Delaware · Pennsylvania · the United States

Brandywine Valley

The mansions, factories and gardens of the du Pont family along the Brandywine River, between Wilmington, Delaware, and Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, including Longwood Gardens and the Wyeth museum.

Washington and the Mid-Atlantic

In the photo: Nemours’ lake and gardens, in the Brandywine Valley

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Brandywine River valley crosses northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, winding among hills, woods and farms, less than an hour from Philadelphia. In 1802 the French immigrant Éleuthère Irénée du Pont built a gunpowder mill on the riverbank that became the origin of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, and in the following decades the family erected mansions, collections and gardens that are now open to the public.

Around Wilmington are three of these estates: the Hagley Museum, on the site of the gunpowder mills; Nemours, Alfred I. du Pont’s French-inspired mansion with formal gardens; and Winterthur, Henry Francis du Pont’s country house turned museum of American decorative arts, set in an extensive garden within woodland.

On the Pennsylvania side, Kennett Square is a small town amid mushroom farms and serves as a base for Longwood Gardens, the garden created by Pierre S. du Pont, with greenhouses, fountains and a Christmas light display. In nearby Chadds Ford, the Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a former mill, brings together paintings by three generations of the Wyeth family.

The valley was also the site of the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, one of the largest battles of the American Revolution.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Wilmington, Kennett Square.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Brandywine Valley is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Brandywine Valley

✈ Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 35 km to Wilmington

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is about 35 km from Wilmington. Northeast Corridor trains stop in Wilmington. The properties are outside the city center, and a car is the most practical way to get around. Entry requirements to the country depend on nationality: confirm the requirements before traveling.

Suggested arrival point: Wilmington

Delaware · Brandywine Valley Suggested arrival point

Wilmington

The largest city in Delaware, at the confluence of the Christina and Brandywine rivers, between Philadelphia and Baltimore. It grew up around the mills and the du Pont family's chemical industry, whose nearby properties became museums: Hagley, on the site of the 1802 gunpowder works; the Nemours mansion, with French gardens; and Winterthur, with American decorative arts and a large garden.

Pensilvânia · Brandywine Valley

Kennett Square

A small town in southeastern Pennsylvania surrounded by farms, known as the mushroom capital of the United States, with its own festival in September. It’s the base for Longwood Gardens, a few kilometers away, and for Chadds Ford, where the Brandywine Museum of Art displays the Wyeth family’s paintings in a former riverside mill.

The local experience

Things to do in Brandywine Valley

Kennett Square · Pennsylvania · Botanical garden

Longwood Gardens

A large garden created by Pierre S. du Pont, with glass conservatories, flower gardens, fountains featuring water-and-light shows, and a Christmas lights display.

Wilmington · Delaware · Mansion and garden

Nemours Estate

The 77-room Alfred I. du Pont mansion, French-inspired, with formal French gardens, woodlands, and a vintage car garage.

Kennett Square · Pennsylvania · Art museum

Brandywine Museum of Art

A museum in a 19th-century mill on the bank of the Brandywine River, in Chadds Ford, with works by N. C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth and tours of the family's houses and studios.

Wilmington · Delaware · Open-air museum

Hagley Museum and Library

The place where the du Pont family began making gunpowder in 1802 on the banks of the Brandywine, with restored mills, demonstrations, and the family’s first house.

See 1 more place in Brandywine Valley

Wilmington · Delaware · Museum and garden

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

The country house of Henry Francis du Pont, with about 175 rooms of American decorative arts and a natural garden amid hills and woodlands.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to June the gardens are usually in bloom, and from September to October the leaves change color. Summers are hot and humid, good for enjoying Longwood’s fountains. From late November to early January, Longwood, Nemours and Winterthur feature Christmas decorations. Several properties close or reduce hours in winter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days for the properties around Wilmington and one day for Longwood Gardens and the Wyeth museum. With limited time, choose Longwood and one of the mansions.

Which city to stay in

Wilmington has hotels downtown and on the Riverfront, near the train station. Kennett Square and the Chadds Ford area have inns and smaller hotels among the farms. Many visitors stay in Philadelphia and make day trips.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Brandywine Valley

How many days should I reserve for the Brandywine Valley?

Two or three days let you see Longwood Gardens, one or two du Pont mansions and the Wyeth museum without rushing.

Do I need a car in the Brandywine Valley?

Yes. The properties are spread across the valley, away from downtown Wilmington, and public transport does not connect them all.

Can I visit Longwood Gardens from Philadelphia?

Yes, as a day trip by car of about one hour. Book timed-entry tickets in advance.

What is the best time to visit the Brandywine Valley?

Spring for the flowers, and autumn for the tree colors. At the end of the year, Longwood’s Christmas display draws many visitors.

Which du Pont property should I visit?

Nemours for formal gardens and a French-style mansion; Winterthur for American decorative arts and a natural-style garden; Hagley for the history of the gunpowder works. Longwood Gardens is the most comprehensive garden.

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Brandywine Valley

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.