{"id":7417,"date":"2024-03-15T10:04:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T09:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loirelovers.fr\/visit-chateau-valmer\/"},"modified":"2024-03-15T17:09:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T16:09:21","slug":"visit-chateau-valmer-chancay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loirelovers.fr\/en\/visit-chateau-valmer-chancay\/","title":{"rendered":"Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer (Chan\u00e7ay): visit + photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For lovers of gardens and beautiful landscapes<\/strong>, don't miss out on the Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer! Although the estate lost its castle in a fire, it conceals dazzling green spaces<\/strong> that have been awarded the Jardin Remarquable<\/strong> label.<\/p>\n\n

Inherited from the Renaissance, this garden is truly unique in the Loire Valley <\/strong>, as it is one of the few not to have been altered, retaining its original design with a succession of Italian-style terraces<\/strong>.Here are some useful tips<\/strong> for planning your visit to Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer<\/strong>, in Chan\u00e7ay, not far from Tours.<\/p>\n\n

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This guide is completely independent<\/strong>, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Is a visit to Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer worthwhile?<\/h2>\n\n

Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer is well worth a visit for its magnificent gardens<\/strong>, which have been<\/strong> listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1930<\/strong>!Let yourself be amazed by the diversity of species and landscapes that you can contemplate in complete tranquillity<\/strong>, as the estate is still confidential.In our opinion, it's one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in the Loire Valley<\/a>.Don't hesitate to discover this nugget!<\/p>\n\n

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What you can see<\/h2>\n\n

Borrowing a place steeped in history<\/h3>\n\n

If the beautiful Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer was ravaged on the night of October 20-21, 1948 by a fire caused by an iron, then its remains are all the more worthy of cherishing! The entrance porch is part of this (as are the common buildings and the Petit Valmer, the owners' residence) and sets a majestic tone for the visit to come!<\/p>\n\n

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Understanding the structure of the early castle<\/h3>\n\n

Walk up the entrance driveway and you'll discover the Florentine fountain terrace and, at the far end, surprising yew walls. They symbolize the site of the former castle in an original way, and provide an insight into how the landscape was integrated into the castle.<\/p>\n\n

If you're looking for perfectly preserved Renaissance castles, we invite you to book a guided tour of the Ch\u00e2teaux de Chenonceau and Chambord<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Discover the pretty troglodyte chapel<\/h3>\n\n

Just to the right of the yew castle, you can see the beautifully sculpted facade of the chapel dug into the tufa in 1524. Inside, you'll find a beautiful polychrome wooden altar and two 16th-century stained-glass windows, accompanied by explanatory labels. This pretty chapel reminded us of another chapel we loved to visit at Ch\u00e2teau d'Uss\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Stroll through the lovely park<\/h3>\n\n

Before discovering the intricacies of the garden, we decided to take a stroll through the adjoining 60-hectare park. Planted in the 17th century and enclosed by walls, it's a delight to lose yourself in the alleys of oak, chestnut and hornbeam trees. Although it was built to be exploited, its distinctive feature is that it was also designed for leisurely strolls. You'll see some great views, and this wood can be an ideal retreat if you come to visit Valmer in high summer!<\/p>\n\n

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Marvel at the view from the terraces<\/h3>\n\n

After this plunge into the green of the forest, we returned to the high terrace to admire the unobstructed view of the estate. You can see how the Italianate terraces follow the slope of the hillside, creating a dazzling landscape. You can also make out the 15th-century dovecote and the vineyard.<\/p>\n\n

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Get lost in the different spaces<\/h3>\n\n

In addition to the refined composition of the gardens, which are a pleasure to stroll through, what impressed us most at Valmer were the secret passages leading from one terrace to another. To access the vegetable garden, for example, you have two options: from the terrace built in the 18th century, or from the double staircase. Before the 18th century, access to the kitchen garden was useless for the squires, and gardeners had to climb a hidden staircase.<\/p>\n\n

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Admire the conservatory garden<\/h3>\n\n

You'll be struck by the admirable symmetry of the vegetable garden and its collection of 3,500 varieties. Drawn up in the 15th century, an enormous amount of work has gone into restoring the kitchen garden to its Renaissance state in order to showcase this \"genetic heritage\", as Alix de Saint Venant, landscape gardener and owner of the premises, points out. Reminding us that a garden is alive, she encourages visitors to discover the garden with their 5 senses, even crumpling leaves to release their scents or taste certain edible flowers!<\/p>\n\n

If you're a fan of vegetable gardens, we invite you to discover the extraordinary kitchen garden at the Ch\u00e2teau de Villandry<\/a>, the real highlight of the garden we've been talking about here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Let yourself be drawn in by the different species in the garden<\/h3>\n\n

It's impossible not to succumb to the splendor of the Valmer garden, whose vibrant colors and enchanting fragrances are sure to enliven your stroll. We particularly liked the fact that each essence is accompanied by its eponymous sign, some of which have poetic names!Finally, you'll notice that the plants are perfectly designed and trimmed to blend harmoniously with the mineral structures and walls of the ch\u00e2teau.<\/p>\n\n

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Let yourself be surprised by the sculptures in the park<\/h3>\n\n

In addition to the statue of Saint Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners, you'll be delighted to discover a number of charming sculptures: angels, lions, antique-style vases and, of course, the divinities adorning the fountains.It adds an old-fashioned touch to the visit, which we like!<\/p>\n\n

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Discover the moat garden<\/h3>\n\n

This garden was planted in 1979 on the site of the former moat, making the walk both surprising and refreshing. You'll be able to see an admirable Sophora leaning overhead with its pods dangling. And on the walls, yew buttresses have been planted as if to support the old stones. To get there, take the 15th-century spiral staircase.<\/p>\n\n

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End on a high note with a tasting of the estate's wines<\/h3>\n\n

And what could be more divine than to end your visit with a wine tasting in this picturesque setting? Wine lovers will be delighted to learn that the wine is produced entirely on site, from harvesting in the 35 hectares of vines that surround the estate to maturing in the perfectly preserved tufa stone cellars.<\/p>\n\n

If you wish to continue your discovery of Touraine wines, we invite you to book a wine-tasting tour. See prices and availability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer: how to find us<\/h2>\n\n

Where is Ch\u00e2teau de Valmer?<\/h3>\n\n