Explore the “Garden of France”
French or English style, classic or contemporary, productive or ornamental... gardens feature on every postcard alongside the most beautiful châteaux of the Loire Valley! Discover a selection of must-see gardens for a “royal” dose of chlorophyll in Touraine.
![Château et jardins de Villandry]()
Villandry Castle and Gardens
The gardens of the Château de Villandry
These Renaissance-inspired 20th-century gardens, classified as "Jardins Remarquables" and designed by Joachim Carvallo, are laid out on terraces at the foot of the château. You'll stroll through various areas: the decorative vegetable garden with its skilfully orchestrated cameo of colors, the Andalusian-inspired "Garden of Love", the romantic water garden and the plant maze built in reference to the myth of the Minotaur.
DON’T MISS
- June 6th and 7th: "Rendez-vous aux jardins"
- July 31st, august 1st and 2nd: "Nuit des Milles feux": candlelit gardens and events
- September 26 and 27 "Les Journées du Potager": meet the Villandry gardeners, events and exhibitors' market.
PRACTICAL INFO
- Information and reduced-rate tickets available at tours-tourisme.fr, or from the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office.
- 3 rue principale, Villandry - 02 47 50 02 09
- Website : chateauvillandry.fr
- Tourism & Handicap label, reductions on presentation of disability card
![Le Prieuré Saint-Cosme]()
The Prieuré Saint-Cosme
Prieuré Saint-Cosme
Home to the famous poet Ronsard, this 12th-century priory has a garden filled with his beloved roses. They add a touch of fragrance to the various areas: fragrant garden, pergola, large orchard/flower garden and monks’ vegetable garden. The latter showcases vegetables grown in monasteries during the Middle Ages, such as root vegetables, legumes and herbs, used as condiments instead of salt. Go on a journey back in time with numerous cultural and fun activities throughout the year.
PRACTICAL INFO
- Rue Ronsard, La Riche
- Website : https://www.prieure-ronsard.fr/en/
- Tourism & Handicap label
![Château de la Bourdaisière]()
Bourdaisière Castle
Château de la Bourdaisière
As you pass through the castle gates, you will discover a Garden of Eden with over 700 varieties of ancient tomatoes, 70 fruit trees and 400 varieties of dahlias. From June, you can visit the tomato bar (Bar à tomates©), where you can try different juices and dishes of the day made using ingredients from the castle’s vegetable garden.
DON’T MISS
- September 13th & 14th: "Festival de la tomate et des saveurs": culinary demonstrations, workshops and tomato-related activities.
- September 18th & 19th: "Festival de la forêt et du bois" (Forest and Wood Festival): Olympics, storytelling walks in the forest and forest-related activities.
PRACTICAL INFO
- 25 rue de la Bourdaisière, Montlouis-sur-Loire
- Website : labourdaisiere.com
- 02 47 45 16 31
![Château du Rivau]()
Gardens of Rivau chateau
Château du Rivau
The former residence of King Charles VII, this medieval castle immerses visitors in a fairy tale where contemporary art and remarkable gardens naturally go together. It features 16 extraordinary gardens, each inspired by tales: the kitchen garden, the enchanted forest, Rapunzel’s garden and Alice’s maze. They combine botanical collections, games and monumental artistic creations in synergy with the environment.
DON’T MISS
- June 6th & 7th: Rose Festival
- August 8th & 9th: Equestrian and medieval jousts at Château du Rivau
- October 10th & 11th: Pumpkin and Autumn Festival
PRACTICAL INFO
- Information and reduced-rate tickets available at tours-tourisme.fr, or from the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office.
- Reduced-price packages for families
- Website : chateaudurivau.com
- 9 rue du château, Lémeré
- PRM-accessible (see site for conditions)
![Le Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire]()
Domaine de Chaumont greenhouse
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire has become one of the world's leading art and garden centers.
Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy a wide range of nature-related activities. The highlight of the program is the International Garden Festival. This year's theme, "Jardin source de vie", highlights the living beings that nourish, heal and replenish our ecosystem.
DON'T MISS
- April 22th to November 1st: "Le Festival International des Jardins" in 2026, the Croisette comes to Touraine with the theme “The Garden Takes Center Stage.” From Avatar to Inception to The Truman Show, the event invites us to rethink the landscape as an integral part of storytelling in cinema.
PRACTICAL INFO
- Information and reduced-rate tickets on tours-tourisme.fr, at the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office or by calling 02 47 70 37 37.
- Website : domaine-chaumont.fr
- Tourism & Handicap label: free admission on presentation of disability card.
![Château de Valmer]()
Gardens of Château de Valmer
The gardens of Valmer Castle
A marvel of the Italian Renaissance, the gardens of Château de Valmer have been awarded the "Jardins Remarquables" label. They extend over five hectares and feature eight levels of terraces adorned with balustrades, statues, columns and fountains.
You can visit the troglodytic chapel, built in 1524, and the conservatory kitchen garden, home to an array of edible plants and flowers to be enjoyed in summer.
DON'T MISS
- April 11 & 12: “Les Bons Plan(t)s de Valmer”: activities centered around plants and stands featuring nurseries, artisans, local producers, and more.
- Tuesdays in June, July, and August "Les Valmerapéros": set up on the Terrasse des Devants at sunset, enjoy Château de Valmer wines with local appetizer platters.
- June 5-7: “Rendez-vous aux jardins”
- November 28 & 29: “Marché gourmand d'automne”: guided tour of the cellars and wine stores, gourmet market, tasting of Château wines, and free access to the gardens, chapel, and historic park.
PRACTICAL INFO
- Château de Valmer in Chançay
- Website : chateaudevalmer.com
- 02 47 52 93 12
![Se promener à Tours]()
Prébende garden
Stroll through the gardens of Tours
The city is full of ‘green bubbles’ where you can relax. The Jardin des Prébendes, classified as a ‘Remarkable Garden’, stands out for its design by Eugène Bühler, a landscape architect of European renown.
Enthusiasts will appreciate the 200-year-old gingko tree in the Botanical Garden and the Lebanese cedar in the Museum of Fine Arts garden, planted by Napoleon in 1804, both classified as ‘Remarkable Trees’. More secretive and unexpected, the Jardin des Vikings is home to the remains of the Gallo-Roman wall erected in the 4th century when Tours was still called Caesarodunum.
Focus on the Gloriette eco-friendly urban park
To the south of Tours, this park covers nearly 200 hectares. Bordered by the Cher and Petit Cher rivers and crossed by the Loire à Vélo cycle route, this natural site is the ideal place to relax, discover the vegetable garden and 60 community gardens, and enjoy a variety of activities, including a climate fresco, natural weaving, bird watching and yoga.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Gardens and parks in the city of Tours can be found at tours.fr
- Programme of events at tours-metropole.fr
- Parc de la Gloriette: 61 avenue Pont Cher, Tours
