Explore the “Garden of France”

Vegetable and ornamental gardens are part of Touraine’s identity, which has been nicknamed the “Garden of France” since the Renaissance. Enjoy a green escape immersed in the Loire’s gentle way of life with our selection of gardens.

A garden to... declare your love: château and gardens of Villandry
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
- August 2 and 3 "Nuit des Milles feux": candlelit gardens and events
- September 28 and 29 "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
- Web site : chateauvillandry.fr
- Tourism & Handicap label, reductions on presentation of disability card
Château and gardens of Villandry
The Château de Villandry is a unique example of Renaissance architecture and gardens. Six sumptuous gardens await you: the vegetable garden, the ornamental garden, the water garden, the medicinal plant garden, the labyrinth and the sun garden. The château boasts 18th-century interiors and a collection of antique Spanish paintings.
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.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Activities open to children aged 6 and over, booking required on prieure-ronsard.fr
- "Create your own plant medallion" workshop: every Tuesday from July 9 to August 27
- "Solar impressions" workshop: every Thursday from July 18 to August 22
PRACTICAL INFO
- Rue Ronsard, La Riche
- Website : https://www.prieure-ronsard.fr/en/
- Tourism & Handicap label
Bourdaisière chateau
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 7 and 8 "Festival de la tomate et des saveurs": culinary demonstrations, workshops and tomato-related activities.
- October 19 and 20: "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
- Web site : labourdaisiere.com
- 02 47 45 16 31
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
- "Visite-expérience des jardins": discover new ways of gardening to adapt to climate change from May to July (booking required).
- "Nature & Garden Visit": discover the gardens from May to August (booking required).
- June 1-2: Rose Festival
- August 10 to 11: Equestrian and medieval jousts at Château du Rivau
- October 12 and 13: Pumpkin and Autumn Festival
PRACTICAL INFO
- 13€/adult - 8€/child aged 5 to 18
- Reduced-price packages for families
- Information and booking on chateaudurivau.com and 02 47 95 77 47
- 9 rue du château, Lémeré
- PRM-accessible (see site for conditions)
Château du Rivau - Adults
Just 10km from Chinon, Le Rivau offers an enchanted interlude in the heart of History, Art and Nature. Far from a visit to a château or traditional garden, Le Rivau takes you on an astonishing journey to the heart of extraordinary gardens...

Here, all the senses are awakened: 500 varieties of fragrant roses, an extraordinary kitchen garden whose vegetables can be enjoyed in the château's restaurant, monumental works of art in the gardens and in the château. There are also treasure hunts and costumes for children, a tearoom, a locavore restaurant, a gourmet restaurant, exhibitions and hammocks for adults. You'll find it hard to leave...

Since 2020, a Garden Escape Game has also been on offer.
Château du Rivau - Children from 5 to 18 years old
Just 10km from Chinon, Le Rivau offers an enchanted interlude in the heart of History, Art and Nature. Far from a visit to a château or traditional garden, Le Rivau takes you on an astonishing journey to the heart of extraordinary gardens...

Here, all the senses are awakened: 500 varieties of fragrant roses, an extraordinary kitchen garden whose vegetables can be enjoyed in the château's restaurant, monumental works of art in the gardens and in the château. There are also treasure hunts and costumes for children, a tearoom, a locavore restaurant, a gourmet restaurant, exhibitions and hammocks for adults. You'll find it hard to leave...

Since 2020, a Garden Escape Game has also been on offer.
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
From April 24 to November 3: "Le Festival International des Jardins".
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 -.
- Domaine Régional de Chaumont-sur-Loire in Chaumont-sur-Loire domaine-chaumont.fr - 02 54 20 99 22
Tourism & Handicap label: free admission on presentation of disability card.
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire + garden festival
The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which now covers 32 hectares, offers one of the most beautiful views of the royal river and is a belvedere on the wild Loire. It welcomes more than 385,000 visitors each year. It includes the Château (15th-19th century), its stables, its landscaped park and the International Garden Festival.

As a centre for the arts and nature, the estate also hosts installations by contemporary artists and exhibitions by major photographers. In season: the "Gardens of Light" invite you to a night walk to discover the gardens of the Festival; the Restaurant of the Domain welcomes you and offers you an inventive cuisine.
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
- May 25 and 26 "Caves ouvertes et marché de printemps" (Open cellars and spring market): guided tour of the château's cellars and farmers' market.
- Every Tuesday from June to the end of August "Les Valmerapéro": themed aperitifs on the Terrasses des Devants.
PRACTICAL INFO
- Château de Valmer in Chançay
- Web site : chateaudevalmer.com
- 02 47 52 93 12
Prébende garden
Walking in Tours
Walking in Tours
The city abounds in "green bubbles" in which to stroll. The Jardin des Prébendes, classified as a "Jardin Remarquable", boasts a design by Eugène Bühler, a landscape architect of European renown.
Enthusiasts will appreciate the bicentennial gingko in the Botanical Garden or the cedar of Lebanon in the garden of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, planted by Napoleon in 1804, both classified as "Remarkable Trees". More confidential and unexpected, the Viking Garden houses the remains of the Gallo-Roman wall erected in the 4th century, when Tours was still called Caesarodunum.
La Gloriette urban eco-leisure park
To the south of Tours, this park covers almost 200 hectares. Bordered by the Cher and Petit Cher rivers, and criss-crossed by the Loire à Vélo cycle route, this natural site is the ideal place to relax, discover the vegetable garden and 60 communal gardens, and enjoy a variety of activities: climate fresco, natural weaving, birdwatching, yoga...
PRACTICAL INFO
- Gardens and parks in the city of Tours at tours.fr
- Schedule of events on tours-metropole.fr
- Parc de la Gloriette: 61 avenue Pont Cher, Tours