Gardens
and Castles of France
Versailles,
Loire Valley, Provence and the Riviera
There
is no better place to start a garden tour of France than the two Louis XIV chateaus
where famous 17th-century formal gardens were at their best during the Sun King's
reign: the grandiose palace of Versailles
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the smaller but equally impressive castle of
Vaux-le-Vicomte. Both were designed by André le Nôtre,
the king's famous landscape architect and are textbook examples of formal French-style
garden design.
Matching
Louis XIV's refinement in classical garden design might seem like a difficult
task. Well, not really! For example, an easy drive south of Paris, the Loire
Valley (another UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Touraine region
(known as "the garden of France"), offer a cornucopia of well-preserved
and beautifully decorated Renaissance castles with a variety of exquisite gardens:
Chambord, Blois, Chenonceau and Chaumont, among others. From mid-May
through mid-October you can attend the world-famous International Garden Festival
at the Château de Chaumont. And, not to be missed in this area are the famous
Renaissance gardens at the Château de Villandry (classified as "monument
historique"), which include an attractive water garden, several ornamental
flower gardens, and beautifully laid out vegetable gardens.
On
to Provence via Bourges (with its UNESCO World Heritage Gothic cathedral),
Lyon
and Avignon.
In Provence and the French Riviera, plants thrive in the mild Mediterranean climate
and geometrical designs give way to more natural settings. In Antibes,
tour the experimental gardens of Villa Thuret where the National Institute of
Agriculture conducts research on "plants of the future." Explore the
botanical paradise of Menton, located next to the border with Italy: the
Clos du Peyronnet known by plant collectors all over the world, the Jardin de
Colombier, which takes you from Antiquity to the Renaissance, and the Val Rahmeh
Gardens created in the 1930s by impassioned English botanists. In Monte Carlo
you will be impressed by the Exotic Garden, the Japanese Garden and the flower
arrangements around the famous casino. Back in Nice,
tour the scenic peninsula of St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the elegant domain
of Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, the "Villa de France" surrounded
by a series of stylized gardens.
Whether in formal gardens at Villandry
or with more natural surroundings on the French Riviera, "elegance"
and "beauty" are words that come to mind when looking for the essence
of this sweeping itinerary through France. This tour itinerary is a paradise for
plant and garden lovers from Versailles to Provence!
There
are many possibilities on this tour route. Let us know where and when you want
to go. With the help of expert local providers,
we
will create a custom program that fits the requirements
of your group.
Please
note. This is a "suggested" private group itinerary, which can be
changed to suit your interests. The tour price will depend on the number of participants,
dates, type of hotels and other variables.
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