Day 14, 19th Oct 2025
Villandry, Indre-et-Loire, France
Checking our next 2 stops we realised that parking in the van would be an issue. With this in mind we chose somewhere completely different.
After a small shopping trip to the supermarket we made our way into a new department called Indre-et-Loire with Chateau Villandry as our destination.
For the most part we followed the Loire on a raised road. It felt like a flood barrier to be honest. All the properties on our left were at first floor height to the road, but we did get a great view of everything around us.
Villandry was chosen today for its immense gardens – which of course allow canine companions.
There’s a very well maintained Camping Car Park Aire about 5 minute walk away where we grabbed a spot before making our way to the Chateau.
We knew we weren’t going to be able to access the beautiful chateau but that’s something we are used to now.
Dogs are free, have to, understandably be on a lead and adults were 8.50€ each just for the gardens.
I have to say it was worth the entrance fee. Visiting gardens isn’t a common occurence for us, I can’t actually remember the last time we did 
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Over the years owners of the Chateau have modernised and embellished the building, but the last owners decided to return it to it’s original design. There’s a great sliding picture in the gardens showing you before and afters. What a fab idea.
The work that must go into maintaining this amazing space is mindblowing really.
There is a flower area, a vegetable garden, a herb garden, ponds with huge fish, fountains, greenhouses, a wooded area, a tennis court and a maze.
All edged with box and fir, topiary, vine arches and roses – some still smelling magnificent 
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The vegetable gardens have a legend each, colour coded and explaining what is being grown. I don’t know who enjoys the benefit of the produce as there is a lot of it, most ripe for picking.
There were still some apples and pears on the fruit trees and aging grapes on the vines.
The maze walls have been grown with trees, not conifer so at the moment the walls are quite sparse – very handy as you can’t get lost 
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This place must look absolutely beautiful in summer.
Just as we were finishing our visit it started to rain. Luckily Gareth had the foresight to pop an umbrella into his bag 
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The bars and restaurants we passed on our walk back were open, so we popped into the covered garden of one for a drink. Even though it was raining, it wasn’t cold.
For the first time of this trip – I know! another one 
– we put the awning out. I love sitting out when it’s raining under the awning, it feels like we are cheating 
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