What is a happy home without an equally happy garden to go with it? For many of us, our garden played a pivotal role in our childhood. It’s where our adventures took place, where our imagination was free to develop and where we learnt to value the great outdoors. Years on and gardens are no less important in our life, the only difference is that instead of falling out of trees, we are working out the best place to put a tomato plant.

 

In 1992, the gardens of chateau Chaumont sur Loire opened up for the first ever International Garden Festival and was such a success that the festival has taken place annually ever since. While the event makes a great day out, perhaps its most astonishing feat is its ability to bring out a green thumb in everyone, regardless of whether you already had a penchant for gardening or not. The festival takes place until the 5th of November this year, so you have plenty of time to check it out and we thoroughly recommend that you do. Not only is it a fun event for all the family, but the venue is utterly sublime.

 

loire valley gardens

 

Located on the banks of the River Loire, the chateau Chaumont sur Loire looks like it has been plucked right from the pages of a fairytale. Its white walls and moat are beautifully dated and the area surrounding the castle is a pure haven for anyone who appreciates a splash of natural beauty. During the festival, between 20 and 30 themed gardens are installed throughout the grounds and guests are free to wander through them at their leisure, admiring the unique design of each one and maybe even taking away some ideas for their own garden.

 

The theme for the 2017 festival this year is “Flower Power” so expect to see a lot of colour and creativity throughout the various gardens that have competed so hard to win a coveted spot within the chateau’s grounds. Thanks to the magnificence of the venue and the stellar quality of the festival’s exhibitors, the event has gained an international reputation with each year promising even better displays than the last.

 garden loire valley in france

 

Of course, the International Garden Festival is the main draw of Chaumont sur Loire, but if you have time between gawping at horticultural wonders then you should take the time to explore the chateau itself along with the rest of the grounds. Boasting some staggering 15th century architecture and numerous art installations, this building certainly deserves some of your time. On the more practical side of things, guests are welcome to use the designated picnic area on the lawn or they can grab a bite to eat nearby.

 

If you need help organizing your trip to the Loire Valley, you can rely on Emilie to help. If you have special interests or wishes, she will be happy to customize your trip accordingly. 

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Marlene & Terry
Emilie, You are the best! Everything you selected for us was perfect in every way. All the tickets, tours and reservations were handled well and we thank you for arranging such a beautiful vacation. We are recommending you to everyone we talk to. If you are ever in Toronto, we would be happy to host you and Guillaume!
Miller Family
Our family of 5 adults spent 17 days touring France on a trip built around the Women's World Cup Semi-finals and Final in Lyon. France Just For You did a marvelous job setting up beautiful, well managed B&B's in 5 different regions as we explored both the history and gastronomy of France. Guided tours from personable and informative guides during …
Beth & Jim
We are a couple that contacted Emilie at France Just For You and her responsiveness and services were excellent. She and her husband listened very carefully to our stated interests and followed up with us in a very personal way. As independent travelers who work, we did not have time to fully plan a trip to the Dordogne region of France which was …
Robert
From Bordeaux, Medoc wineries, Basque country of France and Spain, Carcassone, Dordogne, pre-historic caves, beautiful medieval towns and villages, switch-back mountain roads, sunshine, truffles, food & wine and gracious b&b hosts to final flight home, this was the trip of a lifetime! We drove over 3,200 kms with the help of our included gps and …
Carolyn
We had a truly remarkable adventure across France. France Just For You created an amazing itinerary that captured the essence of France. Their planning and support made the trip effortless and enjoyable. Each B&B offered a home like atmosphere and allowed us to meet people across the many different regions of France. We were able to experience so …
Bobbi
We like to travel independently and Emilie was fantastic in providing us everything we needed to do so. We had wonderful information to read beforehand and received maps and GPS coordinates to get us where we needed to go.This is a great service to use to set up your hotel and car arrangements along with suggested itineraries that can be modified …