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

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:

The Riviera of India
Night outside the museum
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Big rocks, big heads
Dec 20, 2023Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
Eyes on the skies
A time-worn medieval marvel
Sep 25, 2024Giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Jan 10, 2024Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece
Sep 8, 2024International Literacy Day
May 13, 2024Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Jan 25, 2026Burns Night in Scotland
Oct 1, 2025Maha Navami
Aug 31, 2025Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska, United States
Mar 26, 2024Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Apr 20, 2024Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Oct 12, 2024Mysore Dasara
Combine wind and water, and you’ll get...
Aug 4, 2024Friendship Day
Oct 24, 2025Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, United States
May 2, 2024Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA
Apr 6, 2025Dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
A view that’s out of this world
Whats so funny?
Sep 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Feb 15, 2026Celebrating Maha Shivaratri
Aug 7, 2025Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra
May 21, 2024International Tea Day