The below gardens are some of the most beautiful and well known in France that your gardening group may enjoy. Each of these locations does have coach travel in a variety of forms but you will need to research the exact times based on the time. Remember your return fare and agree on a good time to meet with group if you separate at any time. 

Some of these locations have free admittance, but traveling to each of the locations will cost a fee and should be planned on accordingly. You can save money on these fees by traveling together in a group. If there are ticket fees for one of the gardens, you can save money by purchasing all of your tickets together as a group.

When traveling, always remember to carry a small pocket guide of translations with you and a map of the area. You might also wish to print up text directions for all members of your party and even a bit of the history of the areas you will be visiting.

Clos du Coudray, Etaimpuis - Open April 1-October 31, daily 10am-7pm, last entry 6pm. Admission €7.5  www.leclosducoudray.com Travel from Folkestone to Calais via Eurotunnel (www.eurotunnel.com) costs from £49. Other travel may be determined from visiting the main website. Vicinity of Dieppe and Rouen,  are well marked but a good map is essential

LE JARDIN PLUME – Normandy Open from 1 April to 1 November, between 2pm and 7pm, every day except Wednesday. Guided tours for groups between 9am and 7pm, any day by appointment. The garden is situated between Dieppe and Rouen, in Grigneuseville.

Les Jardins Agapanthe, Grigneuseville Halfway between Dieppe and Rouen to the east of Totes, on N29. Open April 1-November 1, 2-7pm, daily except Wednesdays. Plants for sale. Admission €7

Manoir de Troguindy – The RBG, or Royal Botanic Garden, is a garden in all senses of the word. This garden is beautiful and filled with all kinds of plants. Local transportation can take you there. If you decide to walk or drive yourself, you should take the right of the square at Treguier in front of the cathedral and follow it to “Lannion/Perros Guirec”. When you come to a stop sign, proceed straight. After 1km, descend the right and follow it all the way to the village of Le Guindy. Follow the road to your left and the entrance is on the right.

Sceaux – Le Nôtre designed the garden on a hill running between a valley and another hill. The garden was completely deserted and left unattended during the revolutionary years. However, in the nineteenth century, a new chateau was built and the gardens were completely renovated. A canal system and large pool has been added, complete with water plants.
Address Sceaux, Ile-de France, Paris, France, 92330
Opening times All year, Daily, Open 7am to 7.30pm in summer, Open 8am to dusk in winter

Paris is one of continental Europe’s most beautiful cities, but it is also a haven for top professional sports such as rugby, football, tennis, basketball and one of the world’s premier cycling events – The Tour de France.

The gruelling endurance race has climaxed in Paris every year since 1975. In fact, the Champs-Elysees close to regular traffic, allowing spectators to cheer the remaining Tour de France competitors down the glorious boulevard to the final tape in the shadow of the imposing Arc de Triomphe. This is the race that every endurance cyclist wants to win, and to be the rider wearing the coveted yellow jersey on the entry to Paris is the ultimate honour.

It’s not only cyclist enthusiasts that are drawn to sporting Paris. Over the past 100 years France’s capital has hosted two football World Cups and one Rugby World Cup finals tournament. It also boasts one of the best stadiums in Northern Europe – the magnificent Stade de France. Although custom-built for the FIFA 1998 World Cup Finals, the stadium is now home to Rugby Union side Stade Francais and it also doubles as the national sports stadium. It is here that France’s rugby union and national soccer team play their home games, as well as various track and field athletics meetings.

But, of the regular events that take place at the stadium it’s possibly the Six Nations games that attract most interest. Indeed, the majority of Paris hotels, not just those close to the Stade de France, are booked up weeks in advance of Six Nations rugby games. As such, guests arrive from all over France in addition to tens of thousands of followers of the travelling team. The Welsh, Scots, Irish, English and Italians all enjoy visiting the city to watch their team in action, as they can also take full advantage of all the culture and entertainment that Paris offers!

From Montmartre to Montparnasse, during a Six Nations weekend the streets of Paris are full of rugby fans all sporting their team’s colours while gleefully soaking up the unique Parisian ambience. For them a touch of sight-seeing is usually interspersed with a few timely stop-offs at various bars and cafes en route to the stadium.

So, if you are planning a trip to Paris and sport doesn’t interest you, then you may wish to avoid being in the city when one of the Six Nations games is taking place. Conversely, if you thrive on the buzz and the sights, sounds and colours of a sporting event, then you are sure to experience a memorable visit.

France is a very popular location for a weekend visit, city break or vacation. This country hosts different climates in its various regions and the French Riviera is famous for its beaches while mountainous regions offer skiing in the winter. This well-liked destination offers a range of driving or cycling holidays, seaside resorts, mountain regions, villages, art, culture, history, museums, galleries, activity and nature holidays and even camping sites.

The French Baguette

One treasure that is fondly and deliciously connected with France is the baguette or the bread stick, as it as often referred to in other countries. Eating a baguette is a pleasure that may be enjoyed all over France. The traditional French baguette is a slender loaf of bread that may be up to a meter in length with a width of four or five centimeters. Thin, with a large expanse of crust and a soft white center, the baguette has become a symbol of France and a must for tourists. The true French baguette may be found in the smaller bakeries, as the version found in supermarkets although sold and eaten as a baguette is not usually quite the same as the original. Baguettes are great options for sandwiches. It is interesting to note that the popular French way of eating a baguette in the morning is covered with chocolate spread and dipped into a drink of hot chocolate. This bread may also be enjoyed with butter, jam or cheese.

It must be pointed out that the baguette is not the only delight in this line that France has to offer as there are many different kinds of bread, or ‘pain’, available. All the visitor has to do is choose. Once again, in general the bakeries provide a better quality of bread than the supermarkets. Some people may consider tasting a real French baguette to be more important than visiting various galleries or sites or arranging a place to stay while in France. Although eating a traditional baguette and sampling other French breads is a most enjoyable experience, reserving accommodation is also a matter worthy of attention.

All around the country there is a range of different types of accommodation available, including top hotels, vacation rentals and guest houses. In addition, there are places of accommodation that are particularly suited for business travelers and those that are more suitable for couples or families.

It is usually recommended to make reservations for vacation accommodation in advance, especially during peak holiday times. This relieves the traveler from the unnecessary strain and pressure of finding somewhere to stay at the last minute. Why wait until you get to France when you can reserve a vacation room in advance? This way, there is no need to waste valuable time and travelers may get straight down to business with sightseeing and sampling baguettes, croissants, cafe au lait and other delicacies.

France is home to the world famous Eiffel Tower in Paris which is the pride of the people of the Republic of France. The Eiffel Tower is the masterpiece of Gustave Eiffel who was a French structural engineer and architect. France is frankly synonymous with the Eiffel Tower.

France is most importantly also the fashion capital of the world being the birthplace for the world famous fashion house Chanel. France has contributed handsomely to the world of women’s wear, both inner and outer. France is also notably the perfume hub of the world, making the people of the world a pleasant smelling race. France also boasts being the home of Airbus, an aircraft manufacturer based in Toulouse, France. Airbus is responsible for producing almost half of the world’s jet airliners. France is also responsible for giving the world Champagne, something a celebration would be nothing without.

France is the largest of all the countries of the European Union with the sixth largest economy in the whole world. It is one of the founding members of the European Union and the United Nations. It is also one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. France is the world’s most visited country with an astounding 82 million people touring France every year with the figure going nowhere but only up. It is also the fifth largest exporter and fourth largest importer of manufactured goods. France holds the second position for receiving the highest foreign direct investment in the world.

France gets almost 82 million tourists each year who visit the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe to name a few of the most visited tourist attractions. France was the homeland of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century who conquered most of continental Europe. Monarchy slowly gave way to democracy in the 20th century in France. The French railway network is the most expensive in the whole of Western Europe. France also takes credit for jointly producing with England the world’s first aircraft that could travel at twice the speed of sound, the Concorde.

The vintage travel posters are a great way to remember the time which has gone by and also to capture the moment and to preserve it forever. A vintage travel poster is like a medium through which you get to have a look at those places which you cannot visit in reality. The travel vintage posters also remind us of the places that we or any of our loved ones might have visited in the past.

Apart form these aspects the vintage travel posters give us an insight of the lifestyle, art form, fashion and the history of the bygone era.

The vintage travel posters can be classified according to places as well. So be it about a place of your choice in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Britain or Italy – a vintage travel poster works as a perfect memorabilia of the exquisite beauty of it.

Some essential briefs of the artistic specialties of posters made in Italy, Switzerland and France:

Some of the most popular forms of the Italian vintage travel posters are from the Art Deco and the Art Nouveau art era. The most famous artists who created the Italian vintage poster are Depro, Terzi, Seneca, Lenhart, Laskoff and many more.

A Swiss vintage travel poster highly resembles the French and German posters but the one thing which sets it apart from others is the beautiful display of natural beauty of Switzerland. The Swiss posters display a sense of humor along with some fascinating graphic designs. Some of the noted Swiss artists are namely, Tissi, Matter, Brun, Troxler and Hofmann.

A French vintage poster fills life to a dull wall with its classic masterpieces. France is considered to be the birth place of the travel vintage posters and it boasts of some of the most incredible pieces such as the Maitres de l’Affiche. France is known to produce some of the most remarkable artists who are the creators of some of the most precious masterpieces. These creators include Pal, Gruau, Cheret, Mucha, Grun, and Colin. Some of the posters have shown the map of the region, architectural landmarks or the railroad system. You can also own a piece of the travel vintage poster and virtually travel across the world.

In the heart of the Lubéron, Standing on a slight rise, surrounded by ponds and olive and cherry groves, the Domaine des Andéols is the perfect example of what emotion, welcome, generosity and authenticity can offer the traveller. The Domaine des Andéols, is a hamlet in Provence composed of nine houses. Not one resembles another, because each is a collection of memories. Remembrances of travel, experiences, encounters, emotions, where each piece of furniture, each swath of fabric, each colour, each object, each work of art tells a story, in its singular and specific way.

Here, the House of the Lovers; Over there, the House Of the Cascades; further on, The House of always; further still, The Housed of faraway places… The House of Terraces dialogues with

Red House, while the White House neighbours the House of the Artist and the House of the Traveller seems ready for take off. Nine Houses, free and independent, vast and welcoming, comfortable and refined. Nine invitations to travel, on a still and serene, cultivated and hedonistic voyage. Two more join the cluster; Houses for encounters and sharing, The House of Flavours (the restaurant) and the Water House (the Turkish bath). And all round, so many discoveries to make: The infinite and changing provençal landscapes; the sublime villages of the Lubéron; the little markets like the one for truffles and the great festivals where danse, music and theatre are king, like those in Aix-en-Provence, Avignon or Orange… With the Domaine des Andéols, the Houses of Alain Ducasse invent the hotel business of tomorrow. Here, the welcome, service, decor, comfort, cuisine, and discovery are such that, the certainty of feeling instantly at home is mingled with the feeling that to penetrate them is to cross a threshold into a mythical elsewhere.

Here, the pleasures of the table are authentic, skilful and simple all at once. To the rhythm of the seasons, the chef searches for ingredients among the orchards and vegetable gardens

of les Andéols. To this gustatory symphony is superposed another, the arts of the table, for each object brings more beauty, warmth and conviviality to an extraordinary stay.

Nine houses, each unique, welcoming and singular, mysterious and multifaceted. Houses

with the scents of Africa or Asia as much as Provence, evoking Art déco and the most accomplished modernity. Still more secrets, images, books, music carried home from the wanderings of the consummate travellers, Patrizia and Olivier Massart. Discover the hotel of the future: here and elsewhere, today and tomorrow, the close and the faraway, dreams and reality, light and shadows, service and discretion, serenity and amusements, pleasure and beauty.

Paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, art books, music… from every corner of the globe, adorn every house. Art at les Andéols, is omnipresent, an essential element of one’s stay. At les Andéols and all rounds, the Domaine lies at the heart of an incomparable cultural and artistic scene. Festivals follow one after the other throughout the year: dance, music opera, photography, theatre: Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, Lacoste, La Roche d’Anthéron, Orange, Vaison-la- Romaine… easily reached form les Andéols.

Hills of the Lubéron, hills of the Vaucluse, they are all inspired. Remain still and contemplate them from the terraces of the Houses, or follow the country roads and trails of this landscape blessed by the gods, in search of discovery. Each can choose the richness of his stay from the wealth of opportunities. Roads and trails lead you to the discovery of nine of the ten most beautiful villages in France, from Ménerbes to Roussillon, from Gordes to Lacoste… to the waterfalls of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse or the watermills of the Islesur- la-Sorgue, nestled in the arms of the Sorgue river… to the sublime abbeys of Senanque and Silvacane… to encounter

the shadows of all who have left their mark here: Beckett and Picasso, Chagall and Coco Chanel, the demonic marquis de Sade…

Omnipresent, the water and the deep blue sky, the mauve-coloured hills, the garlands of cypress trees, the rows of olive and cherry trees, the fields of lavender… And then, the gardens, orchards, vegetable patches where the chef comes to pick the flowers, fruits and vegetables which make his table the most beautiful, savoury, natural and innovative one can find.

The guarrigues, carpeted with forests of oak and cedar, where rosemary, broom and boxwood blend into a harmonious and unique composition. Inside, outside, at home, at table, in the pool, in the library, emotions are constantly aroused at les Andéols.

Enhancing the beauty of the place and its exceptional environment: the objects, furnishings and artworks assembled here; the elegance and quality of the welcome and the service; the refinement and originality of the cuisine. One thinks of Baudelaire and Matisse, for here all is order, luxury, calm, and sensual delight.

This country, blessed by the gods with an infinite variety of landscapes. What could be easier than to discover them from the les Andéols. The enchanting beauty of the tortured escarpments of the Lubéron where, in the ancient villages hanging onto their high perches, blend the heady fragrances of thyme, rosemary, marjoram, basil, savoury, sage, mint and bay trees, which carpet the garrigues. The forests of cedar, almond, pine, sequoias and olive trees alternate with fields of lavender extending as far as the eye can see across the plateau of the Vaucluse. From Apt all the way to Roussillon: the red ochre route, which, passing through the vertiginous Colorado de Rustrel, winds up at the spectacular Chaussée des géants. And the waterfalls of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, which Petrarque sang of, the lake d’Espardon, the gorges of the Régalon and la Véroule, or the chiselled, lace-like relief of Montmirail… Pushing ahead, all the way to the Mediterranean, spend the day in a seaside cabin from whence the regard can take in the majestic and mysterious rocky inlets of Cassis and wander along the Corniche des Crêtes… From the Domaine des Andéols, on foot, horseback or by hot air ballon, an infinite number of paths unfold, as infinite as the landscapes of Provence.

The roads of Provence invariably lead to markets. Those of Forcalquier, Lourmarin or Saint-aturninlès-Apt, all close to les Andéols overflowing with fruits, vegetables and flowers, without forgetting the famous candied fruits jams and jellies. Less frequent, other markets, for silkworm cocoons in Gordes or those for truffles, a local speciality, in Croagnes or in Sault, rivalling the Antiques Fair on the Isle-sur-la Sorgue. The discoveries to make are endless and the Domaine

des Andéols provides you with the keys. Just a bit further and still more discoveries and encounters, with fervour and excitement too. The great Gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes- Maries de la Mer, reached by crossing the flat landscapes of water in the Camargue, punctuated by silhouettes of guardians on horseback; in addition, the bullfights of Nîmes, which take place in the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the centre of bullfighting in France.

Taking advantage during the stay of the absolute calm is resolutely an affair of gardens, pool, Turkish bath and the library of the Domaine… but, nearby, so near, other activities are on offer to the visitor from les Andéols: horseback riding golf course, the joys of tennis, relaxing in the spa, and even, for those attracted to darkness, speleological adventures in the depths of the numerous caves punctuating the flanks of the hills of the Lubéron and the Vaucluse. And, within arm’s reach the rows of vines, the forests, trails and Meadows so propitious for picnicking. A picnic prepared by the Domaine, and which one will savour in the shade of a “borie,” those strange stone sheepfolds on the slopes of Mourre Nègre, the highest point in the Lubéron.

Genuine centre of high civilisation, Provence. Here, the old debate of nature vs. culture has long since evolved into a dialogue. Bearing witness, among others, the immemorial rock necropolises like the one in Carluc, souvenirs of Greece and many other traces of Rome triumphant from Arles to Vaison-la-Romaine, by way of Nîmes, the Pont du Gard and Orange… Today, theatre, music and dance have taken up residence, to the ebb and flow of festivals of song and dance, each with its unique character, fragrance, territory and in which it will be easy, from les Andéols, to participate. Live shows and contemporary visual arts, notably with the “Rencontres Photographiques” in Arles, “la Fondation Yvon Lambert” in Avignon, the “Carré d’Art” in Nîmes and the museums in Marseille.

ACCÈS

Aéroports Airports

Avignon (25 mn), Marseille (1h), Nîmes (1h)

Gares TGV TGV stations

Aix-en-Provence (55 mn), Avignon (45mn), Marseille (1h10), Nîmes (1h)

If you wish, we can organise your transfer from the TGV stations or airports to the Domaine des Andéols.

By car

From Avignon take the N100 to Coustellet. Then take the D2 in the direction of Gordes. Continue on the D2 in the direction of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt. Les Andéols are located 2 km before Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt on the right.

Domaine des Andéols is a member of Home Like Collection, a luxury travel collection of small hotels representing the world’s finest and most authentic destinations.

Booking information

Reservation@hlc-hotels.com

www.hlc-hotels.com

When you think of visiting any place then first thing which comes in your mind are the accommodation facilities. And for any travel as a tourist or for business meet you must need to have a good Hotel Rooms. And when you are in a country like France which is one of the best tourist places in Europe, you can have a large number of good Hotel Rooms with all the luxury. And when these Rooms are available for you in cheep then it’s an added advantage. Now with Cheap royal Hotels to relax and good landscapes, vineyards and orchids of France it’s the best thing which you can find for your trip. These Hotel Rooms are cheap and available without any Booking Fee.

The Hotel Rooms available here is the best with all the facilities available and with all the support which you actually needs to have in a Hotel Room. There are a large number of Hotel Groups which provide you with the cheapest accommodation facility. You can even book you Hotel Rooms prior to your arrivals and can get many of the added offers. The thing which had ked to the better facilities at these Hotels and that also at the cheapest possible prices is that of the large number of tourist who come to visit France and also because of a lot of competitions in this market. There are a large number of hotels here in France so that in any of the seasons you can find the cheap Hotel Rooms out here.

Not only in the Capital town Paris but in other cities of France like Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux you can find a cheap and luxury rooms. Paris being the Capital and also the major business center of France you can easily find these cheap hotel rooms quite easily as there are many tourist or business people from outside are coming each day. More over these Hotel Rooms are equipped with each and every facility for your luxury life. They also have Conference Rooms where you can hold Business Meets when you are in need of them. Many of the Hotels are having contacts with the travel agents and you can easily find them without any wastage of time.

The rates of these Hotels might vary according to the peak seasons when large numbers of tourists or persons are expected to arrive. So it’s better for one to reserve these hotels in advance so as to avail all the luxury facility of a Hotel room with cheap prices. Now it has also become very easy for you to search for these Hotels online as many of these Hotels are now having online booking facilities as well as you can book them through Travel Agents as well. So before planning for a trip to France must look for these Cheap Hotels with state of art facilities so that you can have the best deal of your prices without compromising with your comfort and luxury.

When you think of visiting any place then first thing which comes in your mind are the accommodation facilities. And for any travel as a tourist or for business meet you must need to have a good Hotel Rooms. And when you are in a country like France which is one of the best tourist places in Europe, you can have a large number of good Hotel Rooms with all the luxury. And when these Rooms are available for you in cheep then it’s an added advantage. Now with Cheap royal Hotels to relax and good landscapes, vineyards and orchids of France it’s the best thing which you can find for your trip. These Hotel Rooms are cheap and available without any Booking Fee.

The Hotel Rooms available here is the best with all the facilities available and with all the support which you actually needs to have in a Hotel Room. There are a large number of Hotel Groups which provide you with the cheapest accommodation facility. You can even book you Hotel Rooms prior to your arrivals and can get many of the added offers. The thing which had ked to the better facilities at these Hotels and that also at the cheapest possible prices is that of the large number of tourist who come to visit France and also because of a lot of competitions in this market. There are a large number of hotels here in France so that in any of the seasons you can find the cheap Hotel Rooms out here.

Not only in the Capital town Paris but in other cities of France like Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux you can find a cheap and luxury rooms. Paris being the Capital and also the major business center of France you can easily find these cheap hotel rooms quite easily as there are many tourist or business people from outside are coming each day. More over these Hotel Rooms are equipped with each and every facility for your luxury life. They also have Conference Rooms where you can hold Business Meets when you are in need of them. Many of the Hotels are having contacts with the travel agents and you can easily find them without any wastage of time.

The rates of these Hotels might vary according to the peak seasons when large numbers of tourists or persons are expected to arrive. So it’s better for one to reserve these hotels in advance so as to avail all the luxury facility of a Hotel room with cheap prices. Now it has also become very easy for you to search for these Hotels online as many of these Hotels are now having online booking facilities as well as you can book them through Travel Agents as well. So before planning for a trip to France must look for these Cheap Hotels with state of art facilities so that you can have the best deal of your prices without compromising with your comfort and luxury.

Autoroutes or french motorways are a delight to drive on, as they are all relatively new and incredibly well maintained. All of the motorways throughout France are a fast efficient way to travel and once you are on them they are easy to navigate. They are usually expensive and the locals prefer to avoid them and stick to the national routes (the RN and D roads).

France has one of the densest road networks in Europe. French roads are always very well maintained and the road network includes 4960 miles of motorways constructed in the last 20 years (many with tolls) which link the main provincial towns and cities with Paris.

The minimum driving age in France is 18 years old. All drivers in France need a valid drive’s licence. Proof of insurance coverage is necessary. The gendarmes may request to see your license, insurance certificate, and vehicle registration at any time. You should also carry a passport or National Identity Card.

Beware on the spot fines are imposed for not carrying the proper documentation. All drivers should carry a red warning triangle in their boot, together with spare head-light bulbs, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

In France to rent a car you must be over 20 years of age and have held a full driving license for at least a year. Insurance is obligatory. All of the main car rental companies have offices in all railway stations and airports, as well as in major city centers.

If you are driving to France from another country, there is a good choice of car-ferry operators from England and the Eurotunnel.

All foreign cars need to display a sticker showing the country of registration displayed close to the rear registration plate. Right hand drive vehicles need to have the head-lights adjusted or have deflector kits fitted which are easily available at all the English ports.

You will need to obtain a green card from your English insurer for full cover abroad. If you do not have a green card your UK insurance will not cover you outside of England. You can also arrange for rescue and recovery service with the AA, RAC and Europ Assist.

Like in England, cars already on a roundabout have right of way. In France you must give way to the right unless road signs indicate otherwise.

Avoid driving around the Champs d’Elysess in Paris if you can help it of course unless you want to do your very own Chevy Chase European Vacation roundabout experience. There are 4 traffic police stationed at the Champs d’Elysees at all times for very good reason. I have heard that insurance companies pay out and do not ask any questions as to liability for accidents on the Champs d’Elysees. It is a complete nightmare and accidents happen all the time.

Permanent speed cameras are normally well signposted and are big rectangular boxes painted with bright fluorescent black and yellow diagonal stripes to warn you. The Michelin website lists where these fixed speed cameras are on your journey and advises the speed limit at those locations. It will also calculate the toll for you on motorways.

On autoroutes the speed limit is 130 kilometres and 110 when it rains. On dual carriage ways the speed limit is reduced to 110 kilometres and 90 when it rains. On other roads the speed limit is 90 kilometres and 80 when it rains. towns, villages, hamlets, the normal limit is 50 kilometres and the French do not always display the speed limit.

Filling up with petrol or diesel is straight forward when travelling on a motorway. If you are travelling on the national routes you have to be really careful about buying petrol or diesel on a Sunday. Almost every service station is closed on a Sunday (except those on Motorways) and all of the automatic petrol pumps do not accept international credit cards only French debit and credit cards. Hypermarkets and large supermarkets sell petrol at a discount but remember only to locals with French cards on a Sunday.