. Joachim Carvallo who invested tons of time, money and devotion to repair the place and to create the famous gardens which are widely consideredthe most beautiful anywhere to be seen. These Renaissance gardens include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, and vegetable gardens. They are designed in formal patterns and create pictures. Like all the castles in the Loire Valley, it is a World Heritage Site. Château de Villandry is still owned by the Carvallo family (a wonder itself!) and is open to the public being one of the most visited castles in France.
Last but not least, my preferred location for running among poppies and field flowers - Chateau du Rivau. Usually left aside from the most popular for their beauty castles, the place was best known for the visit of Joan de Arc who once went there to get horses for herself and her companions. The area was famous with the war horses raised there. Later same horses were used by the French Kings and the stables became officially "royal". :)
Today, after many years of careful restoration, the unique assemble of chateau, stables, and service buildings is a breathtaking sight and not to be missed! Its most remarkable feature are the "fairytale gardens of Chateau du Rivau". You can see them all on the official website: http://www.chateaudurivau.com/english/home.html . The website is super friendly, there are tons of info and events offered, and the castle still stays on top of my list each time I visit the Loire Valley. The gastronomical and wine tasting pleasures are a must as well! Also, pay attention to the statues and scuptures scattered around the gardens, some of them are true pieces of genius and all are representing modern French art.
More on the practical side, I decided to post here some of my top accommodation spots, assuming you would choose to stay around Saumur. If you prefer another location, let me know and I'll give other ideas. Now, wherever I travel, I usually prefer to rent a house (a gite in French) and either self-cater or order only breakfast from the hosts. This way I can shop the local markets which is a huge part of my pleasure in France, buy fresh produce and (rarely) cook. Most often I would buy vegetables, fruits, cheese, olives, tapenade, sausages and baked goods and open a bottle of good wine. No cooking required and the abundance is guaranteed. For more than fifteen years tasting, I still doubt I have tried all cheese or sausages types! Here are my self-catered and gite choices for the area:
http://lamandieranjou.monsite.orange.fr/ - French speaking;
http://www.maisondemilly.com/ - English speaking, remarkable place;
http://chezpaquerette.free.fr/ - Madame speaks English although it doesn't show on the website ;)
http://www.lesavigne.com/ - impressive and offers breakfast as well;
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/les.roches/ - English version available, with breakfast too;
http://www.iledusaule.com/ - English version available, authentique and nice;
http://labouere.ifrance.com/ - English spoken, I truly love the fields and the garden of this place!;
http://www.fermeduboismadame.com/ - English spoken but not on the website LOL, horses, carriages!;
http://www.lagrangesaumur.eu/presentation.php - very sweet little place, English-Italian+German spoken;
http://www.lamaisonjoulin.com/ - English version available, very nice and authentique place;
http://lelamartine.drgconseil.com/ - English spoken, impressive house;
http://www.lepatiosaumur.fr/ - English version available, this is an adorable old inn which is worth every minute you can spend there!;
http://membres.multimania.fr/mruault/ - English version available, small but cute.
I'm leaving you with these now to gat back to writing. I am still hopeful to sell a book for a couple of millions and move to the Loire Valley forever! LOL In the next post I'll add more places to stay and things to do. Hope you enjoy the places!
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