France has some of the most beautiful parks in the world. They are characterised by enchanting floral arrangements and a masterpiece of trees, shrubs and fountains that together form a living picture of light, colour and beauty. No two of these gardens are the same, each is a special creation, with the gardens in France almost beyond description. France's parks showcase the best that nature has to offer.

 

Versailles

 

The parks around the Palace of Versailles were created by King Louis XIV. They extend over more than one square kilometre with millions of trees, bushes and flowers of various species. The park at Versailles was created in the classical French style and took 40 years to complete. Some of the features include the almost 2000 metre long Rhine Canal, the Grand Trianon Garden, French and English-Chinese Gardens, the Temple of Love, two huge reflecting pools and the marble colonnade. Versailles welcomes more than 6 million visitors a year.

 

Versailles
Place d'Armes
78000 Versailles, France
01 30 83 78 00
www.chateauversailles.fr

 

Monet's garden near Giverny

 

Claude Monet's garden is just like his paintings: splashes of light, soft colours and pale outlines. The park is divided into two sections, the flower garden and the Japanese water garden. In the Flower Garden, you will find centaury, poppies, roses and mallow surrounded by fruit trees.

The Japanese water garden has a watercourse with a wooden bridge. The pond is filled with water lilies. The park has around half a million visitors every year.

 

Claude Monet Foundation
Rue Claude Monet
27620 Giverny, France
www.bahnurlaub.de/reise_detail74624.html

 

Parc Floral de la Source

 

The idyllic Parc Floral de la Source and its castle date back to the 18th century and is known for its fountains. The park has been open to the public from May to October since 1963. You can see over 900 different species of lilies and 400 varieties of roses. Every autumn, thousands of dahlias, fuchsias and chrysanthemums bloom.

 

Parc Floral de la Source
2 Place de l'Etape
45072 Orléans, France
02 38 49 30 17
www.tourisme-orleans.com/de/evenements/124-le-parc-floral.html

 

La Roseraie de l'Haÿ-les-Roses

 

La Roseraie de l'Haÿ-les-Roses was created in 1899 and is one of the oldest rose gardens in Europe. The park has more than 8000 different types of roses. The name of the town changed in 1910 from l'Haÿ to l'Haÿ-les-Roses because of the growing popularity of its rose garden. The roses are categorised by species, origin and history. Part of the park is a smaller version of Empress Josephine's Malmaison rose garden. The rose season is between May and July.

La Roseraie de l'Haÿ-les-Roses
Rue Watel
94240 L'Haÿ-les-Roses, France
01 43 99 82 80
www.france-voyage.com/de