Glorious Gardens of Normandy

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

Please note that 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, travel dates, type of hotels, etc.

To say that "Normandy is the land of a thousand-and-one gardens" is hardly an exaggeration, so many of them are peppered 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).

The itinerary first takes you to the Giverny gardens where Claude Monet, the famous Impressionist painter, lived and worked most of his life. You can then marvel at a cornucopia of different styles: 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; Palais Bénédictine where B&B liqueur is made; 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 UNESCO World Heritage Site, 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: Rouen with its Place du Vieux Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431, an ornate castle in Balleroy, owned by the family of Malcolm Forbes (the billionaire American publisher), and the house, museum and gardens where world-famous designer Christian Dior lived in Granville.

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 on this tour route: Caen, WWII Normandy Beaches, etc. Let us know where and when you want to go. We will create a custom program that fits your interests and requirements.

  

Places on this tour route we have personally visited: Giverny, Evreux, Rouen, Le Havre, Honfleur, Deauville, Bayeux, Château de Brécy, Le Mont St. Michel, almost all the gardens mentioned on the tour and several others not listed. See pictures from our trips:

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