Notes on Kite Aerial Photography: Photo Gallery
The
Chateau of Villandry is known for its extensive, exquisite parterres --
geometric gardens occupying flat ground. These fine designs in the style of the
17th Century were
restored in the early 1900s using
plans left by the architect DuCerceau. (Canon 24-mm, July 2000)
Another daytrip KAP expedition staged from Chinon was a visit to the
Chateau of Villandry. Here I acquired permission to fly the kite from a somewhat
dubious and entirely gracious director only to have the wind, or lack thereof,
taunt me without mercy. As the distinguished director looked on, and my
companion Rachel Strickland shot video, I ran around the upper water garden
trying to get the kite aloft. The scene was reminiscent of Woody Allen
flapping his wings as he tried to fly in the film Sleeper. My
difficulties were exacerbated by the wooded ridgeline visible in the images
below and its associated leeward zone. Things finally worked (barely) when I
relocated to a field further downwind.
View of the Villandry gardens from the southwest corner of the site. The
maze is visible in the left image as is the large basin of the water garden on
the right (Canon
24-mm, July 2000)
The Chateau of Villandry, built on the left bank of the Cher river, is the
last of the Renaissance Châteaux in the Loire Valley. It dates back to around
1532 and was originally built by Jean le Breton (François I's Secretary of
State) on the former site of a fortress from the 12th century. The site is
organized around the flow of water which begins in a large basin toward the rear
of the grounds. The basin feeds a short canal which flows through the three
levels of the garden and is broken by bridges and small waterfalls. The canal
then feeds a moat that protects the three buildings that surround the main
courtyard. The classical style outbuildings were built around 1754 by the
chateau's new owner the Marquis de Castellane, ambassador to the King.
These views of Villandry as seen from the
front are from a quick roll I took flying from an adjacent farm field. A small
two-lane highway runs along the chateau's perimeter and sepataes the field from
the formal grounds. These images feature the canal and the moat and one can just
get a sense of the terracing that defines the upper levels of the garden. The
colors in this scan are a bit off. I scanned directly from the negatives and
could not get the settings quite right. (Canon 24-mm, July 2000)
Dr. Carvallo, the chateau's last owner, began restoring the gardens
in 1906 following a style dating to the 16th century. His grandson continues the
work today. The
common garden -- in the Middle Ages consecrated to aromatic plants, medicinal
plants, and spices -- contains thirty or so varieties of plants. The decorative
kitchen garden, its squares bordered by a cordon of fruit trees, is planted in
vegetables of colors harmoniously chosen to evoke the monastic spirit of the
Middle Ages and the esthetic of Italy in the 16th century, with its fountains,
tunnels and flowery patches.
A view from the rear of Villandry's gardens showing its border with the
neighboring village and a plan view of the same condition at the hedge maze. (Canon 24-mm, July 2000)
My kite flying site in the rear of the gardens featured one main handicap. It was surrounded by carefully trimed trees in double rows. The canopies of these colonnades prevented my leaving the small quadrangle and thus I could not shoot close details of the geometrical garden. Drat. By the end of my flight the kite was pulling hard and there was substantial work involved in pulling it down (figures). Still, I am pleased to have gotten some shots here and would like to return at some point to shoot the gardens from close range.
The village adjacent to the chateau (Canon 24-mm, July 2000)
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All rights reserved. Revised: Friday, November 09, 2001
URL: http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/gallery/gal180.html
