Colorful Autumn Days

Visits of French castles, parks and gardens

One year in late October, while on vacation in France, I decided to rediscover some well-known French Gardens. I picked places I knew and missed but mainly had visited during other seasons, especially in the Spring and Summer.

I was not at all up to for large crowds, long queues at ticket booths, restaurants or for stressful times in parking lots. The cooler temperatures, relaxing strolls and pauses on benches next to the fountains were some of my motivations.

I was also eager to take pictures of the beautiful nature.

So, I made a couple day trips and I saw fall at its best: colorful vegetables, flowers, and trees in the gardens and marvelous fresh flower bouquets in the castles.

Now, follow my visits.

Let’s go to Chenonceau

Passing the entrance gate, I was struck by the amazing beauty of the long alley of trees, leading to the castle. I will never forget this green tunnel with brown foliage on the floor.

I walked in the castle grounds along the Cher river and enjoyed both the Garden of Diane and of Catherine of Medicis. There was not much flowers left at that time of the year, apart from a few roses here and there but the broidery parterres and green boxwoods made it all worth it.

The inside visit with the headphone was a plus. The rooms were decorated with the most beautiful bouquets I have ever seen.  

Look at my favorite pictures of Chenonceau:

 

 

Let’s go to Villandry

I was lucky for my visit. I had a private tour of the castle interior and part of the gardens with the owner, Henry Carvallo.

I learned a great deal about the estate from M. Carvallo who has been taking care of it for more than a decade now. His family has owned the property since 1906. Again, like in Chenonceau, beautiful seasonal bouquets decorated the castle.

Villandry’s gardens were more beautiful than I had remembered. I took time and wandered through them. What I enjoyed the most were the decorative and vegetable gardens for the striking colors.

It was peaceful along the water and fountains. I sat on a bench near the water garden for daydreaming and appreciating the serenity of this magical place.

Here are my favorites shots of Villandry:

 

 

 

 

Let’s go to the gardens of La Chatonnière in Azay-le-Rideau

While doing some research on Indre and Loire gardens, I came across the Chatonnière gardens on a brochure. I found them so unique and interesting that I decided to stop there on my way to Villandry.

When I reached the gardens one week before Winter closing, it was quite early in the morning and rather chilly. We were only three visitors in the premises that day, without counting the gardeners. I did not mind as it made it easier to explore the 12 gardens.

I walked through the vegetable garden to check out the leftover vegetables such as green peppers, cabbages and pumpkins and to the relaxing park with its statues, topiaries, cyclamens growing under the wooden areas.  There were still many flowers such as white dalhias, cosmos, orange roses in the gardens. The most peaceful and beautiful place was the pergolas completely covered by leaves. I sat on the green bench under the pergola.

I highly recommend to you those gardens, which are lately becoming more and more popular with tourists.

Here are my favorite pictures of La Chatonnière:

 

 

Let’s go to Versailles

The last place I will mention today is known by everyone. If you have not already been there, you have without a doubt seen pictures or documentary on Versailles’ gardens and park.

Alain Baraton, the gardener in chief of Versailles, said in an interview for LINTERNAUTE about the Versailles gardens: “I prefer them in the fall because of the foliage colors”.

I agree with him completely. The autumn foliage was a real spectacle and my eyes were just amazed. I could not leave the park and stayed there till dusk.

I had picked the most perfect day to go, blue sky and crisp day. I walked about 4 hours through the large estate of Versailles going to all groves, and basins. My favorite basins were the ones of Latone, Neptune and Apollon.

Of course a trip to Versailles would not be complete without going to the Marie Antoinette hamlet and farm or stopping at the Love temple.

Look at my favorite pictures of Versailles gardens and park:

 

 

 

 

If you go there:

 

Chenonceau

Gardens are open all year

1, rue Bretonneau  37150 CHENONCEAUX
Tel. : (33)2 47 23 90 07 

www.chenonceau.com

Villandry

Le Potager, 37510 VILLANDRY
Tel.: (33)2 47 50 12 66

Gardens are open daily from 9:00 am, closing earlier in the evening in the Winter. The castle is closed 2 months of the year.

Jardins de la Chatonnière

Route de Langeais D57, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau

Tel.: (33)2 47 45 40 29 et 02 47 45 44 40

Open every day from 10:00 am. From the 1st of March to the 15th of November

Versailles

Open daily from 8 am till sunset.

2 bis, avenue de Paris, 78000 VERSAILLES
Tel.: (33)1 39 24 88 88

www.versailles-tourisme.com

• Chenonceau
• France
• French castles
• gardens
• La Chatonniere in Azay-le-Rideau
• outdoor in Fall
• parks
• Versailles
• Villandry