Les Jardins de Castillon, a garden in the north of France

Visit Les Jardins de Castillon

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.

Explore the Jardins de Castillon

Les Jardins de Castillon were largely designed by Colette and Hubert Sainte-Beuve. The gardens, which cover about one hectare were first opened in 1985. The garden is really a series of gardens linked by long alleys.

The garden is laid out on three terraces with a small arboretum and a labyrinth created from box hedging at the end of the visit.

On entering the garden you are first struck by a magnificent verdent green. The first part of the garden is a series of formerly laid out gardens but the planting adds a pleasing informality to the gardens. Low hedging is used to make the formal patterns. The first garden is filled with masses of grasses, acers, euphorbias, geraniums and lots more.

The garden then descends into another garden and here the green is lightened with lots of silver and purple and a beautiful variagated tree in each corner. Clipped hedgeing and a patio area ensure a permanent structure and continuous interest. Alliums and other flowers provide seasonal interest.

Down again to another garden this time with a pond and hostas astilbes and a beautiful variagated grass which I plan to buy as soon as possible, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'. This is a variagated grass which you can see in the picture below. It forms beautiful golden clumps which are wonderful as a contrast to dark leaved box or to brighten a dark corner.

The garden continues with many more 'garden rooms'. There is a blue garden, a hemerocallis (day lilies) garden, an oriental garden and much more.

I think my favourite is the long 'English border' but this may just be because you don't see so many of these in France!

Throughout the garden the planting is incredibly well thought out with no empty spaces or sections lacking in interest. This garden really is an inspiration.

There is a good garden centre here too and so you can buy many of the plants that will have inspired you during your visit. There is also a small cafe with an outdoor terrace where you can buy drinks and cakes.

Jardins de Castillon garden guide

The Gardens of Castillon are open from mid May to mid October from 14.00 to 17.00 from Tuesday to Saturday. In June and July it is also open Sunday from 14.30 to 17.30. A visit costs 7 euros for adults and 4 euros for over 4s.

The garden is situated south of Bayeux, home to the famous Bayeux tapestries.

Address: Les Jardins de Castillon-Plantbessin, 14490 Castillon

Gardens to visit nearby

The Chateau de Vendeuvre is nearby and has excellent water features. Les Jardins du Pays d'Auge is a beautiful mix of gardens and ancient half-timber buildings.

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