Heaven on Earth
This post is for Alphabe-Thursday which is one of the fabulous memes set up by Jenny Matlock at her blog. Do go & visit the others! This week the letter is ‘V’
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The subject of this post is Le Chateau de Villandry completed in 1536. It is a wondrous place that nestles in the Loire. The Chateau (castle to you & me) is relatively small for tha area but it’s fame is primarily about its gardens!
There are 5 main gardens & they all transport you to different places, times & emotions. My husbands favourite is this one
This represents the allegory of ‘Gardens of Love’. The first four squares represent – Tender Love, Passionate Love, Fickle & Tragic Love. My OH likes the geometric solidity of it (he’s a bit OCD!) & the formality of the design.
For me, on the other hand, it has to be this one – The Vegetable Garden. Yes look closely – these boxed hedges contain a huge variety of vegetables!
We have been to this wondrous place many times but I am always in awe of the work that is done here. It just takes my breath away! Like the Love Gardens, there is a symmetry & order to the vegetable garden. They are grown for their colour as well as their edibility. The other gardens – Sun, Music, Water Herb & the Maze are glorious in their own right but we have our favourites.
For us a visit to Villandry is seeing heaven on earth!
Have you a place that no matter how many times you visit is still a wonderful experience?
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These photos are so very lovely, as are your explanations of what I am seeing. Thanks
Oh, what a heavenly stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday’s Letter “V”!
Each time I stop here you strengthen my resolve to take a trip your direction!
What lovely photos…I can feel the history and the beauty in this limited dimension. I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be in real life!
A+
What a gorgeous place to get away! I love the vegetable garden, it’s lovely. And I would love the see the music garden, it sounds interesting. Great choice for V.
Beautiful photos that make me want to go visit. Anywhere by the sea is a wonderful experience for me.
Absolutely gorgeous gardens and a beautiful castle! And I would love to visit there!
Blessings & Aloha!
(trying to get to all the fun V posts before the day gets going! My blog reading time is so limited!)
What a stunning place, Julia. Inspires me to do a little more travel. x
You’d love it Rosie!
Oh, those gardens are incredible! And I love castles! I visited the Loire Valley years ago in my mid-20s and toured beautiful chateaux, like Chenonceau & Chateau d’Usse. But we never got to see Villandry. Would love to go again with my family. Thanks for sharing! Great V post!
Well you must go back & visit Villandry!
Wow, these gardens are just spectacular!
Yes they are & you never tire of them because each time you visit there is something else!
Great post! Spectacular gardens…would love to visit…nice photos too…Peace and blessings
Glad you liked them! Thank you for popping in!
We visited Villandry when we were on honeymoon in The Loire (camping!) and I fell in love with it! The vegetable garden blew my socks off and planted the seed in my heart which has grown into my love of growing food! This post has lifted my spirits, thank you! x
Glad you liked it Chris! I have a couple of raised beds as a token!
oh gosh it looks absolutely beautiful. i have to agree with your husband, i think his favourite is rather wonderful. Not sure about the names though! I fear i may never get to visit.
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You might! Put it on a ‘would like to visit list’!
What beautiful gardens and I love that castle. This seems like an interesting place to go and explore everything. Thanks for sharing because I will never see a place as fabulous as this. Great V post.
You nwever know! You may get there!
Oh wow, it looks amazing. I haven’t been but will remember the name for when we are in that area of France (have been googling already). I love nice gardens and both appeal to me:) Jen.
It has a peace about it! You’ll enjoy it!