The 10 Best Gardens in Pays de la Loire, France

Clairefontaine is an old barn (XII-XIVèmes centuries) of Cistercian monks transformed into a noble mansion by the late fourteenth century. It is located in a landscaped park with flower gardens and ponds. Many domestic animals live in Clairefontaine. The mansion, private and inhabited all year round, is fully furnished with furniture XV-XVII centuries eras. The interior tour of the mansion is only guided and lasts approximately a quarter past one. It takes place for individuals and groups all year round by appointement.

Be charmed by the sweetness of life in the late 18h century in a typical residence of west-France countryside. Immerse yourself in the rustic and delicate furnished rooms that seem still inhabited ...The French garden offers fresh perspectives on the park's, its labyrinth and its timber.Site of the arrest of General Charette in 1796, the Chabotterie marks the end of the War in the Vendée. Permanent show on this period.

The Botanical Garden: at the heart of plants The Botanical Gardens of Nantes, with 7 hectares of green spaces in the centre of town, more than 10,000 living species, 800 square metres of greenhouses and more than 50,00 flowers planted each season, holder of the Remarkable Garden label, is among the four leading botanical gardens in France. The collections have developed and specialised over 150 years. The Botanical Garden, which is both a scientific and a pleasure garden, has become a world reference, especially for its camellia collection which is unique in France, for the culture of epiphytic* plants in a semi-natural setting and for its permanent concern for the re-introduction of rare species. As an example we will cite the wild tulip, which disappeared in the 1970s and was reintroduced in 2010 in the vineyards of the region. Its great beauty in all seasons and its remarkable specimens (Hectot's Magnolia, American tulip tree and more recently a Wollemi pine, etc.) make the Botanical Garden a major tourist attraction in Nantes, visited every year by more than 1.2 million visitors. * Plants that grow on other plants without being parasites. The Botanical Garden Rue Stanislas-Baudry - Nantes Summer: 8:30 am - 8 pm Spring, autumn: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm Winter: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Tram line 1, SNCF train station stop Bus 12, SNCF train station stop Greenhouse visit (by reservation) Wednesday: 3:15 pm Thursday: 12:30 pm Friday: 3 pm Saturday: 3 pm and 4 pm (all year round); 5 pm (from 15 January to 17 November). Sunday: 10 am, 11 am, 3 pm and 4 pm (all year round); 5 pm (from 15 January to 17 November). Additional services Orangery cafe Restaurant - Tearoom Merry-go-round All year round from 10 am to 6 pm