Rendez-vous aux Jardins de Villandry
France's most famous Renaissance garden opens its doors for an exceptional weekend
About Jardins Villandry
The jewel of the Loire gardens
The Château de Villandry, the last of the great Renaissance castles built on the banks of the Loire, is world-renowned for its French formal gardens recreated in the early 20th century by Joachim Carvallo. Every year in June, the castle participates in the national event "Rendez-vous aux Jardins", organized by the Ministry of Culture to promote parks and gardens in France.
A national theme explored at Villandry
Each edition of Rendez-vous aux Jardins is organized around a national theme. In 2025, the theme "Gardens facing climate change" invited visitors to reflect on environmental issues and the adaptations of historic gardens. Villandry's gardeners share their expertise on sustainable cultivation techniques, water management, and biodiversity preservation in a heritage garden.
Exceptional guided tours
The Rendez-vous aux Jardins weekend is an opportunity to benefit from exceptional guided tours led by the estate's gardeners. These passionate professionals reveal the secrets of maintaining the boxwood embroidery, the planting techniques for the decorative vegetable garden, and the horticultural choices that make Villandry famous. Carriage rides offer a different perspective on the gardens.
Seven hectares of labeled gardens
The Villandry gardens, labeled "Remarkable Garden", cover seven hectares organized into several distinct areas. The decorative vegetable garden, composed of nine geometric squares planted with vegetables and flowers, is unique in the world. The ornamental garden with its boxwood embroidery symbolizing different forms of love, the water garden inspired by classical gardens, the sun garden, and the hornbeam maze form an exceptional ensemble.
A commitment to biodiversity
Villandry is committed to sustainable gardening with the abandonment of pesticides, the development of integrated biological control, reasoned water management, and the preservation of biodiversity. Rendez-vous aux Jardins is an opportunity to raise public awareness of these practices and share the experience gained by the estate's gardeners over the years.
Jardins Villandry — edition 2026
Château de Villandry participates in the 23rd national edition of Rendez-vous aux Jardins on June 6 and 7, 2026, on the theme « Le regard » (The Gaze). Throughout the weekend, the seven hectares of French gardens will come alive with guided tours by the gardeners, carriage rides, creative workshops, and meetings with a beekeeper and the LPO.
A 23rd edition on the theme « Le regard »
For the Rendez-vous aux Jardins 2026, the Château de Villandry is part of the 23rd national edition orchestrated by the Ministry of Culture, around the theme « Le regard » (The Gaze). A theme that particularly resonates with the gardens of Villandry, whose geometric perspectives, boxwood embroideries, and symmetry are designed to be contemplated from above as well as from every pathway.
The weekend program
On June 6 and 7, 2026, activities will punctuate the entire visit of the seven hectares of gardens, included in the entrance ticket:
- Exceptional guided tours of the gardens led by the estate's gardeners, who share their techniques for pruning boxwood, maintaining the decorative vegetable garden, and sustainable site management.
- Carriage rides through the vegetable garden and ornamental gardens, to discover the seven hectares from another angle.
- Meetings with the gardeners about horticultural choices, integrated biological control, and the garden labeled « Jardin remarquable » (Remarkable Garden).
- Creative workshops: plant compositions, introduction to cyanotype, observation walks in the gardens.
- Beekeeper's walks with Mickaël Preteseille (Rucher de la Dame Blanche), to explore the life of the beehives installed on the estate.
- LPO activities (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) with observation and recognition of the park's birds.
Seven hectares to (re)discover
The decorative vegetable garden with its nine geometric squares, the ornamental garden with its boxwood embroideries symbolizing love, the classic water garden, the sun garden, and the hornbeam labyrinth form a unique ensemble in the world. The Rendez-vous aux Jardins weekend is a privileged opportunity to understand the behind-the-scenes of this extraordinary maintenance, with a pesticide-free approach and biodiversity preservation.
Good to know
Activities are included in the entrance fee and do not require reservation. Free admission applies to children under 8. To fully enjoy the weekend, the gardens are open from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Programme Jardins Villandry 2026
Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026
Gardens open from 9 AM to 7 PM. Continuous activities throughout the weekend, included in the garden entrance ticket, no reservation required.
- Guided tours of the gardens by the estate's gardeners
- Carriage rides through the vegetable garden and ornamental gardens
- Meetings with the gardeners of Villandry
- Creative workshops: plant compositions, introduction to cyanotype, observation walks
- Beekeeper's walks with Mickaël Preteseille (Rucher de la Dame Blanche) — discovery of the estate's beehives
- LPO activities (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) — observation and recognition of the park's birds
The detailed hourly program is not published in advance; activities run continuously and rotate throughout the two days. Information available at the reception on the day.
Highlights Jardins Villandry 2026
- 23rd national edition, theme « Le regard »
- Activities included in the garden entrance ticket
- Carriage rides and meetings with the gardeners
- Cyanotype and plant composition workshops
- Estate's apiary presented by Mickaël Preteseille
- LPO stand and bird observation
Prices Jardins Villandry 2026
Practical information — Jardins Villandry
Practical Information
Access
The Château de Villandry is located 17 km west of Tours via the D7.
- By car: D7 from Tours. Free parking nearby.
- By bike: Loire à Vélo, Villandry stop.
Opening Hours
- Gardens: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM (in June)
- Castle: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Prices
- Castle + gardens: Adult €14, Youth (8-18 years) €8
- Gardens only: Adult €8.50
- Under 8 years old: Free
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Where does it take place — Jardins Villandry
Château et Jardins de Villandry
3 rue Principale, 37510 Villandry