Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France Apr 29, 2025

Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France

The grass truly is greener on the other side—especially when that side is Château de Villandry. While the Loire Valley in France is packed with stunning châteaux (French for castles), Villandry stands apart, not for its towering turrets or medieval might, but for its gardens. Built in the 16th century by Jean le Breton, a minister to King Francis I, Villandry was always meant to impress. Unlike fortified castles built for war, it was designed for comfort, featuring large windows and an open, welcoming layout. Its gardens are arranged across terraces with distinct themes. The ornamental garden showcases geometric patterns like the one pictured here. The water garden offers a serene retreat and the vegetable garden turns everyday crops into artistic displays.

© Mint Images/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Apr 29, 2026Belém Tower, Lisbon, Portugal

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 28, 2025Short-eared owl
Feb 19, 2024Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Nov 8, 2025Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon, United States
Nov 23, 2024Spiral aloe, Kangaroo Island, Australia
Apr 15, 2026Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Feb 11, 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Jul 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Jun 28, 2025Mannheim Water Tower, Germany
Aug 15, 2024Hang Sơn Đoòng, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
Mar 30, 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Nov 13, 2025Quiver trees, Namibia
Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
Jan 11, 2026Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Jul 30, 2024San Gimignano, Siena, Italy
Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl
Oct 11, 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
Sep 30, 2025Koala, Australia
Dec 16, 2025Medieval Aqueduct, Perugia, Italy
Aug 28, 2026Mont-Saint Michel during high tide, Normandy, France
July 30, 2026Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Arizona, United States
Jun 29, 2024Beech forest in Nienhagen, Germany
Jul 15, 2025Great Basin National Park, Nevada, United States
Sep 11, 2025Peña Falcon rock, Monfragüe National Park, Spain
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
June 14, 2026Mallard duck
Apr 21, 2024Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Jun 27, 2024Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
Oct 23, 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 11, 2024Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy
Nov 2, 2025Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan