France is not only famous for its ancient architecture, exquisite cuisine and rich culture, but also owns famous gardens in france, where art and nature blend together. These public gardens, from medieval castles, baroque palaces to historical museums, are not only landscape highlights but also ideal places for visitors to explore and relax. Each garden has its own story, showing the sophistication in design and the solemnity of French history.
Let’s join tree02.com on a journey through the most beautiful gardens of France – a tour that you cannot miss! We believe that the images and descriptions below will make you more eager to explore and admire these lush masterpieces.
15 famous gardens in france
Jardins des Plantes, Central Paris
If you want to escape the city without leaving the city, we recommend visiting the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.
Located on the left bank of the Seine in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, the main botanical garden in France is part of the National History Museum and covers an area of 28 hectares.
Plant enthusiasts will enjoy the extensive collection of plants carefully grown in a variety of climates in the different microclimates of the garden.
Nature lovers will enjoy immersing themselves among the trees and flowers, while children will surely love the mini zoo.
Take a day and visit this fascinating museum while you are there. It is truly one of the loveliest gardens to visit in Paris.
The Gardens of Versailles at the Palace
The Gardens of Versailles probably need no introduction. Designed by André le Nôtre, widely regarded as France’s greatest landscape architect, in the 17th century, the gardens cover 800 hectares, including 300 hectares of woodland as well as the ‘Grand Trianon’ and ‘Petit Trianon’ palaces.
This is French formal gardening at its finest. After admiring the manicured topiaries and some of the garden’s 600 fountains, stroll along the Grand Canal and head to the Hameau de la Reine (Queen’s Village).
The village was built as a retreat for Marie Antoinette in 1783, and its original rustic buildings still stand today, including the Queen’s house, her bedroom, mill, dovecote and guardhouse. Each building has its own garden or orchard that visitors can wander through. The village feels more like it is deep in the countryside than within the confines of Versailles, which is exactly what Marie Antoinette wanted.
Since the gardens and park are so vast, you might consider renting a tram or buying a ticket for the small hop-on-hop-off train that stops at various points in the park.
Tip: On weekends from April to October, you can enjoy the Fountain Show and the Musical Garden, and on Saturday nights, you can buy tickets for the stunning Night Fountain Show, a spectacular and unique event not to be missed!
Vaux le Vicomte
Another masterpiece by the famous architect André le Nôtre, the gardens of the Vaux-le-Vicomte château are a perfect example of the Jardin à la française, a formal garden aesthetic that spread across Europe in the 17th century.
Nicolas Fouquet, the French finance minister in the early years of Louis XIV’s reign, gave full creative control to le Nôtre, who sculpted the 40-hectare garden and created a stunning backdrop for the château.
The strong lines and majesty of the garden’s design, the changing landscapes, the hidden charm and the symphony of fountains combine to create a majestic picture.
The château has suggested routes to explore the gardens so you don’t miss a thing, and there’s even a treasure hunt for kids – a trip the whole family can enjoy!
Tip: If you’re looking for romance, head to Vaux-le-Vicomte at night from May 6th to October 7th to enjoy the candlelit gardens and fireworks display at the end!
Saint Jean de Beauregard
Another 17th-century treasure and just 30 minutes south of Paris, this stunning architectural complex retains all the charm and elegance of the era. In fact, it is one of the few remaining château kitchen gardens. In these gardens, you’ll find rare vegetables grown alongside rare and forgotten flowers, creating a harmony of beauty, practicality and perhaps a touch of nostalgia.
Behind the château, the remarkable vegetable garden stretches over two hectares. The garden was originally created in the 17th century and was restored by the current owners in 1984, thanks to the discovery of the original garden blueprints in the castle archives. Among the paths branching off from the central pond, you will find the impressive greenhouse, fruit cellar and grape room. This particular garden is the perfect destination for garden lovers to add to their itinerary.
The castle hosts a few interesting festivals. If you are visiting France in the spring, try the Festival of Perennial Plants (Fête des Plantes Vivaces) and if you are around in the fall, check out the Festival of Forgotten Fruits and Vegetables (Fête des Fruits et Légumes Oubliés).
Bois de Boulogne, West of Paris
In the west of Paris, the Bois de Boulogne was once used as a royal hunting ground. Today, it is a public park with nature trails, a boating lake and a botanical garden. It is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the natural surroundings on a sunny day. If you are looking for romance, renting a boat on the lake can be a great option for couples when the weather is nice, followed by a romantic picnic on the lawn.
Monet’s Garden in Giverny
When artist Claude Monet first saw the village of Giverny from his train window in 1883, it was love at first sight. It became his hometown and the inspiration for some of his most famous masterpieces.
Just over an hour from Paris, Monet’s gardens are stunning from April to October. Starting in spring, the flowers bloom continuously, a process of ever-changing colors.
The peak season is usually from May to June, and summer is a great time to see the gardens in full bloom, especially the water lilies. September and October bring a spectacular display of autumn colors.
Enjoy a walk through the flower beds (originally designed by Monet himself) and view the water lily pond and the entire garden from the iconic Japanese bridge.
Villandry Gardens
The gardens at Villandry offer a unique insight into Renaissance architecture and gardens. The Château de Villandry, located at the heart of these terraced gardens, was the last great Renaissance château built on the banks of the Loire River.
The château’s gardens stretch over three levels; including a vegetable garden, a checkerboard-style flower and vegetable garden, a water garden and a landscape garden.
The ornamental garden is a true picture of symmetry and perfection, with musical symbols, hearts, spirals and butterflies sculpted into the landscape. You can also enjoy finding your way around the maze on the second terrace!
The garden is constantly renovated and replanted, so there is always something new to see from season to season. This makes the garden at Villandry one of the most beautiful gardens in France to visit again and again.
Valmer Garden
The pride and joy of the Chateau de Valmer has to be its gardens and wine. Here you can visit some of the Italian Renaissance-style hanging gardens, landscaped terraces with flower beds, box hedges, vegetable gardens, Florentine fountains, statues and moats.
There’s also a vast 17th-century park to explore and a rare troglodytic chapel dating from 1524. What makes a visit to Chateau de Valmer really special are the culinary workshops, so you can combine a tour of the gardens with a delicious food and wine experience afterwards.
The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac
This is the most visited garden in the Périgord region and overlooks the entire Dordogne Valley. If for no other reason, it is worth a visit for the breathtaking panoramic views of the Périgord.
The paths form three circles leading to the belvedere, a stunning balcony 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 found in many of the other gardens we’ve mentioned, but you will appreciate the almost surreal, flowing movement of the sculptural forms. They add to the harmony of the hilly backdrop of the Dordogne Valley.
Tip: We recommend visiting on a candlelit evening. This brings a truly magical touch to one of France’s most beautiful gardens.
Château de Chambord
The newly restored French garden at Château de Chambord opened in March 2017. This exciting garden project is based on the original drawings of the garden from centuries ago and is the result of years of architectural and archaeological research.
The garden covers 6.5 hectares to the north of the château and includes over 600 trees, 800 shrubs, 200 rose bushes and 15,250 plants along the garden border.
This is the largest garden project of its kind in 20 years and we always recommend Château de Chambord as a stopover for all visitors to the Loire Valley.
Château de Chenonceau
Seventy hectares of gardens and woodland surround this 16th-century château. This is another stopover we recommend for visitors driving through the Loire Valley. Although the château is one of France’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming around 800,000 visitors a year, it is worth stopping by to see the rose gardens and French gardens, which are world-famous.
Château Chenonceau is also famous for its floral arrangements, and has four full-time florists. They create stunning floral arrangements using fresh flowers all year round. You will find the best floral arrangements here at Christmas.
Eyrignac Manor
Located eight miles north of Sarlat, Eyrignac Manor has been owned by the same family for 500 years and boasts seven distinct gardens.
The French Garden, with its typically French-style flower beds; the White Garden, with its beautiful fountains and white climbing roses and terracotta roses; the Spring Garden and Wildflower Meadow; the Chinese Pagoda, a tribute to the 18th-century heyday of the French East India and China Company, which brought the “Chinoiserie” style to France; the gardens of the Artaban Estate; the Kitchen Garden and Flower Garden; and the Green Area, with its beautifully carved yews, boxwoods, hornbeams and cypresses, for which Eyrignac is most famous.
Guided tours of the gardens offer insight into each garden, and a restaurant serves lunches made with local produce. This is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the Dordogne.
Jardin Botanique d’Èze
The exotic botanical garden in Èze on the French Riviera is about half an hour’s drive from Nice. After World War II, the Èze gardens were founded by André Gianton and Jean Gastaud from the Monaco Exotic Botanical Garden (just a 10-minute drive along the coast from Èze).
This garden stretches across the hills of the French Riviera, 400 metres above sea level, with stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean coast. The garden is famous for its cacti and succulents, and is definitely worth a stop if you’re driving between Nice and Monaco.
Rothschild’s Villa Ephrussi
Our favourite garden on the French Riviera is at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, which we highly recommend. This villa was built by banker Maurice de Ephrussi for his wife, Béatrice de Rothschild, in the early 20th century.
This beautiful pale pink and white villa is filled with antiques, tapestries, paintings and sculptures that she collected during her travels around the world.
For the stunning gardens, there are nine themed gardens around the villa, including French, Florentine and Japanese gardens. As you explore, you may feel like you are crossing the border from one country and culture to another.
You can enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea from the villa, and the trees in the garden provide shade and respite from the summer heat.
The Floating Gardens of Amiens
The hortillonnages, or floating gardens of Amiens, are why Amiens is sometimes called the ‘Venice of the North’.
Part of the River Somme and its tributaries, the hortillonnages date back nearly 1,000 years. They span some 740 acres of wetlands and are only accessible by boat. Today, many locals still use the area for gardening, wildlife watching and fishing.
If you are visiting the Somme region, Amien is a great place to stay, and if you like gardens, we highly recommend taking a walk or boat trip through the floating gardens. The waterways meander around some stunning houses and gardens, and you can also spot local wildlife. It is also a great way to learn more about the history of the hortillonnages.
Conclusion
At the end of the journey to explore the 15 most famous gardens in France, we can clearly feel the appeal of these magical natural spaces. Each garden not only reflects the rich history and culture of the country but is also a place for people to immerse themselves in nature, find serenity and peace in life.
Whether you are a lover of garden design or simply want to experience a poetic scene, these gardens will surely leave an indelible mark. Plan and discover the endless beauty of French gardens on your next trip!
