France offers many gardens to visit. Whether it is a French garden (geometrical, trimmed, organized, symmetrical, the natural aspect disappears…) or an English garden (imitation of nature, wild side, irregular shapes…) the visitor is invited to stroll and contemplate this space of nature so well maintained. I have put together a list of the 6 most beautiful gardens in France.
The estate is located in Versailles in the Yvelines, near Paris. It is the famous gardener André Le Nôtre who designed the gardens with finesse and delicacy. The creation of the gardens was a gigantic work, and even today, the visitor discovers with charm the flowerbeds, the basins, the fountains, the Orangery… The park extends on approximately 815 hectares and includes also the small and the large trianon, the large and the small channel. I visited this park in May 2018, and it was an exceptional moment for me.
On the Cap Ferrat peninsula, discover with your family the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a real palace on the French Riviera!
It’s a sumptuous residence of Italian Renaissance style, and its 9 superb gardens to be crossed along flowered and romantic alleys. This Villa is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, overlooking the bays of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Villefranche. There are 9 gardens decorated with shrubs, fountains, flowerbeds that make this place a remarkable and unique site! Exoticism, magic, beauty, luxury… everything is mixed to make this villa luxurious, famous with a breathtaking view on the Mediterranean Sea! It is a site not to be missed if you are in Nice.
This incredible domain is located in the department of Indre-et Loire in the commune of Villandry. It is famous for having 6 gardens. I could see that this site is full of history and aestheticism, serenity and dynamism! ! You will be able to admire a splendid decorative vegetable garden meticulously maintained, a water garden decorated with lime trees, then discover the “sun garden” created in 2008, then the ornamental garden with then a labyrinth which will know how to fill with wonder young and old! I highly recommend it, you will be amazed!
This is the most visited garden in the Périgord region and overlooks the entire Dordogne Valley. It’s worth visiting for the spectacular panoramic views of Périgord.
The paths form three circuits that lead to the belvedere, a fabulous balcony over 400ft above the river. The boxwoods are a major part of the garden and date back to the 19th century.
You won’t find the symmetry present in many of the other gardens we’ve mentioned, but you’ll appreciate the rolling and flowing movement of the almost surrealist sculpted shapes. These contribute to the harmony of the hilly setting of the Dordogne Valley.
When artist Claude Monet caught his first glimpse of the village of Giverny from the window of his train in 1883, it was love at first sight. It was to become his home and an inspiration for some of his most famous masterpieces. Just over an hour from Paris, Monet’s garden is stunning from April through October. Starting in the spring, the flowers come into bloom one after the other, a process of ever-changing color. The high season is typically May through June, and summer is a great time to see the garden in full bloom, especially the water lilies. The months of September and October bring with them a spectacular display of fall colors. Enjoy walking through the flower gardens (originally landscaped by Monet himself), and gaze at the water lily pond and the rest of the garden in all its glory from the iconic Japanese bridge.
With its 21 hectares and in an English style landscape, the estate offers a breathtaking view of the wild Loire. This domain is classified as a historical monument. The park has been awarded the “Remarkable Garden” label. The Domain invites the most highly acclaimed artists from around the world who explore and bring out the unique link between art and nature for the enjoyment of its visitors.
What’s more, each year, the Domain organises a prestigious International Garden Festival for its visitors, a laboratory and observatory for the gardens of tomorrow, inventing new ways of seeing and experiencing gardens.
Don’t hesitate to contact our team for more informations.
I hope you will enjoy this post and that it will give you the desire to discover these gardens.
If you enjoyed this post The 6 most beautiful gardens in France, you can check 10 castles you must see when you travel through Europe.
