Les Jardins de Beauchamp, a garden in the south west of France

Visit Les Jardins de Beauchamp

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.

Explore the Jardins de Beauchamp

This garden was newly planted in 2006 but even in its first year it was difficult to believe it was new. The planting is lush and quickly looked well established. The son of the garden centre owner designed and installed this garden after finishing his horticultural studies. (It helps when dad owns a garden centre!) .

There are various themed gardens including an English Garden, Italian garden, a beautiful pond, a labyrinthe and lots more. There are also lots of seating areas scattered around the garden where you can pause and enjoy the views.

Water plays an important part in the garden. A large pond has a decidedly oriental inspiration and is gorgeous when the water lilies are in full bloom. A little wooden bridge adds to its charm and a large viewing deck allows you to get good views and even to take a seat and savour the moment.

The beautiful Italian garden has long water rill with clipped box on either side and tall cypruses as well as roman style columns. It really does have a very Italian feel and its clean lines and simplicity work extremely well.

You can see and be inspired by pretty much everything for the garden from Japanese style ornaments and beautiful koi carp to topiaries, garden pottery and pergolas. The garden centre, the Jardinerie Jay, is a good one too and so once you have been inspired you can buy the plants if you want to recreate the look in your own garden.

The Jardins de Beauchamp garden guide

The garden is open all year round.

Tuesdays to Sundays, 09.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 18.00 and on Mondays in the afternoon only.

The entrance price is 5.50 euros and free to under 10s.

Address: Jardinerie Jay - Les Jardins de Garonne, Rue des Isserts, 47200 Marmande

There is a small salon de thé in the attached garden centre where you can get refreshments.

Gardens to visit nearby

Whilst in Marmande take a look at the pretty cloister gardens of the Notre Dame cathedral. Not far away in Duras the Jardin de Boissonna is a pretty English-style garden with lots of roses and you can even stop for a cream tea.

In the other direction near Villeneuve-sur-Lot is the lovely water-lily garden - Le Jardin des Nenuphars. The national collection of water lilies is held here. This is also a lovely spot for lunch. This is the nursery that was used by Claude Monet to stock his water lily pond at his famous gardens at Giverny.

You can find more local travel ideas in the South West France guide,