Gardens of Paris and Normandy

Formal elegance and charming scenery
from Versailles to Giverny

Experience the splendor of traditional French gardens in Paris and the charm of natural landscapes in verdant Normandy. Along the way, enjoy a world-class collection of roses, an idyllic country estate, the picture-perfect Giverny gardens where Claude Monet, the master Impressionist, spent most of his life, and more...

JUNE 2008 TOUR
(Actual program may vary)

Day 1 - Fri 6: Departure from the U.S.

Day 2 - Sat 7: Paris. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 3 - Sun 8: Paris - Vaux le Vicomte - Paris. Morning at leisure. Afternoon drive to the chateau of Vaux le Vicomte, a jewel of the classical period built for Fouquet, King Louis XIV's finance minister. Discover the first French-style gardens created by Le Notre (who also designed the gardens at Versailles), and the castle's sumptuous interior. After dusk, marvel at the fairy-tale scenery of some 2,000 candles lighting up the building and the gardens. Dinner on the grounds of the castle. Return to Paris.

Day 4 - Mon 9: Paris - Versailles - Paris. Morning drive to the palace of Versailles, where our visit includes the most charming parts of the magnificent royal gardens: the king's vegetable garden, Marie Antoinette's rustic hamlet and the large outdoor museum of 17th-century sculpture. Lunch in Versailles before returning to Paris. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Suggestions: a stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens, in front of the former Palace of Queen Marie de Medicis (today used by the French Senate), the Tuileries Gardens near the Louvre or the Botanical Gardens.

Day 5 - Tue 10: Paris - Bagatelle - Albert Kahn - Paris. Morning visit of two enchanting gardens located in the western part of Paris. First, the magnificent rose garden of Parc de Bagatelle with its splendid collection of over 9,000 rose bushes. Then the Jardins Albert Kahn, an artful combination of French, Japanese and English-style gardens. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Suggestions: the Gardens of the Rodin Museum, Parc Monceau or the rose garden of Val de Marne (5 miles south of Paris) with its 16,000 rose bushes.

Day 6 - Wed 11: Paris - Giverny - Dieppe. Off to Normandy this morning, with a stop in Giverny to visit the house and gardens of Claude Monet, the master of Impressionism. His inspiration was incessantly renewed by the garden surrounding the house and the famous water-lily pond. The grounds are meticulously kept as they were when Monet lived there. Then on to Rouen and the Normandy coast to visit the world-famous Parc du Bois des Moutiers created over a century ago. This park stretches down to the sea, displaying plants from all over the world. Overnight in Dieppe, where you will be treated to a dinner of local specialties.

Day 7 - Thu 12: Dieppe - Vernon. Today's visits start at the Parc Floral William Farcy which is dedicated to antique roses. This English-style park offers 21 theme gardens with over 2,500 varieties of plants. Then on to the Chateau de Miromesnil with its wonderful vegetable garden and a splendid plantation of beech trees sheltering the castle where the writer Guy de Maupassant was born. Finally, visit the Chateau de Vandrimare (near Rouen) with its First Empire park and a display of over 2,000 species in a succession of gardens designed to awake the five senses. Overnight in Vernon.

Day 8 - Fri 13: Vernon - Paris. Morning drive along the picturesque Route des Crêtes dominating the Seine Valley between La Roche-Guyon and Vetheuil (near Mantes), an inexhaustible source of inspiration for generations of artists. Arrival in Paris with the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 9 - Sat 14: Paris. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Included

• Transfers on arrival and departure
• 9 days/7 nights in midrange hotels
• 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
• Transportation by deluxe motor coach
• English speaking escort/guide (days 3 to 8)
• Entrance fees to specified visits
• Local taxes and fees

Not Included

• Transportation to and from Paris
• Drinks with scheduled meals
• Guides and driver gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Health and travel insurance
• Other items not specifically listed under "Included"

Price

$2,150 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement $950
May be adjusted for exchange rate or other unforseen situations.
Special pricing and other departure dates available for groups.

  

Places on this tour route we have personally visited: Vaux le Vicomte, Versailles, Paris and Normandy, and most of the gardens mentioned on the tour and several others not listed. See pictures from our trips:

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