Enjoy the gardens and region of Normandy in northern France. Three days will be spent discovering some of the beautiful and little-known gardens of Normandy, with gardens expert Clare Whately, and the garden owners themselves. The particular fascination of these Normandy gardens is that the climate and the range of plants are similar to Britain yet the French create quite different and truly exceptional gardens. There are some real treats which will intrigue and inspire you.The other days will explore this lovely region of France.
“Some amazing landscapes lie just across the Channel. Admire the breadth and originality of French planting and design.” Telegraph Gardening, Sept ‘07
September is a good month to visit Normandy as it is quieter, yet the gardens still look fabulous.
Route
Normandy Tour route: Click image to enlarge
Accommodation
The tour will be based at three wonderful hotels, with two nights stay at each. The first is a lovely inn alongside a small stream in a seaside village, not far from Dieppe. The second hotel is a fabulous chateau, to the east of Rouen, near the Foret de Lyons, and the last hotel is an old converted farm, near the coast, close to Bayeux. Each hotel is well placed to visit a variety of gardens and the D-Day landing beaches.
Itinerary
May be subject to change
Day One
Cross from Newhaven at 07.00 to Dieppe with Transmanche Ferries, arriving at 12 noon. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing and wandering around Dieppe or along the coast. Maybe visit the gardens and house, designed by Lutyens, at Parc de Moutiers, or the 16th century farm at Varengeville-sur-Mar. Stay on the Alabaster coast, near to Dieppe, for two nights in a beautifully restored, 17th century coaching inn. Dinner is not included, but is booked at a seaside restaurant in the village.
Day Two
Drive along the coast to Dieppe. Visit Le Vasterival at St Marguerite sur Mer in the morning. The formidable and stylish Norwegian, Princess Sturdza, came to these cliff tops nearly fifty years ago, as an experienced gardener, already in her forties, and began to plant what has become known as one of the best gardens in the country. Protected by the lie of the land, the garden benefits from a micro-climate which has allowed one of the finest plant collections in France to be put together. We shall find woodland walks, long valleys, streams, bogs and hillside borders of glorious foliage plants. There is marvellous contrast between secret paths leading to dense, jungle-like plantings and long, serene vistas across open glades. It is a treat to meet the gardener who planned and placed these plants so long ago to achieve the glorious woodland we see today – many plants rarely seen of the maturity and size achieved here. The Princess’s planting style dramatises the changing seasons, and the atmosphere of her garden develops and transforms itself throughout the year. Those who have visited at other times of year will see the genius of a garden perennially in bloom. The Princess herself will welcome and guide us, introduce us to some of her thousands of different species, share some of her gardening secrets and explain what has inspired her. Penelope Hobhouse and Patrick Taylor in their book, The Gardens of Europe, say: “Few gardens elicit superlatives as easily as Le Vasterival. It sets standards that all gardeners should aim at but few will attain”.
Have lunch (included) at the wonderful Chateau de Miromesnil, which will also include tours of both the garden and chateau. Monsieur and Madame Romatet inherited this magnificent late 17th century Chateau from her grandmother who came here before the Second World War. In 1850 Guy de Maupassant was born here and the Chateau contains much of his memorabilia. The park is sheltered by a splendid beech grove to the north and a line of lime trees to the south. The view behind the Chateau is dominated by a 200 year old cedar. More than eighty varieties of clematis decorate the walls, trees and shrubs giving colour from spring through until autumn. The large walled kitchen garden beside the house is laid out in square beds where vegetables alternate with flowers for cutting. The borders contain bulbs and perennials and rely much on annuals for shape and colour – the emphasis is on pastels to harmonise with the pink garden walls. The whole effect is of a joyful abundance.
Then, in mid afternoon, head for L’Etang de L’Aunay for another garden tour, which is never open to the public. Monsieur Jean Louis Dantec is a successful antique dealer who began planting this fascinating fifteen acre garden around his contemporary house only fifteen years ago. He has bought an original eye and sure touch to his planting which is overwhelmingly green but cleverly emphasises the many unusual barks and shapes of trees and shrubs. The atmosphere on entry is strikingly formal with plants clipped into square columns and high hedges, separated by wide lawns. He has a grandiose Noah’s ark of topiary animals as well as obelisks, balls and less formal shapes. He plants no roses and few perennials but adores magnolias, stewartias, hydrangeas, unusual conifers and many other rare plants. Beyond the house the lawns lead down to the lakes around which are planted an astonishing variety of trees, shrubs and water loving perennials. There is much new planting towards the perimeter if we can reach it – it will be hard to cover the distance in this garden where there is so much to take in and to distract the keen gardener! Monsieur Dantec’s enthusiasm for his garden is evident. Even though he very rarely opens his garden it is nevertheless much respected and admired by the other illustrious garden owners in this small town. We are lucky to have been invited to visit.
Return to the hotel. Dinner will be at another restaurant within walking distance (not included).
Day Three
Visit two more gardens, starting at Les Jardins Agapanthe, where we shall also have lunch (included). Monsieur Alexandre Thomas trained as a landscape designer and has created this unusual garden in just over an acre. The visitor is drawn immediately into a lush and green labyrinth and moves from dark tunnels through light enclosures to open terraces and back again. Topiary is everywhere. There are constant views and surprises with plenty of benches and chairs placed to enjoy the sights and scents. He eshews lawns and uses hellebores for greenery at low level. From a flat field, he created rises and hollows, introduced flowing and still water and fountains; he sited balustrades, bridges, gates, antique sculpture and urns; and put in ‘as many plants as possible’. It is easy to get lost in this paradise. Huge trees, sourced
from Belgium, Italy and Germany, are grown in pots and are moved around the garden for different effects. In May the tulips are glorious; the height of his season is in July and there is still much to admire in September. White, violet, blue and green are his preferred colours. He adores agapanthus – hence the garden’s name. Madame Joselyne Thomas, Alexandre’s mother, works with him in the garden and will help to guide us around. In the adjoining Nursery you will find many of his plants for sale.
After lunch head to Chateau de Bosmelet for a tour of the garden and the chateau. Generations of the family of the Baron and Baroness de Bosmelet have contributed to the 
marvellous gardens and parkland which surround this attractive 17th century Chateau. Le Notre’s Head Gardener, Colinet planned the classical layout of the park and recently Louis Benech, who worked on the Tuileries Gardens, has given advice. However the current Baroness Laurence de Bosmelet is the force behind the wonderful potager which was the inspiration for their Chelsea 2000 Gold Medal winning garden. Within the ancient walled garden flourish hundreds of vegetable varieties planted to colour themes alongside rose arbours and mixed borders all anchored by a central stone pool. You will see amazing shapes and colours of cabbages, courgettes, celeriac, lettuce, marrows, tomatoes and more. A superb avenue of three hundred year old lime trees leads us there. We will dine here tomorrow night.
Stay at a beautiful chateau hotel to the east of Rouen for the next two nights. Dinner is not included.
Day Four
It is a short drive to Jardin de Valerianes. Michel and Marilyn Tissait are a most remarkable couple. They have not only planted and looked after this astonishing garden with no outside help since 1982 but have also built their house and barns entirely themselves. They aim for self-sufficiency and low maintenance – by clearing, removing invasive plants, pruning and mulching during the winter and early spring they allow the garden to ‘look after itself’ over the summer. They plan for no staking or dead-heading. Their design is more formal around the house with a pond (collecting rainwater for irrigation) and wide herbaceous and shrub borders linked by a pergola, steps and paths. Again, all the hard landscaping is their own. Roughly every ten years, they extend their planting to a further area of the garden and in 2002 they began to plant another garden with a specialist tree and shrub collection around a lake – excitingly and unexpectedly, this one offered different soil conditions to accommodate a different range of plants. You will hugely impressed by their energy, talent and knowledge. Michel is a professional gardener at Rouen Hospital. They were one of the first winners of the highly coveted Société Nationale d’Horticulture de France - Prix Bompland in1996.
Lunch (included) will be at Les Jardins d’Angelique, in the pretty tea house, followed by a tour of the gardens. The Lebellegard family came to this charming 17th century manor house twenty one years ago and began to plant their glorious and romantic garden five years later. Beyond the lawns in front of the house the atmosphere is intimate and enclosed. Paths meander through the rose garden where carefully placed seats and benches invite calm contemplation and enjoyment of the scents and colours, while a stream glides by. Madame Gloria Lebellegard has collected hundreds of species of roses – a real favourite – and has inter-planted with shrubs and perennials in pastel colours. Behind the house, abundant flower beds are contained by mature box hedges around a central pale stone fountain. Beautiful displays of many species of hydrangea complement the roses and ensure a long flowering season. It is hard to believe that Madame Lebellegard looks after this garden with the help of only one other gardener but her passion and commitment are evident the moment you meet her.
The final tour will be of Jardins Plume. Patrick and Sylvie Quibel came to La Plume in 1997 to develop their garden and nursery in a bare field swept by strong winds from the north east. They planned a contemporary and natural garden with a careful sense of balance. The symmetry of their hedges holds the different parts of the garden together - the box, beech and hornbeam providing the framework for luxuriant plantings – perennials are thoughtfully planted alongside shrubs and grasses. The whole effect is unmistakeably French but brilliantly combines the traditions of several nationalities. Near the clipped box table around the terrace grow tall and elegant perennials; a maze of miscanthus leads into the potager; square hot-coloured beds and a clear, mirror pond in front of their house look out over apple trees set in a grid of mown lawn. The sound of the wind blowing through their tall grasses is as effective as their movement and vibrant colour. Last year, Robin Lane Fox gave this garden his gold medal: “I have just seen the best garden with a modern twist that has come my way in years”. Elfreda Pownall in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine September 2005 described it as “the most exciting of the new generation of French gardens”. Their marvellous Nursery supplies many of the rare plants you will see growing in the garden.
Return to Chateau de Bosmelet for dinner (included).
Day Five
Meander your way through the Normandy countryside, visiting places such as Camembert and Livarot, famous for their cheeses. Take the opportunity to visit the area of Calvados, just back from the coast. Calvados is made from apples and is produced by many farms in the area and it is possible to visit a number of places to see production and taste and buy the finished product. Enjoy a scenic tour of the area and then travel west to Bayeux and stay for two nights in a lovely hotel near the coast.
Dinner will be a menu terroir, with all local products, in the hotel restaurant (not included).
Day Six
Enjoy a battlefields tour of the Normandy beaches with an expert from the British Army, detailing World War II’s Operation Overlord. We shall start at Pointe du Hoc where the US Rangers mounted an assault up the cliffs to capture the German coastal guns. Then progress to Omaha Beach, which was the famous ‘dog’ beach scene of the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’. We shall then visit a US war cemetary followed by the Hillman/Perriers Ridge, to visit the German defences that held up the British breakout from Sword Beach. Finally there is a visit to Pegasus Bridge, where there was a glider assault to seize the key crossing sites. There is also a good museum here.
Return to the hotel for a final dinner (included).
Day Seven
There is a scenic drive to the beautiful village of Beauvron en Auge and then to the coast at Deauville. Drive along the headland to the lovely fishing port of Honfleur, which is perfect to while a way a few hours.
To return to the UK, drive to Le Havre for the return ferry to Portsmouth at 17.00, arriving at 21.30, with LD Lines Ferries.
Details
Dates - Normandy Gardens & Battlefields Tour
Start: 7 September 2008
End: 13 September 2008
Duration: 7 days
Price: £1,475 per person - based on two people sharing a double or twin room and one car
N.B. The garden tours are on three days only
What’s included
- Return ferry crossing for 2 people and a car (outbound: Newhaven-Dieppe; inbound: Le Havre-Portsmouth)
- All accommodation for 6 nights, based on two people sharing a twin or double room
- Breakfast every morning
- Three lunches and two dinners.
- Services of Clare Whately and an interpreter for the gardens to be visited
- Entry into the gardens
- British Army guide for the Normandy beaches area (Friday 12 September)
- Tour book - includes a brief history of Normandy, emergency contact details, overview maps and detailed directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book eliminates the need for any other guide books.
- France road atlas
What’s not included
- Fuel
- Road tolls (if applicable)
- Lunches & evening meals (unless stated)
- Entry into attractions and activities
- Personal, travel and medical insurance - which we strongly recommend you have.
- We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
- Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.
Requirements
- This tour is only open to members of the 20-Ghost Club or owners of pre-1945 Rolls-Royces.
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France.
- All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour. You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
- Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
- You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
- Dinner on most evenings will be a smart-casual affair, and a jacket and tie is usually expected for men.
- However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.
Import/Export Regulations
Entrants from outside the European Union need to be aware that there are special regulations covering the importation and subsequent re-export of historic vehicles over 75 years old with a value of more than £30,400. Since this applies to all Silver Ghosts, it is important that the correct paperwork is completed on entry, so the necessary permissions can be given for re-export.
Guidance for issuing an Export Licence for Cultural Goods is now provided by the Export Licencing Unit, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council. www.culture.ov.uk/cultural_property/export_licencing.htm or telephone: 020 7273 8265/66/69/73
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
