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

Apr 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 25, 2025Porto, Portugal
Jan 31, 2025Plains zebras, South Africa
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Mar 28, 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
Apr 14, 2025Atlantic spotted dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
Jan 4, 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska, United States
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Dec 21, 2025Dawn light through frosty trees, Sweden
Nov 17, 2025Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Feb 10, 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain
Jun 22, 2025Amazon rainforest, Ecuador
Dec 22, 2023Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria, United Kingdom
May 14, 2025Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy
May 8, 2025Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United States
Jun 25, 2025St. Michaels Church Tower on Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, Somerset, England
Nov 9, 2025Lagoon Nebula, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope
Jan 9, 2026Muir Woods National Monument, California, United States
Feb 12, 2025Marine iguanas, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Sep 10, 2025Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England
Mar 27, 2024Tea plantation near Munnar, India
Aug 25, 2023Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Feb 4, 2025Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
Nov 4, 2024Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Jan 13, 2025Cottage and Tŵr Mawr lighthouse, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom
Jun 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana, USA
Feb 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Apr 16, 2024Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
Jun 16, 2025Sea turtle, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Dec 27, 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
Dec 28, 2025Black-and-white ruffed lemur