Just what sort of gardens are you looking for? All of France is virtually a garden, the country being the largest agricultural state in all of Europe. The greatest public gardens are in the north near Paris, Versailles
, Villandry
, Giverny
, etc.
There are lots of gardens in Southern France but most of them are private and attached to houses or religious orders. Visiting open air markets will let you see the bounty of those gardens. Perhaps you could make friends with the farmers and ask for a visit?
Here are a few gardens that Ms. Jones (above) has listed on her site that are open to the public. Be sure to call ahead:
ROSERAIE DE BERTY - 07110 Largentière.
Visits by appointment only and only in June.
Tel : 04 75 88 30 56 - Fax : 04 75 88 36 93
Owners : Eléonore Cruse and Christian Biette.
A wonderful collection of old roses in a wild mountain setting just north of Provence.
Described in Louisa Jones’ new book The French Country Garden (September, 2000).
BAMBOUSERAIE DE PRAFRANCE - Anduze.
Northwest of Nîmes : a major and beautiful collection of bamboos.
Tel : 04 66 61 70 47 - FAX 04 66 61 64 15
Director : Yves Crouzet.
CHATEAU DE SAINT PRIVAT - 30210 Pont du Gard.
Near the famous Roman aqueduct.
FOR GROUP VISITS ONLY.
Owner : Mme Bernadette Fenwick
Tel : 04 66 37 38 00
ABBAYE ST ANDRE - 30400 Villeneuve-lez-Avignon
Tel : 04 90 25 55 95
A wonderful terraced garden built around the ruins of a medieval abbey, splendid views of Avignon. Groups may also visit the house by appointment.
HARMAS DE HENRI FABRE - 84830 Sérignan du Comtat
Tel : 04 90 70 00 44
The beautiful country home and garden of famous nineteenth century naturalist Henri Fabre. All plants are labeled. Near Orange.
HERB GARDEN - La Mairie - 26700 La Garde Adhémar
Contact : Mme Danielle Arcucci
Tel : 04 75 04 41 09
Formal herb garden near a medieval chapel in a beautiful village.
JARDINS DES LAVANDES - Cathie Couttolenc, 84390 Sault
Tel & Fax : 04 90 64 14 97
And Tel : 04 90 64 10 74. e-mail : JARDLAVAND@aol.com
Gardens and nursery specializing in dozens of lavender cultivars.
JARDIN BOTANIQUE DES CORDELIERS - Collège Maria Borrelly, Place des Cordeliers, 04000 Digne-les-Bains
Tel : 04 92 31 59 59
A botanic garden, by appointment only. See also the Geological museum at Dignes with its outdoor sculptures, some by Goldsworthy.
MAS DE LA BRUNE - 13810 Eygalières.
Tel : 04 90 90 67 67 - Fax : 04 90 95 99 21
Owners : Marie et Alain de Larouzière.
Alchemy Gardens and Botanic Gardens of Magic Plants designed by Arnaud Maurières and Eric Ossart, two of France’s most original young designers.
DOMAINE D’ALBERTAS - 13320 Bouc Bel Air
Tel : 04 42 22 29 77
Elegant eighteenth century gardens. Good sculpture. Plant fair in June. South of Aix-en-Provence.
PRIEURE DE SALAGON - 04300 Mane
Tel : 04 92 75 70 50 - Fax : 04 92 75 70 51
A medieval priory and center for ethnobotanical research, belonging to the General Council of the Alps of Haute-Provence, with four very different gardens, inspired by Medieval and contemporary design. In the lower Alps, about an hour northeast of Avignon.
CHATEAU VAL JOANIS - 84120 Pertuis
Tél : 04 90 79 20 77 - Fax : 04 90 09 69 52
e-mail : val-joanis@luberon.com
Website : www.val-joanis.luberon.com
Wonderful terraced kitchen gardens with many interesting plants, sale of wine and olive oil.
LA FERME DE GERBAUD - Guy et Paula Chauvin, Campagne Gerbaud - 84160 Lourmarin
Tel : 04 90 68 11 83 - Fax : 04 90 68 37 12
Website : www.lourmarin.com under “society-artisan”.
Not so much a garden as an herb farm for information on aromatics and all their uses and lovely country walks.
JARDIN BOTANIQUE D’ELIE ALEXIS - 83136 La Roquebroussane.
Contact : Nicole Manéra
Tel : 04 94 86 83 20 at meal times.
A botanic and wild flower garden created over decades by a visionary shepherd, now in the process of restoration.
PARC DU MOULIN BLANC - 83640 Saint Zacharie
Contact : M et Mme Laurent de SAPORTA
Tel : 04 42 62 71 30 - Fax : 04 42 72 76 92
e-mail : saporta@caramail.com By appointment. Nineteenth century arboretum.
VILLA NOAILLES - Montée de Noailles - 83400 Hyères
Tel : 04 94 65 01 47
A terraced garden overlooking the old town and sea, east of Toulon. Rare plant collections and famous contemporary architecture. Remnants of 1920’s gardens belonging to Edith Wharton and the Countes de Noaille, lovingly restored and renewed with good plants.
DOMAINE DU RAYOL - Avenue des Belges - 83820 Le Rayol-Canadel
Tel : 04 94 05 32 50 - Fax : 04 94 05 32 51
Historic collector’s garden renewed by designer Gilles Clément. West of Saint-Tropez. Described in Louisa Jones’ new book The French Country Garden.
LA POMME D’AMBRE - Madame Nicole Arboireau - Via Aurélia, La Tour de Mare, 83600 Fréjus
Tel : 04 94 53 25 47 - Fax : 04 94 52 95 50
A family garden open FOR GROUPS ONLY, by appointment, created by a very knowledgeable owner. West of Nice. Described in Louisa Jones’ new book The French Country Garden.
CHATEAU DE LA NAPOULE - Mandelieu, La Napoule
Fondation Henry Clews
Tel : 04 93 49 95 05 - Fax : 04 92 97 62 71
Gardens created as of 1919 by two American sculptors. Near Cannes.
BONSAI ARBORETUM - 84850 Camaret - Chemin du Val de Pôe, 06410 Biot
Tel : 04 93 65 63 99 - Fax 04 93 65 10 78 99
Right next door to the Fernand Léger museum.
JARDIN BOTANIQUE DE LA VILLE DE NICE - 78, Corniche Fleurie 06200 Nice
Tel : 04 93 71 07 44 - Fax : 04 93 71 81 82
e-mail : bota.jbvn@nice-coteazur.org
One of the most enterprising botanic gardens on the Riviera
Website http://www.nice-coteazur.org/americain/tourisme/jardin/botanique
MAISON DE RENOIR - Avenue des Collettes, 06800 Cagnes
Tel : 04 93 20 61 07 - Fax : 04 93 73 09 20
Home where the painter spend the last years of his life, with wonderful olive trees, a lemon and rose garden. Near Nice.
MUSEE EPHRUSSI DE ROTHSCHILD - Villa Ile de France, Avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild - 06290 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Tel : 04 93 01 33 09 - Fax : 04 93 01 31 10
Fabulous Belle epoque garden with museum of painting and furniture, near Nice.
VAL RAHMEH - Avenue Saint Jacques, 06500 Menton
Tel : 04 93 35 86 72
Botanical gardens, colorful and exotic with important collections of solanums, citrus.
SERRE DE LA MADONE - 74 Route du Val de Gorbio - 06500 Menton
Tel/Fax : 04 93 57 73 90
The 1920’s Riviera winter garden of Lawrence Johnston, creator of Hidcote in England. One of Europe’s great gardens now being restored.
CLOS DU PEYRONNET - Avenue Aristide Briand, 06500 Menton
Tel : 04 93 35 72 15 - Fax : 04 93 35 72 25
William Waterfield. By appointment only. Beautiful, third generation English garden with rare collections of exotics.
GIARDINO BOTANICO HANBURY - La Mortola, 18030 Latte, Italy
Tel : (39) 184 229852 - Fax : (39) 184 38220
The greatest of the nineteenth century collector’s gardens, now property of the University of Genoa. Just over the Italian border from Menton.
Going to the Riviera should expose you to lots of gardens.
As for lavender fields. . . You may want to change your itinerary to observations of viticulture, since in October the grape harvest will be in full swing.
Have a wonderful time!
