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Gardens to explore on your holidays: Centre region
| 2008-06-30 By Catherine Delvaux et Emmanuelle Saporta Gardens of a château or priory, symbols and fairytales... Escape in the Cher and Indre-et-Loire. Floral park of Apremont sur Allier (18) Le jardin blanc © All rights reserved This immense garden in the Cher region is a link between the village (one of the most beautiful in France) and its château, located higher up. Created in a meadow, in 1971, by Gilles de Brissac and opened in 1997, the park offers walkers an extraordinary stroll across 4 hectares amongst annual and perennial plants and shrubs, which grow between the mediaeval houses of the village. Particularly worth seeing in July-August is the White Garden. The setting is literally enchanting and radiates beauty and serenity. The most rare species are represented here. In the spring, long clusters of Japanese wisteria usher you beneath a fragrant canopy, giving way to laburnum, pink acacias and clematis… In summer, the walk is punctuated by roses and shrubs with scented flowers. In this unique setting, a Chinese bridge, Turkish pavilion and a belvedere revive the XVIIIth century tradition of ornamental constructions. Visitors can admire the exhibition, in the stables of the château, of two 20m² models and 7,000 figurines, depicting the battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo. And for the first time, the barouche of Napoleon III’s only son is on display. Practical informationParc Floral 18150 Apremont-sur-Allier. Tel: +33 (0)2 48 77 55 06. Opening times 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 6.30pm, every day from 4th April to 31st August. And every day, except Tuesday, from 1st to 30th September. Prices Floral park: Adults, €7.50 - Groups of adults (minimum 20 people): €6.50 - Children aged 7 to 12: €4.50. Groups of children aged 7 to 12 (minimum 20 people): €3.50. Disabled: €3.50 - Free for under-7s. Floral park + carriage museum: supplement of €1. Gardens of the Prieuré d’Orsan (18) © All rights reserved These gardens, laid out around the Priory of Orsan (XIIth century), faithfully recreate the gardens of mediaeval monasteries, in accordance with the wish of the owners when they bought the site in the early 1990s. Using illuminations and old gardening treatises, they mainly worked on wood weaving and training plants. In this way they reconstituted hedges, fences, gloriettes and arbours, not forgetting flowerbeds and banks of greenery, so popular in mediaeval gardens. At the time, gardens had a dual vocation – symbolic and utilitarian – that is once again to be found at Orsan. Explore gardens of medicinal herbs, orchards, the “Allée des Petits Fruits” (an alley of berry plants) and kitchen garden, which serve to nourish and take care of the body. Take a walk in the Jardin de Marie (evocation of the Virgin Mary), the cloisters or the labyrinth, which guide and enrich the spirit. A visit to the gardens of Orsan excites all the senses and is conducive to reflection in a quiet atmosphere. It is also a magnificent source of inspiration for all gardeners. We highly recommend a detour via La Table d’Orsan, which serves fruit, vegetables and herbs from the gardens as well as regional produce. Practical informationPrieuré Notre-Dame d’Orsan Lieu-dit Orsan - 18170 Maisonnais. Tel: +33 (0)2 48 56 27 50. Opening times From Easter to the beginning of November: open every day, 10am to 7pm. Prices Adults: €9 Children: €5 Summer events 19th July to 16th August, every Saturday evening : concert at 6pm followed by nocturnal tour of the illuminated gardens until 11pm. 7th August to 30th September: Claire Basler exhibition (paintings on canvas). La Table d’Orsan (restaurant) and tearoom are open for lunch, tea and dinner. This Relais & Châteaux establishment boasts seven rooms. Shop: jams and fruit juices. Château and grounds of Villandry (37) Jardin du Soleil © All rights reserved Of all the Loire châteaux, Villandry unquestionably offers the most beautiful gardens. Walkers can discover them from the top of the belvedere, then take a closer look to appreciate all their charms and subtleties. The ornamental kitchen garden is enchanting. Covering nigh on one hectare, it combines flowers and vegetables, in both abundance and rigour. With the passing seasons, there is a succession of crops, offering a three-dimensional, ever-changing plant tableau. But one can also explore the peaceful, relaxing and quiet water garden, much appreciated after a rather long car journey; the garden of medicinal herbs, with its mix of medicinal and aromatic plants; the labyrinth of hedges, where children can have fun losing themselves, and lastly the brand new Sun Garden, created in 2008. Art lovers can visit exhibitions of photographs, oil paintings or watercolours, all revolving around the theme of flowers and gardens. Practical informationChâteau de Villandry 37510 Villandry. Tel: +33 (0)2 47 50 02 09 Summer activities On 4th and 5th July, the “Nuits des Mille Feux” (Nights of a Thousand Fires) offer two enchanting evenings, when the candle-lit gardens come alive with stories, acrobatics and fireworks. From July, the Château de Villandry offers a tour adapted to children, particularly 7-12 year olds, as well as a game sheet. Opening times Gardens open every day, all year round. Individual tour with leaflet. - from 1st January to 8th February and 17th November to 31st December 2008: 9am to 5pm, - from 9th to 29th February and 26th October to 16th November 2008: 9am to 5.30pm, - from 1st to 29th March 2008: 9am to 6pm, - from 30th March to 30th June and 1st to 30th September 2008: 9am to 7pm, - from 1st July to 31st August 2008: 9am to 7.30pm, - from 1st to 25th October 2008: 9am to 6.30pm. Château Open every day, from 9th February to 16th November 2008. Individual tour with leaflet, or guided tour in French, at set times, priority given to individuals. - from 1st to 6th January and 20th to 31st December 2008: 9.30am to 4.30pm, - from 9th to 29th February and 26th October to 16th November 2008: 9am to 5pm, - from 1st to 29th March 2008: 9am to 5.30pm, - from 30th March to 30th June and 1st September to 25th October 2008: 9am to 6pm, - from 1st July to 31st August 2008: 9am to 6.30pm. Prices Gardens alone: €6 (reduced price €3.50). Château + Gardens: €9 (reduced price €5). Free for under-8s. Unaccompanied visit with leaflet: average duration 1 hr 30 min. Unaccompanied or guided tour of the château (priority given to individuals. Groups: consult the Château): average duration 2 hr 30 min. The fairytale gardens of the Château du Rivau (37) © P. Laigneau Laid out over 6 ha, in a large park surrounding the mediaeval château with white façades, the Rivau gardens evoke childhood fairytales and mediaeval engravings. Entering this magic universe means treating yourself to a moment of pleasure, where grown-ups forget their age and little ones marvel at everything. As you make your way through the 12 gardens, you will pass by ogres, giants, funny characters that have stepped straight out of books: take a stroll through Gargantua’s kitchen garden, along Tom Thumb’s path, in the footsteps of Alice… Breathe in the scent of over 400 varieties of rose and admire thousands of other plants in these gardens maintained using organic methods. Don’t miss this year’s new feature: the garden of Princesse Raiponce (Rapunzel), and discover the plant that bears her name (rampion in English). Children can visit the place guided by elves and fairies, who will lead them through the gardens and flowery labyrinth. The whole family will appreciate the works of contemporary art on display in the park, still in relation to the theme of the gardens: giant legs, oversized pots… Practical informationChâteau du Rivau “Le Coudray” - 37120 Léméré. Tel: +33 (0)2 47 95 77 47. Opening times In summer, every day from 10am to 7pm. Variable opening times the rest of the year. Unaccompanied visit with explanatory leaflet. Prices Adults: €8 Children (aged 5 to 16): €6 Shop, regional produce, drinks. In July and August: La Table du Rivau restaurant, from €15. |
