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Parks, gardens and castles in Normandy

Normandy is a horticultural heaven and boasts an extraordinary number of parks and gardens open to the public. Refresh your spirit amid the beautiful parks and gardens... let your imagination take you back three hundred…

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Parks, gardens and castles in Normandy
Duration8 days / 7 nights
TypeCircuit
DestinationsFrance
ThemesCultural, Family

Overview

Normandy is a horticultural heaven and boasts an extraordinary number of parks and gardens open to the public. Refresh your spirit amid the beautiful parks and gardens... let your imagination take you back three hundred years when linden trees were first planted at the “Château de

Bosmelet”, or two hundred years when a cedar sapling was planted at the “Château de Miromesnil”, or gaze at the Monet favorite spot in the gardens of Giverny. A wide range of garden styles are displayed, from simple cottage gardens to grand, formal schemes via walled kitchen gardens, botanical collections, subtropical plantations, landscaped “English style” gardens and authentic French Gardens.

Itinerary

1Paris – Giverny - Rouen

Upon arrival at Paris international airport, meet and greet and leave Paris with our garden specialist tour guide and drive to Giverny to visit Monet’s garden.

Continue by a visit of the nearby Park of the Castle of Saint Just with outstanding pools, water-mirror, cascade and water staircase

If time permit we visit Evreux Cathedral and drive to Rouen

2Rouen – Clos du Coudray – Vandrimare - Rouen

In the morning, enjoy a guided tour of Rouen and visit of the famous Cathedral

Then drive north of Rouen to Etaimpus and visit of the Clos du Coudray garden presenting a flower mosaic of over 5000 varieties of plants

Next visit is the park of the Castle of Vandrimare near Fleury where you will be welcomed by the owner who’ll guide you through the park and the orangery

3Rouen – Dieppe – Varengeville – Vesterival - Rouen

Today you will drive to Dieppe former port on the spice and ivory road

Visit of the church overlooking the alabaster coast

Continue to Varangeville at the end of the alabaster coast and visit of the Park of the Bois de Moutier with 12h of Rhododendrons and azaleas in a vast park stretching down to the sea

Then visit the Garden Vasterival created by the passionate Princess Sturdza with an extraordinary botanical diversity

4Rouen – Canon – Brecy - Caen

Morning drive to Caen along the coast. Short sightseeing of Caen with the statue of Joan of Arc and the ruins of Williams the Conqueror

Enjoy lunch in a country inn with Normandy specialties and cider

In the afternoon visit of the Park of the castle of Canon or alternatively visit of the Garden of the Castle of Brecy, an Italian style garden of the 17th century with unique embroideries

5Caen – Bayeux – Nacqueville – Martinvast - Cherbourg

Today you will drive to Bayeux, further to Arromanches, along Omaha Beach to Cherbourg

Visit of the park of the castle of Nacqueville and its English park spread with water mirrors, fountains, waterfalls around the castle planted with rhododendrons, azaleas and hydrangeas

Your day ends with the visit of the magnificent park of the Castle of Martinvast with composition of meadows, woodland, ponds, cascades and follies, including an 18th century obelisk

6Cherbourg – Mont Saint Michel – Bagnoles de l’Orne

In the morning, visit of the garden of Vauville, tropical oasis along the see surrounding the castle with a sub tropical atmosphere.

Then visit the Christian Dior Garden in Granville. The famous designer created for his mother this original and elegant park with edges, flowerbeds and cliff plants

Continue to the Mont Saint Michel. After a visit of the abbey drive to Bagnoles de l’Orne, a quaint spa resort located in the so called Swiss Normandy

7Bagnoles – Carrouge - Sassy – Prieuré Saint Michel Bagnoles

Today, you will depart through the romantic landscape of the swiss Normandy to the historical Chateau de Carrouge, impressive medieval castle in the middle of a 10h park.

Picnic lunch with Camembert cheese, cider and Calvados

8Bagnoles de l’Orne - Paris

In the morning, drive back to Paris and transfer to international airport for departure flight

Included

  • Round trip ticket to Paris ( economy class)
  • Round trip transfer: airport - hotel - airport
  • 7-night accommodation at hotel
  • Meal: daily breakfast,1 picnic lunch & 7 dinners
  • English speaking local guides
  • All transfers in air conditioned coach
  • Full day city tour of Giverny
  • Full day city tour of Rouen
  • Half day city tour of Vandrimare
  • Half day city tour of Dieppe
  • Half day city tour of Varengeville
  • Half day city tour of Canon
  • Half day city tour of Brecy
  • Half day city tour of Nacqueville
  • Half day city tour of Martinvast
  • Half day city tour of Mont Saint Michel
  • Half day city tour of Bagnoles de l’Orne
  • Half day city tour of Carrouge
  • Half day city tour of Sassy
  • Assistance of our representative in France

Not included

  • Airport taxes
  • Fuel surcharge
  • Optional Tours
  • Travel insurance
  • All other expenses