For my curvy entry this week I am taking you to the formal gardens at the Château de Villandry in France's Loire valley. Formal gardens generally, for me anyway, conjure up visions of straight lines, but in Villandry you can see that they can also contain plenty of curves too.
Everywhere you can see individual features like this curvy piece of topiary.
There are small curvy features everywhere - this is from the side of a rosy bower, itself curvy.
They serve to soften what could otherwise be fairly severe lines.
Below lavender emphasises the curvy shapes within the straight outer hedges. It was mid-June but the lavender was only just coming into flower.
The full effect of the design is probably best seen from above. Beautiful, clean lines can still be curvy.
Villandry does have its own official site but if I'm perfectly honest, it's not anything like the standard I would expect to represent a World heritage site. France for the most part really hasn't yet caught up with the internet.
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40 comments:
Wow,.. those are all amazing photos. Great choice for this weeks theme. Loved them all. Have a good weekend.
wow lovely shots
I watched this show recently on TV5 (a French TV) and they showed those gardens!
wow that is an amazing formal garden. I will have to visit one day fir certain. Happy weekend
WOW!! Those hedges are beautiful!!
great
These are beautiful images. I love visiting formal gardens. sara from farmingfriends
wow, That is a beautiful garden!!
wow, that last one is amazing!! awesome photos for this weeks theme. have a great Saturday.
Ahh now there's some lovely curves you photographed!
Eeeps! That's a lot of curves!
The Rocky Mountain Retreat
Thanks for the curvy tour of France. . . loved yoru entries! Come see mine.
that place is just so amazing!
I didn't realize those gardens were so huge. My favorite spot would be the rosy bower. I can see somebody reading there a couple of hundred years ago!
whoooo, magnificent shots..love the last picture grassy curve..happy weekend!
mine is up and here also AniqueAnik
Oooo.... what a lovely garden and so huge! I could get lost in that maze.
The Villandry reminds me of a Harry Potter scene, the one with Cedric, where they battle it out in a garden with a landscape like your pictures.
Just beautiful, A. What an art to create such marvelous parks landscapes! Just for the beauty of eyes and the pleasure to walk in. When you are in such places you only can lose the times notion!
Lovely photos of a beautiful garden! :) Amazing how they get the plants to grow in those curvy shapes. :)
Loads of beautiful curves at the château.
Happy Weekend.
Those are fascinating photos. Really spectacular gardens.
Those are fabulous shots of the formal gardens. I also tend to think of them as having sharp lines so it was very interesting to see all the curves. The topiary is very appealing to me. Have a great weekend.
Beautiful! I love formal gardens...
Mine is from Chicago - "the bean"
It's amazing how, when you start looking for curves, you see them everywhere. You're right, you think of straight lines with a formal garden, but there are a lot of beautiful curves there.
Thanks for the welcome!! I love your choices for the theme.
Oh wow! Wonderful photos! I love those gardens.I think I saw that place in a photography book about gardens. Thanks for sharing these,A.
Have a great weekend :)
Great photos -- especially the last two! :)
Great shots! Mine is up as well. Have a great week!
What gorgoeus topiaries! I would love to walk those gardens! Just beautiful! Great photos for this weeks theme! My photo is up, please come and visit
That's a whole study in beautiful curves. Great!
Am I in a fairy tale site? It's so beautiful. They sure know how to maintain the garden so well. Great shots.
all all the curves on the photos...there all gorgeous shots,
Mine is up at My Two Cents Worth and
The FOur Seasons Of My Life hope you can visit me too.
TC
Would you care to ex-link with me ?
wow its awesome. good choice!
Outstanding shots!! what a beautiful take on the theme :)
What great curvy pictures - so well captured. Great to see them close and then in the surroundings - thanks for sharing!
These are ALL so cool!! Great job for the week's category. Fantastic.
Thanks for the visit.
This is out of the world . Exciting and adventurous.
btw More curves yeah
just mail me LOL
What beautiful curves indeed - and thanks for the great idea for a day out in France!
that`s what i call i great park. very nice photos.
Thank you all for your comments! I can recommend Villandry for a visit if ever you are in the area. If you can make it off season and early in the morning, you should avoid the crowds.
The gardens are in fact quite a bit larger than you can see here. I didn't cover the decorative vegetable gardens at all because they are mainly very straight lines.
And then of course there is the château interior, beautiful too. Highly recommended:)
Amazing curves all of them, such a variety! Simply wonderful!!!
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