Gardens and Chateux

There are over a hundred unique and lovely gardens to visit in Normandy, and nearly half of them are concentrated in this area. Some are famous, such as Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny, or Le Bois des Moutiers near Dieppe, however, most of them are little known and consequently treasures to be enjoyed in peace, blissfully free of crowds of visitors. You will find little of the traditional formal and geometric style, usually associated with French gardens; instead the style anglais is very much in evidence as inspiration for their designs. Three of our favourites are situated about 20 minutes away near the town of Saint Saens.

Les Jardins Agapanthe

jardines agapanthe

Situated between Dieppe and Rouen Les Jardins Agapanthe is a garden designed by an architect and landscape designer who has deliberately eschewed the traditional French style to create a series of individual settings enhanced by strong architectural features, yet linked together luxuriantly and harmoniously. Sit and contemplate on the chairs placed around the garden for the visitor’s benefit.

For further details visit www.jardins-agapanthe.fr

Jardins de Bellevue

pressoir at jardins bellevue

Again, located close to Agapanthe at Beaumont-le-Hareng. This 15 acre site looks across to the Forest of Eawy and has trees, shrubs and flower beds full of interest all year. The gardens are noted for two national collections of hellebores and meconopsis.

Open daily from 10am to 6pm.


Other Gardens and Chateux of Note

Miromesnil

chateau miromesnil Inland from Dieppe is the Chateau and park of Miromesnil where Guy de Maupassant was born. 200 year old cedars and other magnificent trees dominate the grounds and there is a fine example of a traditional kitchen garden. You can visit the château, the old chapel in the park as well as the gardens.

www.chateaumiromesnil.com


Bois-Guilbert

sculptures of couple lying down at bois guilbert

Another exceptional garden in the grounds of a chateau is the sculpture garden of Bois-Guilbert. For twenty years this garden has been, and still is, the creation of the sculptor and landscape gardener Jean-Marc de Pas. In the grounds of the chateau, inherited from his ancestors, more than 70 sculptures enhance and complement the gardens, described as a “hymn to life and nature” and inviting reflection on man, time and space.

http://perso.orange.fr/le.jardin.des.sculptures


Le Parc de Clères

Le Parc de Clères is a zoological garden created in 1919 by a naturalist to accommodate his collection of animals and birds. The park consists of 32 acres of woods; lawns and a lake where many of the animals and birds wander freely. On the site are a renaissance chateau and outbuildings, a XVth century manor house and the ruins of a medieval keep.