Château of Villandry ©

Château of Villandry © Gillian Thornton valley of le Loir is home to the sumptuous Château du Lude, a medieval fortress that was transformed into a Renaissance stately home and further enhanced in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Owned by the same family for more than 260 years, the house, garden and park offer a real family day out. Normandy too is rich in stylish homes, some containing unexpected gems. The elegant 18 th century Château de Vendeuvre houses the largest collection of miniature furniture in the world, displayed in scale-model room sets. More than 700 small pieces including inlaid wardrobes, grandfather clocks and even an ornate cat bed. Other properties have unique stories to tell. In 1386, Château de Carrouges was the scene of the last legal duel ordered by the High Court of Justice in Paris, a story of honour brought to the big screen by Ridley Scott in his 2021 movie The Last Duel starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer. And the Château d’Eu on the Normandy coast was the favourite summer residence of King Louis-Philippe. Here he twice welcomed Queen Victoria, first British monarch to visit France since Henry VIII. Visit the historic scene of the first entente cordiale and stroll through the park and formal gardens. Desirable plots Châteaux frequently stood in large, wooded parks, but some are renowned for the size and intricacy of their formal gardens. Villandry in the Loire Valley is internationally famous, replanted in the early 20 th century to showcase French garden art across the ages through The kitchen of the Château de Chenonceau seven themed gardens. Expect geometric planting, topiary, water features and a whole lot more. And at the Château de Chenonceau, recall the lives of two royal ladies as you walk amongst the topiary and flowers. Two contrasting gardens were created in the 16 th century for Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II, and later by his wife Catherine de’ Medici who reclaimed the Château from Diane on her husband’s death. Floral displays inside the Château are all assembled from home-grown blooms. But few castle gardens enjoy quite as much sunshine as the pink and white Belle Epoque property of Château d’Ephrussi de Rothschild. Overlooking the Mediterranean at Saint-Jean- Cap-Ferrat, its lavish interior is matched by nine themed gardens where fountains dance to music and every turn in the path offers a new view. House and garden envy off the scale! Embark on a Timeless Journey: Discover the Soul of the Loire Valley Unveil the secrets of ancient châteaux and savor the enchanting landscapes with our expertly guided tours loirevalleychateautours.com/tours 28 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 29