Floral France: Where to Live

If you love to be surrounded with flowers – whether in your own garden or an expertly tended one in a nearby château or tourist site, we have some ideas for where you can find your perfect property in France, says Leah Rottier…

France’s fascination with flower gardens and vegetable plots dates back several centuries. As early as the Middle Ages, monks designed geometric-shaped vegetable patches, mixing various herbs and plants for their colours, textures and aromas.

Nowadays, you’ll find spectacular gardens to visit in every department of France. Whether it’s the exotic garden of Eze overlooking the glistening Mediterranean Sea, or the beautiful Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier, there are hundreds of green spaces filled with vibrant flowers, plants and trees to choose from. Being close to nature and having beautiful gardens to stroll around is one of the many pleasures of living in France. Taking a walk through some of the country’s finest landscaped parks and kitchen gardens isn’t just beneficial for our wellbeing, it can also give us great ideas about how to be creative with flowers and vegetables in our own French gardens, whatever their size.

The second most popular tourist site in Normandy, after Mont Saint-Michel, is Claude Monet’s Gardens in Giverny. When the Impressionist painter
arrived in this idyllic village in the department of Eure in April 1883, he set out to create stunning oases of fragrant flowers and landscaped greenery, where he could relax and find inspiration.

In fact, some of Monet’s most famous and spectacular paintings were inspired by his gardens. The Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris is home to his extraordinary The Water Lilies set of paintings, which reflects the magnificent pond in his jardin d’eau at Giverny. Monet’s gardens are open to visit from April to October. Stroll down the fragrant paths soaking up the vibrant colours of the lilacs, irises, hortensias and roses, and see how Monet mixed pale flowers with bolder colours to create sublime artwork both in his masterpieces on canvas and in his gardens.

Giverny itself is a small village on the banks of the Seine, ideally situated an hour from Paris and Rouen, and just 40 minutes from the larger town of Evreux. It’s a beautiful and sought-after commune, surrounded by vines and open fields, and it’s not difficult to see why Monet loved this part of France so much.
Just across the river lies the vibrant town of Vernon, with its great supermarkets, schools and medical facilities. “This medium-sized town is popular with those looking to live within proximity of big cities, but far from stress,” says Lucien Hadjadj of Safti Immobilier. He arrived in Giverny as a tourist 30 years ago and immediately fell in love with the area, choosing to settle in Vernon.

“It’s a fantastic town to live in!” he enthuses. “Vernon is only an hour from the coast and Paris by rail or motorway. With its train station, cinema, theatres and good-quality schools, as well as numerous cultural and social associations, it’s great living here.”

Needless to say, this popular area on the Normandy border comes with a higher price tag than other towns in the region. Expect to pay around €250,000 upwards for a three-bedroom house with a surface area of approximately 120m² and a large garden to enjoy. It’s rare to find fixer-uppers on the property market around Vernon, but follow the river a little further north to explore the small towns and villages around Gaillon and there are more options for DIY enthusiasts or those looking to take on a project.

Head south to the expat- friendly department of Dordogne and you’ll find the impressive gardens of Marqueyssac. Set in a 22- hectare park surrounding a majestic 19th-century château, this National Historical Monument is known for its spectacular landscaping and stunning panoramic views.

Visitors flock here to stroll along several kilometres of pathways, surrounded by lush greenery, waterfalls and more than 150,000 boxwoods, which are all pruned by hand. Head to Belvedere viewpoint, 130 metres above the Dordogne river, and you’ll get breathtaking views over the surrounding valley, its beautiful villages and some of the department’s most picturesque landscapes and châteaux, including Beynac and Castelnaud. Peacocks roam freely throughout the gardens and Marqueyssac is also home to a magnificent allosaurus skeleton, measuring more than seven metres long and two and a half metres high, so it’s a great spot to take some Instagram-worthy photos.

Summer evenings are the best time to visit. Over 2,000 candles and 150 lights illuminate the grounds of Marqueyssac, so you can stroll through a romantic landscape while listening to the soothing sounds of jazz played by the in- house pianist and saxophonist. With the incredible views and ambience, it’s easy to see why these gardens are the most visited in southwest France.

Marqueyssac lies less than 10km from Sarlat-la-Canéda (or Sarlat as it’s more commonly known) and around 14km east of St-Cyprien. It’s a sought-after area with a fantastic climate. The beautiful medieval town is the gem of the Périgord Noir region. Its historic buildings, quaint charm and abundance of shops and eateries make it popular with housebuyers. Valérie Quesnel of Human Immobilier in Sarlat explains that the area is popular because “it offers a style of life that is peaceful, yet, at the same time, full of local events and festivals. The villages surrounding Sarlat blend rich landscapes of green spaces with a diverse architectural and cultural heritage.”

It’s this beauty and charm that entice homebuyers to flock to this part of Dordogne. In Sarlat, prices start around €290,000 for a large, three- bedroom house of more than 150m² with a substantial garden, or from €220,000 for a modern bungalow with three bedrooms and small garden. Bargain hunters should explore the Groléjac sector, a short distance away, for fantastic property deals. In this area, prices tend to be much lower than in Sarlat and you can find a four-bedroom house that’s ready to move into for less than €150,000.

Tucked away in the tranquil countryside, on the banks of the Loire and less than 30 minutes’ drive from the busy city of Tours, you’ll find a spectacular Renaissance castle. Château Villandry is known for its magnificent, terraced gardens, split over three tiers, as well as its charming labyrinth with its towering hedges.

In the Ornamental Garden, you’ll discover a beautiful section of sculpted hearts. In summer, vivid red flowers bloom inside the hearts and visitors flock here to snap photos of the bright colours and stunning designs. There are several sections in this garden, including one showcasing a huge Maltese Cross and an immaculately sculpted Cross of Languedoc. On a balmy day, there’s nothing better than a gentle walk through the Water Garden. It’s loved by locals and visitors alike for its feeling of calm and tranquillity. Situated at the southern end of the estate, its quiet location makes it the perfect spot for relaxation. With its central pool and fountains, and numerous rosebushes and perennials, it’s a pleasant and peaceful oasis.

But the highlight of this château is undoubtedly the Kitchen Garden. Mirroring the Renaissance style of the estate, it’s a huge garden divided into nine equal sections, each one displaying a different geometric pattern made up of vegetables and flowers. Meticulous care has been taken to plant the vegetables in alternating colours, so you’ll see rows of grey-green leeks, next to beetroot and red cabbage, alongside emerald- green carrot tops. There are 40 types of vegetable planted each year and the effect is absolutely astounding.

In the Herb Garden, you’ll see more than 30 plant varieties and learn how they can be used in the kitchen for flavour or medicinal purposes. The fragrances emanating from this section of the grounds are sublime and this garden of herbs will certainly inspire you to get creative in your own French kitchen. Villandry is a delightful commune, within easy reach of the university city of Tours. The climate is very mild in this sector, so much so that the Château de Villandry has an orangery to house its abundance of citrus trees.

The castle’s convenient location in the Centre-Val de Loire region makes the area around it popular with househunters and there’s easy access to motorways linking it to Paris and other major cities.

Marie Kerbriand-Postic of Lochois Immobilier says that “Villandry and nearby Azay- le-Rideau are very attractive prospects for housebuyers due to the châteaux and the fact that the towns are full of charm and history. Both are also close to Tours and Chinon, giving rapid access to all amenities, but allowing a peaceful life in the countryside. The lush, rolling landscapes in this area are perfect for those who love walking or cycling in their spare time.”

As you’d expect, property prices are high in and around the sought-after towns of Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau. With Tours only an hour from Paris by train and three hours by car, it’s a popular location for second-home owners, as well as those who are looking to retire to the beautiful Indre countryside.

Expect to pay in the region of €240,000 and upwards for a three-bedroom house with a surface area of approximately 90m and a small garden. If you’re willing to explore smaller villages a little further away from Tours and a short distance from Villandry, you can find some lovely bargains. In the quaint village of Avrillé-les-Ponceaux, for example, you can find a substantial three-bedroom property for around €180,000.

If you decide to buy a house in one of these three areas, you won’t be disappointed with the quality of life, abundance of nature and proximity to facilities. You’ll also have easy access to fantastic parks and gardens where you can enjoy the health benefits of being surrounded by nature, and be inspired and pick up a tip or two to implement in your own vegetable patch or garden.