Château de Chamerolles
Château de Chamerolles, built on the site of a fortress by Lancelot du Lac – not to be confused with the knight of the roundtable – has gardens based on archives from the 17th century, whose design was inspired by the proprietor’s visit to Italy.
Italian methods of perfume distillation inspired the choice of aromatic plants, particularly a lovely rose garden encircled by a trellised walkway. The potager has an assortment of fruit and nut trees, vegetables, and condiments, or herbs. Test your nose with a blind sniff test in the château’s large collection of perfume oils.
Château de Maintenon
The Château de Maintenon was inhabited by Louis XIV’s secret wife, Madame de Maintenon. This 16th and 17th century château has aqueducts optimistically constructed to supply Versailles with the water its extensive gardens and canals required.
The aqueducts were never completed, but visitors can still walk among parterres and flowerbeds designed by famed French gardener André Le Nôtre. A golf course is also on-site.
Popular, Not-so-Secret Gardens of the Loire Valley
Don’t forget about these gardens on the well-trod château circuit, most of which hold events throughout the growing season:
