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

An ocean of stars above the desert
The sprout with amazing potential
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China

More Desktop Wallpapers:

An underwater paradise to explore
Apr. 15, 2025World Art Day
Feb. 12, 2024Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise, Isabela Island
Aug. 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
Behold the architectural marvel
Jun. 2, 2024Annas hummingbird
A light in the coastal darkness
Jan. 25, 2024Snowy owl
Apr. 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Mar. 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
What are these colourful insects?
Jan. 26, 2025European beech forest, Belgium
The ‘potato chip bird’
Jun. 28, 2025Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
A warm hug in the icy north
Mar. 9, 2025Daylight saving time begins
40 years of recovery
Jan. 23, 2024Maldives
Sep. 14, 2024Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
Blue hues and ceramic scenes of Porto
Rainbow around the sun
Kings of the north
Apr. 1, 2025National Frog Month
Winter wonderland for your wallet
Jul. 29, 2024International Tiger Day
Aug. 22, 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, United States
We can all just get along
Aug. 4, 2024Friendship Day
Dec. 23, 2025Reindeer, Lapland, Finland
A snapshot of Spring