France has many beautiful and interesting gardens to visit.
The range of plants that can be seen in French gardens is enormous and ranges from the moisture loving plants common in the north-west to cacti in the Mediterranean gardens of the south.
The range of styles is enormous too with the very formal gardens around the large chateaux, for example Les Jardins du Chateau de Hautefort, and much smaller intimate gardens such as Les Jardins de Sardy, there is much to see.
The Arboretum des Barres is near Montagris in Central France
The Arboretum des Barres was begun in 1873 and covers 35 hectares. It is divided into three magnificent collections each with a walk around the collection ensuring that you see the best of the plants. It is classified as one of the "Remarkable Gardens" of France.
The Arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres is situated in the heart of the Forest of Orleans, 25 km east of the city of Orleans.
The Arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres was the winner of the fourth prize for the best park in France competition 2006. (First prize le Jardin de la Petite Rochelle, second prize le Parc oriental de Maulévrier). It is classified as one of France's "Remarkable Gardens".
Le Parc de Bagatelle is in Bois de Boulogne commune on the western outskirts of Paris in the Bois de Boulogne Quarter.
The Jardin de Berchigranges is in Granges sur Vologne in the Vosges department.
The Jardin de Berchigranges was the Winner of the second prize in the "Best Park in France 2007 competition" and first prize in the "Garden of the Year 2005" competition judged by AJJH, an association of garden journalists in France.
The Parc du Bois des Moutiers is close to Dieppe on the north coast of France. It is an English-style garden.
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout the north-west of France with full reviews on French Gardens...
The Chateau d'Ainay le Vieil is in the Cher department in the Centre region of France to the south of Bourges. The 15th century castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens.
See also: garden guide for Chateau d'Ainay
There are plenty of long vistas is the gardens of Chateau d'Ainay le Vieil
The Chateau d'Azay-le-Ferron is in the town of Azay-le-Ferron near Tours in the department of Indre. The gardens are classified as one of France's "Remarkable Gardens".
The Chateau de Bosmelet is in Normandy between Dieppe and Rouen. Its garden has been classified as one of the "Remakable Gardens" of France. It is known for its rainbow coloured potager known as the Potager Arc en Ciel.
The Chateau de Losse in on the eastern side of the Dordogne department near to Montignac. It is a small garden but really very charming and a visit to the castle and its gardens is recommended.
The Chateau de Valencay is situated in the Loire Valley in the town of Valencay in the Indre department in the Centre region of France.
The Chateau de Vendeuvre is in the Vendeuvre department in Normandy.
These gardens are the inspiration of the Count of Vendeuvre who has been influenced by the renaissance gardens of Italy and particularly their use of water. The gardens have been classified as one of France's "Remarkable Gardens".
The Chateau du Lude is in the Sarthe department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region of north-west France.
This lovely chateau, the Chateau du Lude, which is on a more human scale than some of those in the Loire valley has a lovely garden and grounds attached to it. The garden is labelled as a "Remarkable garden" of France.
The Chateau Val Joanis is in Pertuis in the Vaucluse department on the Cote d'Azur. The garden is classified as one of the remarkable gardens of France, 'Jardin Remarquable de France' .
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout the south-east of France with full reviews on French Gardens...
Chaumont sur Loire is in the Loir-et-Cher department in central France. This area is full of stunning chateaux built all along the edge of the Loire river and nearby. Many have beautiful gardens either in the original formal style or added more recently to enhance the castle grounds.
At Chaumont the castle and gardens play host to the leading French garden festival and to a permanent display of art both within the castle and in the grounds.
The garden of the Cloitre de l'Eglise de Notre Dame can be found in the centre of Marmande in the Lot et Garonne department in the South West of France. The garden was awarded with the "Jardin Remarquable" classification in 2007.
The Jardins Suspendus de Marqueyssac, or 'Overhanging gardens of Marqueyssac' are located in the Dordogne department of South West France.
They can be found between Beynac and La Roque-Gageac on the Dordogne river.
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout the south-west of France with full reviews on French Gardens...
We believe these gardens and the associated garden centre have now closed - what a shame!
The Domaine du Rayol is between Le-Lavandou and Cavalaire-sur-Mer on the mediterranean coast near Saint-Tropez in southern France. This is a splendid garden and is a good opportunity to get some fabulous views over the beautiful rocky coast of this part of the Cote d'Azur.
The Jardin Albert Kahn is on the West side of Paris in the Boulogne-Billancourt commune.
The Jardin botanique de la Presle is near to Nanteuil-la-Foret in the Marne department of northern France. It is also called the Centre botanique de la Presle.
The garden of la Presle, le Jardin de la Presle, took fifth prize for the "Best Park in France 2006 prize" .
This garden is just a few kilometers from the original Jardin Plume and the Jardins de Bellevue, home to the national collections of hellebores and meconopsis, plus quite a few other gardens. In a way though this one was my favourite.
The Jardin d'Atmosphere du Petit Bordeaux is in Saint Biez en Belin near Le-Mans.
The Jardin de Chantal et Alain is in Jouy-le-Potier is in the Loiret department of France to the south of Orleans.
The Jardins de Kerdalo were the winner of the "Best Park in France 2004 prize". Designed by Prince Peter Wolkonsky, this park was also classed as a "jardin remarquable" and added to the list of "des Monuments Historiques" in 2005.
The Jardin du Luxembourg is in the centre of Paris in the 6th arrondissement. It is close to the Ile de la Cité with Notre-Dame and also to the Latin quarter.
The Jardin de Marguerite is in Plobsheim near Strasburg in Alsace in north eastern France.
Le Jardin de Marguerite was the winner of third prize in the "Best Park in France 2007 competition" . This competition sponsored by Briggs and Stratton chooses the top five French gardens each year. In fact they run a similar competion in Britain, Germany, Italy and Sweden. The garden has been awarded "Remarkable Garden of France" status.
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout the north-east of France with full reviews on French Gardens...
The Jardin de Planbuisson is a bamboo garden located at Le-Buisson-de-Cadouin in the Dordogne.
Le Jardin des Plantes is a botanical garden situated in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, near to the Grande Mosquée de Paris.
The Loire Valley is known as the garden of France. The climate is mild the soil is fertile and the land is watered by the lovely River Loire as well as the Rivers Eure, Loiret and Cher.
When the magnificent Chateaux of the Loire Valley were built many also had fabulous gardens designed for the French aristocracy to enjoy. The most notable example in the Loire Valley (and indeed one of the best formal French style gardens in the world is the garden of the Chateau de Villandry.
The Jardins de Sericourt is in Sericourt between Amiens and Bethune in the Pas de Calais department.
The Jardin de Sericourt is one of France's top gardens. It was winner of the "Best Park in France 2005 prize". It also won the 2012 'Garden of the Year' prize awarded by garden journalists (AJJH). The Jardins de Sericourt is one of France's listed 'Jardin Remarquable'. If you are in the area be sure not to miss a trip to the garden.
The Jardin des Paradis is located in the beautiful village of Cordes sur Ciel in the Tarn department in the south west of France.
The garden and associated garden centre - the Jardinerie Jay can be found on the outskirts of Marmande in the Lot et Garonne department of South West France.
The Jardins de Garonne were renamed the Jardins de Beauchamp in 2009 when the garden was awarded the 'Jardin Remarquable' classification.
The Jardin Exotique de Monaco is of course located in the principality of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast between Nice and Menton. It is a stunning garden with fabulous sea views.
The Jardin Exotique et Botanique de Roscoff is situated on the Brittany coast but its planting is Southern Hemisphere. More than 3000 species including cacti, succulents, protea, palms, yuccas and many more. They have achieved a size and quantity that gives this rocky outcrop an almost tropical feel.
The Jardin de Bellevue is a botanical garden situated in Normandy between Dieppe and Rouen. This six hectare garden is a beautiful well established garden with two National Collections.
The Jardins de l'Albarede can be found on the edge of the lovely town of Domme in the Dordogne department of South West France. It is one of France's classified "Remarkable gardens".
Completely surrounded by tree covered hills this secluded garden feels a million miles from the beautiful but extremely busy nearby town of Domme. The garden is small but thoughtfully planted with much to see.
The Jardins de la Masoniere are in Saint Ceneri le Gerei in the Basse-Normandie department of northern France.
Les Jardins de la Mansoniere, won fifth prize for the "Best Park in France competition, Le Top des Parcs, 2007". It was voted one of the favourite French gardens of 2013, 'Le Jardin Préféré des Français', by the French television programme France 2.
The gardens of Roquelin are situated close to the Loire Valley, an excellent part of France for anyone with a keen interest in gardens. The garden is in Meung sur Loire in the Loiret department south-west of Orleans. The garden is classified as one of France's "Remakable gardens" and has been developed around an old farmhouse where the owners live.
The Jardin des Martels is in Giroussens, north of Toulouse in the Tarn department of south west of France. The Jardins des Martels is a large garden covering three and a half hectares.
The gardens of the Chateau de Caudon can be found near to Domme in the Dordogne in south-west France. The gardens have been classified as a "Remarkable garden" of France.
The Chateau de Momas is in Momas near to Pau in the south west of France. The garden is listed as one of the "Remarkable gardens" of France.
This chateau, which has the look of a large manor house, is surrounded by gardens restored according to the memories of gardenerers of times gone by and using many ancient varieties of plants and vegetables.
The Jardins du chateau de Mongenan were created around an 18th century chateau which is now a museum.
The Chateau de Mongenan is situated in Portets to the south of Bordeaux. The garden is one of the listed "Remarkable gardens" of France.
The Jardins du Montmarin start of with the main vista of the house and a French formal-style garden which sweeps down to a Bay on the River Rance.
The chateau, park and gardens are a listed historic monument. The chateau was built as the summer residence of a rich ship-owner. Interestingly the roof of the chateau is in the shape of an upturned ship's hull!
some additional photos of the Jardins du Montmarin:
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout Paris with full reviews on French Gardens...
Here you can find many of our favourite gardens throughout the centre of France with full reviews on French Gardens...
The Jardin de Saint-Adrien is located in Servian in the Herault department of Languedoc Roussillon. If you are in the region of Beziers or Pezenas make sure you visit this garden.
The garden won the 2013 award for the best loved garden of the French, the 'Jardin Préféré des Francais 2013' in a competition by the France 2 television chanel.
The Jardin aux Plantes Parfumées de la Bouichere, to give it its full name, is situated in Limoux in the Aude department of south west France
The Jardin de la Daille is near to Floriment-Gaumiers in the Dordogne department of South West France. It is on the border between the Dordogne and the Lot.
It is a garden in the English style with long sweeping borders and views to the surrounding countryside.
La Brande is a garden centre near to Perigueux in the Dordogne. Once or twice a year the garden centre is opened up for a plant fair for unusual plants. The Jardins de la Brande can be found between Bergerac and Perigeux in the Dordogne.
The Jardin de la Louve, or the She-wolf, is a garden situated in the Luberon area of Provence. The garden is listed as one of France's "Remarkable gardens".
The Jardins de la Petite Rochelle is a very pretty garden between Alencon, Chartres and Le-Mans.
Some areas of France do not have many private gardens to visit but many of the larger towns have a 'Jardin des Plantes' and these are often well worth a visit.
The Latour-Marliac - Jardin des Nenuphars is at Temple sur Lot in the Lot et Garonne department of south west France.
This is a really charming water lily garden that has been in operation since 1875 and has the National Collection of water lilies including 200 hardy and tropical water lily varieties. There is also an attractive garden around a small lake. The gardens are classiefied as a 'Jardin Remarquable', a 'Remarkable Garden'.
The Jardins du Grand Courtoiseau are situated in Triqueres in the Loiret department of Central France.
The Jardin de Boissonna is a garden near to Duras in the Lot et Garonne department in south west France. The garden has been classified as one of the "Remarkable gardens" of France.
The Jardin de la Pellerine is situated between Fougeres and Mayenne in the north west of France.
Covering five acres Le Jardin de la Pellerine, which was designated a Jardin Remarquable by the French Ministry of Culture in 2004, is a treat.
The Jardin Plume is a beautiful contemporary garden close to Rouen in the north of France. The garden specialises in grasses and perennials and uses parterres of clipped hedges to give the garden structure.
The Jardins d'Eau de Carsac is a water garden located at Carsac-Aillac in the Dordogne department to the south of Sarlat. If you like water lilies you will love this garden.
The Jardins de Cadiot are situated near to Vitrac in the Dordogne department of South West France. There are a few gardens in this part of France and the Jardins de Cadiot is one of our favourites.
Winner of third place for the "Best Park in France 2005 prize" and winner of 'Garden of the Year 2009' with the Association of Garden and Horticultural Journalists. It is certainly one of my favourite gardens in France and one of my top gardens anywhere. It really is superb, make sure you don't miss it. The Jardins de Castillon is a listed "Jardin Remarquable" (remarkable garden).
The Jardins de Castillon is situated in Castillon near to Bayeux in Lower Normandy.
The Chateau de la Bourlie is located in Urval in the Dordogne department of south west France.
The gardens of the Chartreuse de Conty are near to Belves in the Dordogne department of south-west France. The gardens are listed as one of the "Remarkable gardens" of France.
Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire is a contemporary garden that has been planted up a hillside overlooking the lovely town of Terrasson-Lavilledieu. The gardens occupy different terraces up the hillside.
Les Jardins de Sardy is a garden in Velines near Santa Foy de la Grande between Bergerac and Saint Emilion in the Dordogne department of south west France. The gardens are classified as one of France's "Remarkable Gardens".
The Chateau de Hautefort is in the village of Hautefort in the Dordogne departement of France. The garden is situated in the Dordogne region of France, between Sarlat and Limoges not far from the Lascaux caves.
Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac are a few kilometers north of Sarlat in the Dordogne department of South West France.
This town hall garden is at Marens near La Rochelle in the Charente-Maritime department.
Claude Monet's house and garden is in the village of Giverny to the north west of Paris. The garden is simply stunning, visit if you can!
The Parc du Sarrat is situated in Dax in the Landes department of south west of France. The garden is a classified 'jardin remarquable'.
The Parc du Sarrat is also called the Domaine du Sarrat and the Parc Botanique du Sarrat.
The Parc Floral de la Source is a garden close to Orleans in central France.
This is one of four gardens which together form the botanic garden of Paris. The others are: the Parc de Bagatelle, l'Ecole Du Breuil et le Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil.
Parc Monceau can be found in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It is one of the most elegant parks in Paris and surrounded by impressive mansions.
The Parc Maupassant de Bois Savary is in the Maine et Loire department near Le Mans.
The Parc Oriental de Maulevrier is located in Maulevrier in the Maine-et-Loire department of France. This beautiful park is the largest Japanese garden in France. Winner of the second prize for the best park in France competition 2006. The park is one of France's 'Jardins Remarquable'.
The Parc Botanique de Haute Bretagne is north west of Fougeres and is equally known as the Park Floral de Haute Bretagne and the Parc Botanique de Haute Bretagne.
The Parc Floral of Haute-Bretagne is in fact 21 themed gardens ranging from an Arabian style 'Paradise Garden' to the 'blue garden'. There are also sections to interest children, such as the pre-historic garden, the labyrinth and the suspended rope bridge over the 'Poet's garden'.
The Pomme d'Ambre garden is situated at Frejus on the Cote d'Azur in the south of France. The garden was voted one of the preferred gardens of the French in 2013 (Le Jardins Préféré des Francais 2013) in a competition run by a French TV chanel - France 2.
The Palace of Versailles with its magnificent gardens is in Versailles on the western edge of Paris. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the second most visited monument in the World.
The Villa and gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild are situated between Nice and Monaco in the Alpes-Maritime department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
The villa and gardens overlook the Mediterranean sea and are simply stunning. The villa is one of the best of the listed buildings on the French Riviera.
The Chateau de Villandry is situated in the town of Villandry not far from Tours in the Indre-et-Loire department.
In the very heart of Nantes find this wonderful Japanese garden.The garden covers 1.7 hecatares and sits on the Ile de Versailles, a small island in the River Erdre. Walk to the gardens from the centre of Nantes.
The Chateau de Chenonceau is located in Chenonceau near Amboise in the Loire Valley. The Chateau de Chenonceau is one of the most magnificent and best-loved of the Loire Valley and its gardens provide a perfect setting.
The garden Zen of Erik Borja is situated in Beaumont-Monteux in the Drome department of the Rhone-Alpes region.
The Jardin d'Eden is in the attractive town of Tournon-sur-Rhone in the Drome department. The garden climbs up the hillside above the town offering some tremendous views of the town and the river below.
Les Jardins Tranquille is a lovely riverside garden in the north of the Dordogne department in the lovely town of Brantome. The gardens were once called the Jardin's d'Au delà but changed hands a few years ago.
Le Jardin de Liliane is in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region of France. It is a delightful garden with long sweeping borders not far from Limoges.
The Chateau des Milandes is in the Dordogne region of France near to the pretty village of Beynac and the historic town of Sarlat.
These French formal gardens surround the beautiful Renaissance castle, the Chateau des Milandes.
The Panoramic garden of Limeuil is found at the top of the village of Limeuil in between Le Bugue and le Buisson de Cadouin. The garden occupies a fabulous position overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and Vezere rivers.
Sadly this garden has now closed.
The Clos des Sources is a Dordogne garden on the edge of the village of Vitrac close to Sarlat. It is a very pretty garden and well worth a look if you are in the area. The garden is a series of different gardens including a mediterranean garden and a grasses garden.
The Jardins de Drulon are in the Cher department of France in the town of Loye sur Arnon.
Le Jardin des Songes is in the village of Strueth in the Alsace region of France. The Jardin des Songes has been awarded the 'Jardin Remarquable' classification of France.
The Jardin de Marie is in Neuilly en Sancerre in the Centre region of France. It is a two hour drive south of Paris, close to the Sancerre vineyards. The garden has been awarded 'Jardin Remarquable' status.
The L'Atelier garden of Claude Le Maut is situated in Perros-Guirec in the Cotes d'Amour department of Brittany in northern France.
The Jardin Agapanthe is in Grigneuseville in the Upper Normandy region of France.
The Jardins Agapanthe have been voted 'favourite garden in the Haut-Normandie region' (Jardin Préféré des Francais 2013) and with good reason.
The gardens of the Couvent of Saint Francois are on the island of Corsica near to the village of Oletta in the north of Corsica near to Bastia and the Cap Corse Peninsula.
Les Jardins de Maizicourt is a garden in the Somme department, north of Amiens in north-east France.
This garden was recently voted the favourite garden of Picardie and one of the favourite gardens in France in a competition run by the tv programme France 2 - 'le jardin préféré des francais'.
Les Jardins du Chateau de la Motte is a garden in Usseau in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charente in the West of France.
These gardens were voted the favourite garden in the Poitou-Charente region in a 2013 competition run by the French tv channel France 2.
The Jardin de la Ganille is in the town of Ussel in the Correze department of France. Sadly this garden is no longer open.
The garden was nominated favourite garden of the Limousin region in a competion run by the French tv channel France2. It is also listed as a 'Jardin Remarquable'
The Jardins de la Croze are situated at Billom in the Puy de Dome department.
The garden was voted the favourite garden in the Auvergne region by the French tv channel France 2.
La Roseraie de Saint-Vincent is a spectacular rose garden in Saint-Vincent in the Pyrenees Atlantique department of south west of France.
The garden is situated between Lourdes, Pau and Tarbes and makes for an excellent trip out from any of these.
The Jardin des Sambucs is in Saint André de Majencoules in the Gard department in south-west France. The garden is situated in the Cevennes National Park.
Sadly this garden has now closed.
Les Jardins du Manoir de la Bonnerie is a charming garden in the Orne department of North-West France.
The Jardin des Lianes is a charming private garden in the Pas de Calais department in the north-east of France.
The famous French writer, Colette, used to holiday at the Chateau de Castel Novel in Varetz in the Correze department of France. Near to the chateau the 'Jardins de Colette' have been created in her memory and highlighting different phases of her life through plants and landscapes.
The gardens of the Pays d'Auge is a lovely established garden on a 3 hectare site. Originally a meadow surrounding an old farmhouse the garden has been transformed into a series of beautiful gardens each with their own character but following harmoniously one to the next. The garden has been given "Remarkable Garden" status.
The garden is in Normandy in the village of Cambremer inland from the seaside towns of Deauville and Trouville and the city of Caen.
The Chateau de Boutemont is a beautiful chateau in the style of a large medieval manor house. It is surrounded by pretty gardens in a mix of French and Italian garden styles. The visit is not so much for the beauty of the planting as the beauty of the chateau in a pretty garden setting.
The gardens have been awarded "Remarkable Garden" status and in 2016 won the EBTS (European Boxwood and Topiary Society) "most beautiful garden in Europe" prize.
The Etretat gardens sit on top of the cliffs overlooking the iconic "Needle" rock cliff of the Etretat coast in Normandy. Etretat is on the north coast of France between Fécamp and Le Havre.
The view over the cliffs of the Alabaster coast of Normandy has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Jardin Exotique d'Eze is a wonderful exotic garden in an absolutely stunning location overlooking the Provencal hill village of Eze which is one of the prettiest in France, and the beautiful Cote d'Azur. Hard to picture a better spot for a garden!
The Chateau de Cheverny in the Loire Valley is a lovely chateau surrounded by parkland and gardens. It is situated about 10km south of Blois and the River Loire. The chateau itself is a fine example of Louis XIII architecture and its interior is richly decorated.
This was one of our favourite chateaux in the Loire Valley. It has an attractive castle, pretty gardens and lovely views and the town of Amboise is charming too.
The Jardins des Renaudies is a garden in the Mayenne department in north-west France. The Jardin des Renaudies is 31km from Fougeres and 82km from Rennes.
The Jardin de la Ferme Fleurie can be found in the Dordogne Valley near to the beautiful riverside village of La Roque Gageac. It is a very colourful garden surrounding an attractive working farm.
The Le-Bouquet garden is an original garden of over 50 parterres and patterns created using low hedges, clipped trees and some flowers. The garden can be found on the edge of the village of Sorges in the Dordogne department.
Cahors is an attractive town in the Lot in south-west France. It has a number of historic and interesting sites which are spread out around the town and many are quite hidden. Cahors has created a number of attractive gardens around these sites and linked them with a garden trail through the town.
The trail takes a half a day at a leisurely pace and is a great way to enjoy some diverse gardens and see all the main sights at the same time.
The Promenade Fleurie near Mimizan on the south west coast of France is a beautiful gardened walk around part of the Etang d'Aureilhan. The walk is about 1 km in length and the area has been beautifully gardened all along its length.
The Chartreuse du Colombier is a traditional country house in the Dordogne department of south-west France near to Le-Bugue. It is surrounded by lovely gardens which are open to visitors.
The Chateau de Campagne is in the village of Campagne in the Dordogne between Les Eyzies and Le Bugue. The chateau lies in the Vezere valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its prehistoric sites.
The lovely gardens around the chateau are perfect for a leisurely stroll to enjoy the tranquility and the village itself is very pretty.
The Jardin Extraordinaire has been created in an old quarry, the Carrière Miséry de Chantanay in Nantes. The garden was opened in 2019 and is in the western part of Nantes next to the Loire river and close to the Jules Verne museum.
