Situated in the heart of Paris' elegant Right Bank, this formal garden has rows and rows of flowers. The Luxembourg Palace was built for Marie di Medici in the Florentine style in the 17th century. The gardens surround the palace. They are plotted around a central lake, where intellectuals from the nearby university pull up wrought iron chairs to read in the sun. On weekends, the park is popular with families whose small children float toy sailboats on the lake.
Luxembourg Gardens
75006 Paris
France
011-33-01-4234-2362
paris.org/Monuments/Luxembourg
More than just a garden, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, informally referred to as Kew Gardens, in Surrey, England, works to conserve plant species. The 326-acre area preserves everything from lily pads to tropical flowers in its marshes, bamboo gardens and greenhouses. Located on the River Thames, Kew Gardens boasts a breathtaking array of trees. One popular feature is the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway, which takes visitors underground and then 59 feet in the air to walk among the trees.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
United Kingdom
011-44-020-08332-5607
kew.org
The gardens at Giverny are home to the famous water lilies that inspired French painter Claude Monet. Located about 50 miles from Paris, Giverny is actually two different gardens. Most of the flowers are in the Clos Normand, located in front of the house. The most famous example of the naturally styled, unpretentious flowers is the climbing rose. Another famous scene from Monet features the wisteria that hangs over a small Japanese-style bridge. The second garden, located in the back, is home to the water lilies.
Claude Monet Gardens at Giverny
Rue Claude Monet
27620 Giverny
France
giverny.org
