Gardens of Provence, Côte d’Azur and Lake Como
Aix-en-Provence - Juan-Les-Pins – Menton - Lake ComoIn the glorious springtime month of April, join ‘gourmet gardener’ Julie Kinney for this delightful sojourn from the Mediterranean coast of France and its hinterland, to the spectacular gardens and villas of Lake Como in the footsteps of the Swiss Alps. On the way, discover a stunning array of villas and chateaux, private homes and royal residences, gardens and parks, and enjoy the superb food and wine, art and culture for which these regions are renowned.
Enjoy leisurely stays in Aix-en-Provence, Juan-les-Pins, Menton and Lake Como, from where you will explore a mouthwatering selection of gardens. Highlights include the Chateau Val Joanis and La Louve near Aix, the Villa Ephrussi, Villa Thuret, Château de Gourdon, ‘La Casella’ and Villa Noailles on the Côte d’Azur; ‘La Mortola’ and ‘Clos du Peyronnet’ at Menton; the villas Melzi, Carlotta and del Balbianello at Lake Como; Isola Bella and Isola Madre on Lake Maggiore.
Other highlights of the tour include Cézanne’s house and studio, the medieval ‘perched villages’of Eze, Gourdon and Grasse, the Château Grimaldi (Picasso Museum), the Swiss lakeside city of Locarno, and four nights at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo overlooking Lake Como.
Serre de la Madone, Menton
ITINERARY:
Thu 12 April 2012: Depart Australia
Suggested departure from Australia on Emirates flights via Dubai.
Fri 13 April: Arrive Nice – Aix-en-Provence
Afternoon arrival in Nice. Transfer to Aix-en-Provence (approx. 170 KM, 2hrs). Aix-en-Provence is the former capital of Provence and is a university town and well known for its festivals. Stroll along the Cours Mirabeau and explore the flower-filled squares and narrow streets of the old quarter. Tonight join Julie Kinney for a welcome briefing and dinner. (D)
Sat 14 April: Aix-en-Provence
Just outside Aix-en-Provence, visit the Atelier Paul Cézanne, the last house and studio of the artist, with views towards Montagne Ste-Victoire, one of Cézanne’s favourite subjects. Continue to Château Val Joanis, a vineyard and gardens located in Pertuis. On arrival, join Julie Kinney for a tour of the winery, wine tasting and lunch followed by a visit to the garden which has also been classified as one of the 'Notable Gardens of France'.
The gardens are laid out on three terraces, and are designed to resemble a French garden of the 18th century, combining both ornamental plants and selection of vegetables and fruits. It features rose trees, ornamental bushes, and old varieties of pears, apples and other fruit attached to the walls in the style of the 18th century. An arbor covered with climbing roses joins the three terraces. (BL)
Sun 15 April: Aix-en-Provence
Excursion to the town of Bonnieux for a visit to La Louve*, a private contemporary garden classified as one of the 'Notable Gardens of France'. It was created beginning in 1986 by Nicole de Vésian, a former textile designer for the Paris fashion house of Hermès.
The gardens are laid out on a series of terraces, and are designed to be in harmony with the surrounding natural landscape. They incorporate local rocks and stones, trees and bushes trimmed into geometric shapes, and wooden benches placed for meditation and contemplation. The garden includes an Arbutus tree shaped by artist Marc Nucera; fig, cherry, apricot and apple trees; roses and iris; and native fragrant plants of the region, including lavender, rosemary, and santolina.
On the summit of the village of Bonnieux, which clings to the slopes of the Luberon Mountain, lies Les Blayons*, set in one and a half acres of grassed land planted with mature trees and shrubs and has exceptional views over the surrounding area. Les Blayons is the home of the artist Denis Brihat known for beautiful photos of vegetables and flowers from his garden. (B)
Mon 16 April: Aix-en-Provence – Juan-les-Pins
Depart Aix-en-Provence after breakfast and travel to Juan-les-Pins. Break the journey with a visit to the gardens of the Villa Noailles, designed by the Armenian, Gabriel Guevrekian. It is triangular in plan and, one of the best examples of the influence of Art Deco ideas on garden design. Guevrekian's garden is on a triangular plot, fortuitously suited to an Art Deco composition. It has a decorative pattern of square beds, paved triangles, slab walls and globular plants.
Arrive in Juan-les-Pins in the afternoon. (BD)
Tue 17 April: Juan-les-Pins
Exploration of Juan-les-Pins and Antibes. The jardin botanique de la Villa Thuret is a renowned botanical garden created in 1857 by Gustave Thuret, a botanist best known for studies of reproduction in algae.
Today the garden contains approximately 2,500 trees and shrubs in its collections, representing some 1,600 exotic species from the Mediterranean or hot climate countries including South Africa, Australia, California, Chile and Mexico as well as China, Japan, and New Zealand. The garden contains fine collections of cycads, conifers and an exceptional collection of cypress.
Continue to the Château Grimaldi, home to the Musée Picasso, one of the great collections of the artist's work. Remainder of the day at leisure to soak up the atmosphere of Juan les Pins. (C)
Wed 18 April: Juan-les-Pins
Today journey into the hinterland of the Côte d’Azur to the town of Grasse and the small town of Gourdon. This medieval village is the home of the Château de Gourdon. Initially built as a fortress high on a rocky bluff during the Middle Ages, it has been transformed over the centuries into the spectacular castle it is today. It also boasts a series of stunning gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, the renowned landscape architect responsible for the gardens of Versailles.
Explore Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, on a walking tour of the old town and enjoy some free time. In the afternoon stop at the private garden ‘La Casella’*. (C)
Thu 19 April: Juan-les-Pins
After breakfast travel to Fréjus for a visit to ‘La Pomme d'Ambre’ which was created by Nicole Arboireau, a well known French gardener. The garden is built on a slope on which a series of terraces have been created. With more than 700 species the garden has the typical informal exuberance which characterises cottage gardening. The garden contains many traditional cottage plants such as kerria, aquilegias and dicentra but also many exotics common to the region such as the beautiful tall blue echiums.
Enjoy a traditional provincial buffet lunch before spending the afternoon at leisure in nearby Cannes. (CL)
Fri 20 April: Juan-les-Pins - Menton
Bid “Au revoir” to Juan les Pins and travel along the Côte d’Azur to Menton. Visit the magnificent villa and garden of Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, completed in 1912 and regarded as amongst the Côte d’Azur’s finest.
Free time for lunch (at own expense) in Eze, a medieval ‘perched village’. Visit the Jardin Exotic which was opened in 1949 amongst the ruins of the ancient medieval fortress. It houses more than 400 succulent plants including cactus, aloes, agaves and euphorbia. Located 427m above sea level, it has spectacular views over the coastline of the French Riviera. Arrive in Menton late in the afternoon. (CD)
Sat 21 April: Menton
Start your exploration of Menton with a visit to the Serre de la Madone Garden Museum.
Classified as an historic site, this garden was laid out between 1919 and 1939 by the renowned landscape-gardener Lawrence Johnstone, creator of Hidcote Manor. Terraces, rockeries, pergolas, ponds and orange grove, plus a profusion of rare species and perfumed plants make this a really privileged place.
Continue with a visit to the garden of Palais Carnolès boasting Europe’s largest collection of citrus trees, featuring approx. 400 plants from some one hundred species including orange, lemon, grapefruit, clementine, citrus, kumquat trees and more. On display is a collection of contemporary sculptures.
After lunch embark on a guided tour of the old town of Menton where narrow streets cascade toward the sea. The majestic Basilique Saint-Michel and La Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs (White Sinners Church) are beautiful Baroque churches. At the top of the hill is the Vieux Château cemetery with unrivalled views over the sea, where many Russian and British aristocrats have found their final resting place. (CL)
Sun 22 April: Menton
Continue your garden discovery of Menton with a visit to the Fontana Rosa Gardens. Laid out adjacent to the Moorish style 'House of Writers' villa in the 1920's by Vincente Blasco-Ibañez, a Spanish writer and screenwriter. He intended that the garden would honour famous writers, and the busts of several notable ones are installed in various sites. It is laid out along Andalusian and Arabian-Persian styles with ficus macrophylla, araucaria heterophylla, palm trees, banana trees and scented rosebushes.
Located near the Italian border, the Maria Serena villa was built in 1886 and designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the famous Paris opera house. Standing on the outskirts of the city in an area called ‘la petite Afrique’, the 1.5 hectare garden is reputed as having the mildest climate in France. It boasts a large collection of palm trees, cycas and tropical plants – a genuine outdoor greenhouse.
After a break for lunch (at own expense) explore the private garden Les Colombières*. Artist and writer Ferdinand Bac designed and created this garden between 1918 and 1927. This garden offers a path marked by astonishing works: the garden of Homer, the trompe l’oeil garden, the obelisk rotunda, the Palladio pavillon and Bellavista, among others. The garden was listed a Historical Monument in 1991. (C)
Mon 23 April: Menton
Today visit the Hanbury Botanic Gardens also known as ‘La Mortola’ located just across the border in Italy. Planned and planted in 1867 by a wealthy English merchant, Sir Thomas Hanbury, and his botanist brother Daniel, 'La Mortola' is located on a small, steep peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea. The terraced gardens contain species from five continents, including many palms and succulents.
On return to Menton, discover the private garden of Clos du Peyronnet*. It was designed by Humphrey Waterfield and is, in effect, an English garden transported to the French Riviera. Some of the terracing survives from when the garden was a citrus grove. It has a pergola, graceful steps, excellent planting and a stairway of successive pools, of which the last is the ocean. Finish the day with a visit to the newly opened Museum Jean Cocteau – Severin Wunderman Collection. (C)
Tue 24 April: Menton - Lake Como
After breakfast depart Menton and travel to Tremezzo located on the western shore of Lake Como in Northern Italy (approx. 370 KM, 5hrs incl. stop). The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is located adjacent to the Villa Carlotta, with views across the lake to the villa Melzi and the resort town of Bellagio. (CD)
Wed 25 April: Lake Como
Today you will explore Lake Como by boat. This morning you will cross the lake by boat to the Villa Melzi near Bellagio. Laid out at the beginning of the 19th century it is considered the first example of an English garden in the area and contains several interesting works of art, architectural relics and rare plants: red oaks, giant redwoods, white pines, tulip trees, swamp cypresses from North America and camellias from Asia.
Lunch and time at leisure in the elegant resort town of Bellagio before returning to Tremezzo by ferry. (B)
Thu 26 April: Lake Como
Enjoy a full day trip to nearby Lake Maggiore. From the lake-side town of Stresa travel by boat to Isola Bella and Isola Madre, both important gardens owned by the powerful Borromeo family of bankers since the 15th century. Lunch at a family-owned restaurant.
Return to Tremezzo around the northern tip of Lake Maggiore, via the elegant Swiss city of Locarno. Visit the Giardini Jean Arp, a lakeside park with sculptures by the Surrealist artist scattered amongst the palm trees, and see the Visconti Castle, possibly built to a design of Leonardo da Vinci. NB. Passports required today. (BL)
Fri 27 April: Lake Como
This morning visit two of the most beautiful and famous gardens of Lake Como – the Villa Carlotta and the Villa del Balbianello. Filled with a fine collection of 19th century art, the Villa Carlotta is surrounded by a park of great historical and botanical value. Famous for its elaborate terraced gardens, the Villa del Balbianello occupies a promontory overlooking the lake and has been used for numerous film shoots, including A Month by the Lake (1995), Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002), Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Casino Royale (2006).
Enjoy a farewell lunch with Julie Kinney and fellow garden lovers at the famous Villa d’Este, followed by time at leisure to explore the glorious gardens. (BL)
Sat 28 April: Depart Lake Como / Milan
Tour arrangements end today with a transfer to Milan airport for an afternoon departure on Emirates to Australia via Dubai. (B)
Sun 29 April: Arrive Australia
Evening arrival in Australia.
* Visits to private gardens are subject to confirmation by the owners.
