Jardin de la Petite Rochelle, a garden to visit in northern France

Visit La Petite Rochelle

The Jardins de la Petite Rochelle is a very pretty garden between Alencon, Chartres and Le-Mans.

Explore the Jardins de la Petite Rochelle

The Jardins de la Petite Rochelle were the winner of the "Best Park in France 2006 prize" and with good reason. This garden which contains more than 200 rhodedendrons and hydrangeas and over 150 clematis is a real treat. The garden is one of France's listed "Remakable gardens".

With the aid of her cousin Peter Wolkonsky, creator of the famous Jardin de Kerdalo, Hélène d'Andlau has created a fabulous garden about 1 hectare in size. As well as being very knowledgeable about plants Hélène d'Andlau is an accomplished sculpteur and engraver and her artistic side is apparent in the beautiful vistas she creates in her garden.

With a series of garden rooms each with a different colour theme there is lots to see throughout the year. There are a total of ten different gardens most of which have predominantly blue, white and pink colours but two are at the hotter end of the colour spectrum with a yellow and orange colour theme.

If you visit in the spring don't miss the fabulous Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief' with its lovely dark pink flowers. Also to see in the spring are around 30 magnolias and the young leaves of a number of attractive acers.

As summer arrives roses, lilies and hydrangeas take centre stage with many more varieties of plants to see as well. The many ponds are full of the lovely flowers of waterlilies at this time of year.

In autumn there is a wonderful spectrum of colours to see in the leaves of the shrubs and trees and the acers throughout the garden. Cyclamens and autumn crocuses bloom under the tree canopies and many roses and clematis are still providing bursts of colour in the borders.

The Italian garden is a particular treat. Even in winter the garden is beautiful. Clipped hedges, Italian conifers and some lovely hellebores all provide winter interest.

Featured plants include a collection of Cornus, Daphne, Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, Acers and Pieris.

Jardin de la Petite Rochelle garden guide

The garden is open the last week of most of August from 14.00 to 18.00. It is also open a lot of Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April, May and June but best to ring them to check specific days. Admission is 7 euros and free for under 12s.

Address: Jardin de la Petite Rochelle, 22 rue du Prieuré, 61110 Rémalard-en-perche

The garden is situated to the west of Chartres.

Gardens to visit nearby

The Jardins de La Mansoniere are another favourite and have the advantage of being situated in Saint Ceneri le Gerei which is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Monet's gardens at Giverny are probably the most famous gardens in France and are very definitely worth the trip. They are utterly stunning!

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