Gardens
and Castles
Indulging
your interest in plants and flowers is a fun way to discover off-the-beaten-path
places. Visiting parks, gardens and the beautiful castles or palaces they decorate
often reveals hidden treasures that regular tours may never uncover. Whether you
prefer formal French styles or more casual and intimate settings or even exotic
designs, France and Spain
have an abundance of horticultural delights... from Normandy to Andalusia.
The
following tours are suggested itineraries for private groups showing some of the
many possibilities. Tell us where and when you want to go. We will create a custom
program that fits your specific interests and requirements.
FRANCE
Glorious
Gardens of Normandy: An excellent way to discover this lush and verdant
province of northern France is to visit a few of its gardens - public or private,
French or English style, decorative or simply "potager" (vegetable garden).
This tour takes you from Paris to Rouen, Honfleur, Bayeux, and the ever-popular
Mont St.-Michel.
From
Paris to Normandy, from Formal to Natural: Experience the splendor of
traditional French gardens in Paris and the charm of more natural landscapes in
Normandy, including the famous Impressionist gardens of Claude Monet's Giverny.
Hidden
Gardens of Southern France: The regions of Provence and Languedoc are
blessed with mild and sunny Mediterranean weather. They are home to a wide variety
of plants and gardens "flourish" in this attractive corner of France.
The area also boasts some of the greatest historical sites: Carcassonne, Canal
du Midi, Nîmes, Arles, Pont de Gard and more.
Magnificent
Gardens and Castles in France: This tour matches Louis XIV's refinement
in classical design with Renaissance style in Touraine (the garden of France)
and the Loire Valley. Then, in the south of France, you can visit more informal
gardens around Provence and the French Riviera.
Royal
Residences around Paris: For a taste of French aristocratic life
in past centuries, tour France's heartland and enjoy the pomp, circumstance and
luxury of a few of its castles, large and small. Tour Versailles, Giverny, Compiègne,
Chantilly and enjoy the glamour of Paris.
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SPAIN
Pomp
and Circumstance of Royal Spain: The splendor of royal Spain is
at its best in Madrid and the surrounding area. Visit the Royal Palace in Madrid
and add day tours from the capital city to El Escorial, the summer palace of Aranjuez,
La Granja royal residence near Segovia and more.
Gardens
and the Iberian Heritage: - Madrid and nearby cities, plus Andalusia to
the south, are ideal locations for a garden tour of Spain. These millennial destinations
offer some of the most beautiful horticultural creations and combine them with
great art, spectacular architecture and a fascinating cultural heritage.
We
have personally visited all regions that are the most important for gardens and
castles in France and Spain. See pictures from our trips:
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