These are my 9 favorite gardens to visit around the world

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The gardens divide opinions. Some like them ornamental, others wild. Some prefer large gardens organized with follies, others prefer small refuges. That said, everyone loves Giverny, Monet’s garden in France, because not only does it show exactly how it inspired the painter, but it also looks beautiful in every season.

Then there is the garden of the Palace of Versailles, which on the whole can be a bit big to even be called a garden, but looking at the smaller sub-sections is quite amazing. Almost every city has botanical gardens, such as the fabulous Kew Gardens in London, which tend to wow their audiences with a variety and breathtaking exhibits. And I love them all.

But, in my travels, I stumbled across smaller gardens, quirky gardens, some which by definition are not even gardens but all of them kind of charmed me for their own reasons, and I would love to share them with you, so if you find yourself nearby you can come in and be enchanted yourself.

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1. The King’s Vegetable Garden, Versailles, France

So, yes, Versailles is mentioned, but not the large official ornate garden, but the King’s Potager just around the corner from the main gate of the palace. It is a fortified gem, practically completely hidden, that few visitors to Versailles have the opportunity to see. A real fruit and vegetable garden, beautifully landscaped, with greenhouses, bees and chickens, is still much the same today as it was when Louis XIV came from the main garden of the palace through the door of the King. This garden once served to feed everyone at the palace and, while useful, also had to cater for extravagant tastes. Apples, for example, were grown with stenciled images or emblems, and pear trees were grown as hedges.

Pro tip: There is another magnificent royal vegetable garden in the small town of La Roche Guyon along the Seine, north of Paris.

Hortillonnages garden in Amiens, France
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2. Les Hortillonnages, Amiens, France

The beautiful city of Amiens, an hour by train from Paris, is home to amazing gardens. Even more market gardeners and fruit trees than ornamental, the Hortillonnages are floating gardens with countless canals, about forty kilometers away, separating the small green plots, and the farmers exercising their profession on small traditional flat-bottomed boats. Unfortunately, it is a dying profession, and more and more plots are devoted to private gardens, while the canals are still explored by boat, but with tourists in the boats rather than farmers. But that does not detract from the strange beauty of these unusual gardens.

Pro tip: Once a year, on the third Saturday in June, a traditional floating market is still held in Amiens, with the remaining farmers selling their products in traditional costumes.

Zen garden of the Temple of the Pacific Dragon;  Kyoto, Japan
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3. Zen Rock Garden, Kyoto, Japan

When is a garden a garden? Usually you expect a bit of greenery, right? This is not the case in this example: the Zen Garden, in 15th century Ryoan-ji, the Temple of the Pacific Dragon, in Kyoto. A rock garden is a simple piece of beautifully raked sand with 15 rocks, each one surrounded by a small strip of grass. Extremely simple and, you think, boring. But it is a zen garden that invites you to look and to be still and to forget your external worries. Of the 15 rocks, you can only see 14 at a time. And believe me, I tried to see them from all angles, not very zen, but quite fascinating. Sitting in the pavilion just looking at the arrangement is certainly very calming.

Pro tip: Try to organize your trip to coincide either with the cherry blossom season in April or in the fall when the leaves are turning, as the Zen garden is also surrounded by a beautiful park.

William Ricketts Sanctuary;  Olinda, Australia
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4. William Ricketts Shrine, Olinda, Australia

The Dandenongs are one of my favorite places in the world. This low mountain range not far from Melbourne is full of ferns and gigantic rowan trees, waterfalls and gurgling streams as well as numerous gardens, some more public than others. I love William Ricketts Sanctuary, a secret garden that even locals pass by often. Hidden by tall ferns, the small garden is dotted with dozens of sculptures by artist William Ricketts. Sculptures hidden and cut in trees, in the undergrowth, standing quietly behind bushes, make a walk in this garden a magical experience. Most of the sculptures are fairies and perfectly adapted to their surroundings.

Pro tip: Stop in Olinda for lunch or afternoon tea and some shopping. It’s a charming little town full of quirky cafes and shops.

5. Corner forbidden, Middleham, United Kingdom

It’s strange. It’s a garden, of course, but a garden that started with the owner building a wall and planting trees to protect it from the wind. A small cave was built in the wall for fun. A craze or two followed, as did other quirky corners, and in short, the Forbidden Corner finally opened to the public with a lot of fun for adults and kids alike. You can pick up a map, follow clues, uncover hidden statues, a mountain of glass, dragons in tunnels, and more, all in a lovely garden. Great fun with kids in tow, but honestly? Equally fun without them.

Pro tip: This lies in the heart of North Yorkshire, with beautiful Middleham, a village full of horses, and the Yorkshire Dales begging to be explored. Stay a bit.

Ibirapuera Park;  São Paulo, Brazil
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6. Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo, Brazil

A park rather than a garden, and an immense park proportioned to the immense city it serves. But, Ibirapuera Park is also a garden, with so many different areas that make up this park that you can walk through a fairly small garden one minute, stumble upon a wide bamboo path the next, go to a museum, see a concert in the amphitheater and on foot, or by bike around the many alleys for hours. Likewise, you can find a quiet place, buy a fresh coconut from a vendor, sit and watch the awesome horizon on the horizon and watch the world go by. It’s a nice corner in a bustling city, and as big or as small as you want it to be.

Pro tip: Look for the building of Brazilian supreme architect Oscar Niemeyer (white with a bright red roof above the entrance) and one of the murals by Brazil’s most famous street artist Eduard Kobra in the park.

High Line Park;  New York City
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7. High Line, New York City, United States

Although there are so many wonderful gardens in Manhattan, the High Line became one of my favorites the first time I walked there. I have always liked cities to reinvent old and disused places. Much like in Paris, the old above-ground railway tracks are perfect for urban gardens that offer not only a leafy retreat but also great views and that ideal mix of city and nature. The High Line is perfect for sitting down with your lunch or a book, for seeing bees buzzing through the city, for sniffing some (cleaner) air and recharging your batteries in nature, while discovering the art , music and events in an extraordinary setting. setting.

Pro tip: Take a self-guided, or local-led, tour and learn about the different projects, from art to sustainability, taking place along the High Line.

the garden of Cézanne's studio;  Aix-en-Provence, France
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8. The Garden of Cézanne’s Workshop, Aix-en-Provence, France

It’s a little garden that’s not even on the description when looking for Cézanne’s studio in Aix-en-Provence, it’s just there, outside the studio, but it’s the one of the most relaxing gardens I have ever set foot in. studio, just on the hill above Aix, is a lovely little house and studio, and outside the private garden stretches out a bit to the side, then winds down the hill, allowing for a glance through the trees in the distance. There are plenty of places around Aix that tell you that Cézanne was inspired by it, but even as a non-painter, I would have loved to paint this little garden. Instead, I spent time on the bench breathing the Provençal air, listening to the crickets, and letting the sun and the leaves above me play shade games.

Pro tip: If the garden inspires you, why not sign up for a local art course, suitable for beginners as well as those already experienced?

Mauritius National Botanical Garden;  Pamplemousses, Mauritius
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9. Mauritius National Botanical Garden, Pamplemousses, Mauritius

I have to add a botanical garden for the pure variety, right? And this one particularly appealed to me, and not just because it’s in a town called Pamplemousses (grapefruit), but because it was the first time I saw a baobab. That, with the lily pond, with frogs sitting on leaves, and the palm alley, and a stroll through this botanical garden, which is the oldest in the southern hemisphere, is enchanting. If you are from a tropical region it might not be that exciting for you, but coming from Europe or North America the great variety of exotic plants makes it a wonderful day in Mauritius.

Pro tip: If you prefer your nature a little less organized, go on the Monvert nature walk in the center of Mauritius. There are many varied trails of varying distance and difficulty.

There are gardens in the world that are worth a visit. To consider:


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