City: France
Top Things to do in France
10 Gardens in France That You Shouldn't Miss
– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)
Restaurants in France
1. Chateau de Fontainebleau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,411 reviews
With over 1500 rooms at the heart of 130 acres of parkland and gardens, Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. A visit to Fontainebleau opens up an unparalleled view of French history, art history and architecture.
Reviewed By Ivisitedtheplace - Israel, null
I visited this place... with my wife, Mrs. H. It was her choice and decision to come here- full disclosure: I’m not sure that I remembered or knew anything about this place from my knowledge of French history. We had been to Versailles in 1982 and I had read on TripAdvisor (hey-is there anything else that I do?) about the crowds and lines at the other place, so this became our destination. The palace is included in the Paris Museum Pass and the entire round trip journey is included in the weekly Navigo Decouverte pass. Total extra cost then for this excursion: zero zip zilch effes. As you know from reading my previous review, we departed from Gare de Lyon. Our train was cancelled and delayed, so we had some extra 30 minutes of waiting time (and you can see my photos of that to know what I did and saw during that time). So we took the 40 minute train journey and the city bus (passing a sign regarding a historic synagogue that we did not visit). The mansion boasts 1500 rooms and it is obvious that only a section is in use for exhibition. Mrs. H and I had a disagreement as to whether we visited either forty or fifty rooms. At the entrance, there are key pad lockers to store your stuff- be sure to do that- it makes the wandering quite bearable. Now overall, the place and the palace and the building and all the rooms and all the amazing stuff on display are quite remarkable. But the lighting leaves quite a lot to be desired- maybe the goal is the actual illumination during the days and era when the place was in active royal use. As is known and as is stated in my headline for this review, this was the famous and beloved and very frequented palace and royal residence of the one and only Napoleon Bonaparte himself (see my reviews and photos of the magnificent painting of his coronation in my Louvre review and my comments and photos of his sarcophagus and tomb in my Musée de l’Invalides review- both submitted within the last month or so (December 2019). Anyway- being a person quite interested in history and who simply loves and craves being in historical places, this visit was outstanding and amazing and breath taking- primarily because- and I admit- I didn’t know what I was going to be seeing. So now I am about to ruin the shock value for you- read on, my friend. The rooms and the stuff in them were amazing and unbelievable. To chance upon an amazing historical piece that I did not expect- so exciting and incredible- leaving me almost breathless- and here are four of the things: Napoleon’s original tri cornered hat!! What’s more incredible than that? I spent some time posing for many selfies with that hat prompted squarely on my patê (you can see his hat in my attached photos, but don’t look for me in my photos submitted here though). And then his guest rooms and the bedroom and baby cradle of his beloved son, and stuff of his wife and then- so amazing and what a fantastic surprise- his throne room with his throne chair, his bedroom with his small bed (hey- Wikipedia says that he was 160 centimeters- not so bad), and then the document room, where he resigned before going into exile. All of this and more were amazing- causing Mrs. H to start sending me WhatsApp messages again, to extract me (just as she had needed to do in the three Monet museums of Marmottan, d’ Orsay and L’Orangerie). Once she succeeded in forcibly extracting me from reveling at being in the very presence and location of iconic Napoleonic history, we went outside to the top of the gardens and lake. Yes- we saw the rowboats. After that, we departed. So please sign up follow me on TripAdvisor to see of my continuing Paris adventures. So please enjoy my many photos showing what I’ve described. And hey- doesn’t this very extensive and detailed review deserve a “like” from you?
2. Fondation Claude Monet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,893 reviews
These beautiful gardens inspired Impressionist Claude Monet's most famous work.
Reviewed By 709nitak
Excellent place to visit, we are so lucky this is available for us to visit looks spectacular, did a tour on bus was great double decker air conditioned coach with informative narrative on history and life of Claude Monet. Loved this even my husband and 21 yr old son who are not garden lovers loved this trip. Well worth a visit will not be disappointed.
3. Le Jardin Exotique d'Eze
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,263 reviews
Garden of tropical plants on the crest of the hill that dominates Eze.
Reviewed By Butterflies22 - Northern Norway, Norway
The entrance to the garden is near the top - after you have strolled the narrow streets of the amazing Eze Village. The entrance fee is 6 Euros pr person. It is a beautiful garden with so many different cactuses living next to delicate, sensual and mysterious earth goddesses from by Jean-Philippe Richard. And the view = the very best you can get!
4. Jardins de la Fontaine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,995 reviews
Reviewed By 750dimitrisl - Sydney, Australia
Jardins de la Fontaine are really beautiful gardens. There are many water features, ponds and canals, as well as some remains from the Roman times, and there is a huge area you can wander around and enjoy and just relax. The garden was constructed sometime in the 17th century.
5. Les Jardins de la Boirie
6. Les Jardins du Manoir d’Eyrignac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,162 reviews
7. Jardins de l'Eveche
8. Les Hortillonnages d'Amiens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,190 reviews
Reviewed By MonaShehade - Beirut, Lebanon
We had a pleasant walk at les hortillonages, it was like a fall painting...we failled to have a boat tour as the office was closed.
9. Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh - Menton
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 451 reviews
Facing the sea, the exotic botanical garden has a subtropical microclimate unique in France. The temperature annual average 17°C. Experiment garden, greenhouse with rare plants, it houses beautiful collections of palm trees, bamboos, citrus-fruit, edible tropical plants, that is all together over 1400 species. Thanks to its path with hundred year old palm trees, its pond with lotuses, water hyacinths, giant water lilies from Amazonia and its atmosphere of dry forest and jungle, this garden evokes memories of trips to the tropics.
Reviewed By Donnawarner1982 - Canada, United States
This garden is absolutely magical. Beauty above all throughout the year you can see stunning scenes from lakes, fountains, and just the general pack. It's great for family's as well as couple and friends a safe well kept place full of laughter and fun
10. Les Jardins Bioves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 412 reviews
Reviewed By ElenaW552 - London, United Kingdom
Running at the same time as Nice Carnival (see my review about it and try to go if you can for an unforgettable experience) - during February and beginning of March, this is a unique and truly spectacular event. Each year has a different theme. This year's was Bollywood. Just picture a full-sized elephant, Taj Mahal, huge figure of Shiva and other beautiful installations - ENTIRELY made of lemons and oranges, each fruit carefully wrapped around with an elastic band and attached to the structure. I couldn't stop wondering of how many tons of fruit have been used!! Book tickets in advance, look out for an online promotion on the event website to book 2 events at the reduced rate for both Parade and Garden Exhibition - works out 8.50 Euro/pp per event. Do not miss the garden of lights (separate tickets at 13 Euro/pp) in the evening between 20:30 and 22:30, last entrance at 22:00 but come earlier, it's breathtakingly beautiful, you won't be able to stop yourself taking lots of photos. We spent an hour there. See the gardens in both day and night time. In the evenings the installations are illuminated and there is music, performances, refreshments and local citrus-themed produce. Everyone was so friendly and helpful - it was a heartwarming experience.
