1. Kathleen Todesco and Felipe Ferreras

2.  Like most of the châteaux in France, the Château de Villandry is located in the Loire Valley  On the river Cher, a small branching river from the Loire.  Some equally important châteaux in the area include Amboise, Chambord and Chenonceau.

3.  In order to build the present château, the financer Jean le Breton had to get rid of an old XIIth castle, from which he had only kept a tower.  Completed main structure in 1536.

4.  Sits on a small section of the Cher River  Architecture inspired by Italian Renaissance buildings.  Interior was remodeled in the 1790s to fit Classical luxury.  Marquis de Castellane, the King’s ambassador, played a key role in the ‘re- design’ of Villandry after he acquired the château.

5. Villandry Gardens http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3432258540_524d6e640a.jpg http://www.plantsgalore.com/gardens/france/images/Villandry-06001.jpg www.plantsgalore.com/.../France_Villandry.htm http://www.plantsgalore.com/gardens/france/images/Villandry-01001.jpg http://www.plantsgalore.com/gardens/france/images/Villandry-05001.jpg http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/g http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/ http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/g http://homemakerbarbi.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/villandry1denisema4.jpg

6. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdOMfiymz68/So3syxMjIHI/AAAAAAAAAKc/y2wgY47yihw/s400/villan dry+plan.jpg The gardens are divided into sections by a change in elevation. The “kitchen garden” is on one level, the “love garden” and “music garden” are above that These changes in elevation feel very different from how they look from the palace. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdOMfiymz68/So9c7NWUrSI/AAAAAAAAANM/J- TuuwwA8Pw/s400/LES1595_18.jpg

7. The Garden of Love http://www.chessbase.com/news/2007/villandry06.jpg The garden of love is divided into two sections: Tragic Love : this garden shows the blades of daggers & swords used during rival lover’s duals. In this garden, there are red flowers symbolizing blood spilled. Fickle Love Fans in the corners represent the volatile nature of feelings. The center itself represents the letters one would send a lover and contains yellow flowers which represents jealousy. http://www.frenchgardening.com/p/VJvilten.JPG

8. http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/villandry_france_2007/c185x165/villandry_france_200 7_c185x165.jpg As you can see, on the outer side of the “garden of music” are grape vines which symbolizes parties (or balls at that time )with laughter and music. This garden is one of the most festive gardens within Villandry

9. As you can see, this photo is where most of the fruits and vegetables were collected for the inhabitants of the palace. One of the things to notice about the “garden of herbs” also known as “the kitchen garden” is the variety of foods planted. This not only made for a tasty meal but shows power to have all different kinds of fruits and vegetables. http://www.chateauvillandry.com/visite.php3?id_rubrique=13&lang=en&PHPSESSID=3c6c2617d 8f87878bc568481d71942aa http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZdOMfiymz68/So8N8JGlkxI/AAAAAAAAALs/7oYm2sUBt90/s400/3591 321864_ee2713b26c_b.jpg

11. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/French_Formal_Garden_in_Loire_Valley.jpg http://k41.pbase.com/u26/philiphamilton/large/43996026.ChteaudeVillandrygardensI.jpg http://www.manoir-chambres-hotes.com/hpbimg/Villandry%20chateau%20et%20jardins.jpg http://www.hotel-villandry.com/images/ChateauVillandry470S.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXB04M59ZH4&feature=related http://www.francemonthly.com/n/0405/index.php http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/images/French/FrancoisI01.jpg http://www.frenchgardening.com/p/VJvilmn.JPG http://ww2poster.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/chateau_de_chambord_castle_loire_valley_france.jpg http://www.7jades.com/images/loire%20valley.jpg http://mcalonen.com/world_links/France/Amboise,%20France/Chateau%20D%27Amboise,%20France_044.JPG http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=4210 http://www.chateauvillandry.com/photos.php3?id_rubrique=14&id_article=149&lang=en http://www.city-data.com/forum/attachments/house/23204d1216006078-your-dream-house-chateau-de-chambord.jpg http://www.chateauvillandry.com/article.php3?id_rubrique=3&id_article=1&lang=fr http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_de_Villandry http://www.frenchgardening.com/visitez.html?pid=31106784011481