Custom Tours in France, Spain and Portugal

Glorious Gardens of Normandy

Charming landscapes and formal designs, from Giverny to Mont Saint-Michel

To say that "Normandy is the land of a thousand-and-one gardens" is no exaggeration. So many of them are peppered all around the countryside. An excellent way to discover this lush and verdant province of northern France is to visit a few of those artistic and colorful creations - public or private, French or English style, decorative or simply "potager" (vegetable garden).

From Paris, a logical first stop will take you to the Giverny gardens where Claude Monet, the famous Impressionist painter, lived and worked most of his life. Then, you can marvel at a cornucopia of different styles all around the region:

The 17th century Château du Champ de Bataille and its formal gardens, for example, gives you the illusion of Versailles. In contrast to the geometry of these French-style gardens, the Harcourt Castle, surrounded by a magnificent park and arboretum, takes you back to medieval times. For a more informal look, the theme gardens of Clos du Coudray, Pays d'Auge and Castillon-Plantbessin (just to name a few) offer a rustic and intimate décor - great settings for total peace and relaxation. Such variety of designs in a region with the most favorable climate! Be ready to discover the horticultural art at its very best.

The gardens are wonderful, but there is more heritage and culture to discover: the Gothic cathedral of Rouen with an unusual laser and light show in the summer time; the Palais Bénédictine where B&B liqueur is made; the Musée Malraux in Le Havre, with a fine collection of Impressionist paintings; the incomparable Bayeux tapestry (230 feet long) recounting the battle of Hastings and the invasion of England in 1006 by William the Conqueror; and World Heritage Site, and le Mont Saint-Michel with its medieval abbey, fortified ramparts and half-timbered houses.

Add a few more places with recognizable names for good measure: Joan of Arc and the Place du Vieux Marché (in Rouen) where she was burned at the stake in 1431, Malcolm Forbes (the billionaire American publisher) and his ornate castle in Balleroy, and Christian Dior's house, museum and gardens in Granville, near the Mt St Michel.

The Giverny gardens were the inspiration for some of the greatest art in modern times and Normandy is pure heaven for flower and nature lovers - to say nothing of the local French cuisine and the cheeses (Camembert, Livarot, Pont-L'Evêque and Neufchâtel). You will leave this little corner of the Garden of Eden with a strong desire to come back on another tour and explore more of it.

There are many more possibilities: Caen, WWII Normandy Beaches, etc.

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Please tell us where and when you want to travel and we will create a custom tour that fits your specific interests, schedule and budget.

Your tailor-made package will include ground transportation, guided tours and hotel rooms.

The price of your program will depend on your needs (scheduled group tours, private guides...) and the number of participants in your group, the length of the trip, the category of hotels, the number of places visited, the time of year, etc.

We will do all the bookings and pay each individual provider on your behalf. In other words, you go and have fun and we'll take care of the details for you.

Château de Brécy

Clos du Coudray

Giverny

Beaumesnil

Gardens of Spain
Gardens of Normandy
Mediterranean Gardens
Royal Palaces - Madrid
Royal Castles - Paris
Gardens of France

Paris Parks & Gardens
A travel article
by Pierre Mainguené