Which gardens have you really loved, and why?

Luxembourg Garden in Paris. I could sit in any part of it for hours-and have. Also, I loved the Botanic Gardens in Padua, newly visited this past June. Lovely.

Insel Mainau. It's an island connected to the mainland by a footbridge, with gardens and a house. It is on Bodensee (AKA Lake Constance) in southern Germany near the Swiss border.

Virtually any house belonging to the National Trust in England has period gardens. Trellisk in Cornwall has house, gardens and it's own beach.

The first one to come to mind was the Luxembourg Garden in Paris - relaxing, so Parisian, and I love the sound of children's laughter playing. But, my favorite for the beauty, the romance and the setting is Isola Bella on Lake Maggoire.

The obvious one tops the list: Keukenhof. Because... it's Keukenhof.

Beer drinkers probably recognize the name Hoegaarden. The beer's namesake town has a lovely little... well, municipal garden.

There's only one good reason to go out of your way to visit Mannheim, and it's Louisenpark, probably the nicest public park I have seen in Europe. It features, among other things, extensive outdoor and indoor gardens, a small zoo, a lake with a boat ride, an ampitheater and several playgrounds.

Kew Gardens, London. Such variety, you can never be bored. It is lovely at all seasons, even in the heart of winter. There is a small aquarium in one of the greenhouses. There are LOTS of greenhouses. We saw plants that are considered 'heirloom' plants in my husband's family- because they brought the seeds with them when they came over from England over 200 years ago. The rose gardens are sublime. There is a sense of tranquility. And if all you want to do is visit their gift shop, you can go in for free for about 30 minutes. And it is one of the BEST gift shops in London. Bought many a Christmas gift there.

Sissinghurst in Kent, UK.
The Alhambra and Generalife in Granada, Spain.

I loved Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg - flowers in beautiful designs, interesting statues and scenic mountain views. Early in the morning you can have them almost to yourself. We also liked the gardens in Chennonceau. In the UK, I loved the gardens at Cawdor Castle - beautiful gardens with a fairytale castle backdrop.

I really enjoyed and was fascinated by The Explorers Garden in Pitlochry, Scotland. This is a new garden and it features all those explorers that traveled globe looking for the plants that made up the beautiful English and Scottish gardens. When I visited it was only a few years old and so there was still a lot of growing going on. I would love to go back and see it again.

Villa Ephrussi on St. Jean Cap Ferrat for the fountains timed to music not to mention the flower gardens. Monet's garden at Giverny because it is a "Monet". The gardens of Villandry Castle in the Loire Valley. The cactus garden at Eze le Village for the amazing views of the Cote d'Azur. And as mentioned by another poster, the Keukenhof in Holland.

I agree with Andi, I enjoyed the Botanical Gardens in Padua. I also enjoyed Bodnant Gardens near Conwy Wales and of course like Mary, Monet's Garden in Giverny.

in Ireland, Muckross house and gardens.....

The gardens at Hampton Court Palace outside of London. Especially the large rose garden section with so many colors and an aroma that was incredible just standing in the middle of them!

My wife votes for the Botanical Garden in Frankfurt Germany for the variety of flowers. Haven't been to Keukenhof yet but that will happen next spring.

Chateau de Villandry, in the Loire Valley

Chelsea Physick Garden, London

another vote for Villa Ephrussi, St Jean Cap Ferrat

and yes, yes, yes, Alhambra and Generalife in Granada!

Really enjoyed Kew Gardens - just so much variety. And some things other than just plants to see (buildings, statues) - and I loved the gift shop!

And for a non-European garden - the Japanese Tea Garden in San Fran was gorgeous as were the Botanical Gardens in Montreal...breathtaking!

Nobody has mentioned Hidcote Manor Gardens? The original Arts and Crafts gardens incorporating a multitude of different themes rooms.....

Thanks for all the great replies so far! I visited Kew Gardens and Keukenhof as a child - in Kew Gardens, we came upon some enormous birds (don't know what kind) sitting on the grass, and were able to go up and pat them. In Keukenhof, amidst the riot of color, there was a small hill covered in dark pine trees and purple heather, a quiet oasis.

Hidcote is on my list Nigel - should have gone in 2004.

Sissinghurst--absolutely magical and I got to meet Nigel Nicolson.

Villandry--you'll never look at a vegetable garden the same way again.

Chaumont--they have a garden festival every year with imaginative designs, like the Chelsea Flower Show without the crowds

Great Dixter--the long border is a masterpiece thanks to Christopher Lloyd

Terra Nostra Gardens in Furnas on the island of San Miguel in the Azores....absolutely beautiful.
Les Jardins de Cadiot outside of Sarlat, France....the sweet simplicity this tucked away garden.
Giverny, France......even with the crowds, magical.
Generalife/Alhambra, Spain....stunning.
The hillside gardens outside Sorrento and along the Amalfi Coast ...unforgettable.

Most of my favorites are the ususal: Hampton Court, Versailles, Chateau Villandry, Giverny, Luxembourg - for obvious reasons. But I was also quite impressed with the botanical garden in Munich. It's not as large as some others but the layout was really nice and the water lily ponds were beautiful. It was a spur of the moment choice for me and I spent a lovely hour and a half there. Saw some of the most unusual flowers I'd ever seen in Europe.

I've never met a garden I didn't like! In addition to some of the ones mentioned, I especially like Regents Park in London.

Love this travel topic as I try to visit a few gardens during any trip, so everyone's ideas are appreciated and going to be noted. : )Any serene place with roses with old-fashioned fragrance is a must!

As I was reading down the list, I thought that Hidcote Gardens in the Cotswolds would be at the top of my list to post. And then I saw that Nigel beat me to it. So I will second the Hidcote nomination and also add Angelsey Abbey in East Anglia for its variety and size. A lovely place. As was Monet's Giverny...despite all the tourists! What a joy and privilege to go there.

Hi Inbsig,
Another vote for the Keukenhof - just because... 7 million tulips! We arrived before the other tour buses and had the place to ourselves. Villandry - loved the beautiful artistry and design, amazing!

I love the small, walled in gardens at Hatfield House in St. Albans, England. Perfectly proportioned and lovely!
Magdalen College in Oxford has the best college grounds in the city with gorgeous herbaceous borders and cutting gardens.
The gardens of the Abbaye de Valmagne in Herault are great examples of a southern French potagerie. I've replicated some of their technique in my own garden.

My favorite garden in England was the one at Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's farm house. Some of my children's literature students and I walked there from the Windermere ferry stop one fall day. It was a magical moment for all of us.

The Gardens at Caserta, this is an all in one. An extensive Arboretum,, an English Garden,
Secret Gardens and the Fountain Garden which traverses the length of the canal.
Versailles, The Luxembourg, Giverny, and one of my favorites, the little display garden on the south side of Notre Dame along the Seine.

The rose garden in the Parc de Bagatelle in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. As well as many others already named.

English Landscape Gardens, as seen at ...
Stourhead
Stowe
Chatsworth
Blenheim Palace
Longleat
Rousham
Chiswick House
Castle Howard

In England: Castle Howard, Blenheim, Kew, Stourhead, Hidecote, Great Dixter, Hestercombe (my favorite), Sissinghurst

Wales: Bodnant

France: Versailles, Chateau Villandry, Giverny, Villa Ephrussi, Luxembourg Gardens

Italy: Guisti, Villa Carlotta

I don't remember the name of the Garden on the Isle of Skye, but the one thing I do remember were the cacti. I also liked the garden at St Ann's Guesthouse in Inverness. After a long day of walking & sightseeing it was a nice little refuge.

I really liked the park in Salzburg. It's a nice park with some whimsical fountains. I think I liked best the location within a very walkable center. It fits naturally into a stroll through the old center sights

Thanks! A self- guided garden tour of England and Scotland (possibly also Ireland) is something to fantasize about. Also wanted to mention a great garden experience I had in the U.S. - attended a class at Monticello in seed collecting, and we got to go out and collect some for ourselves.

I do not know if it counts as a garden but the grounds around the Borghese Gallery (the building itself not the rest of the park) were really pretty.
J

The garden/grounds at Schonbrun in Vienna. We spent 4 hours and still didn't see all of it.

In addition to those listed for France, I would include the gardens at Fontainebleau. Giverny is memorable.

Château de Chenonceau! Really fun trying to decide whose garden we preferred: Diane de Poitiers or Catherine de Medicis?

I cannot seem to find a what's in bloom when type listing for the gardens at Sissinghurst Castle. Can anyone offer some comments? Is the entire garden white? Thanks.

The White Garden is only one feature, albeit the most famous feature of Sissinghurst.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/

A sixteenth century tower, and other buildings, with the most famous twentieth century garden in England. Sissinghurst garden is a prime example of the Arts and Crafts style. The garden was made on the site of a medieval manor and some structures survive. Harold Nicolson, a diplomat and author, laid down the main lines of the Sissinghurst design in the 1930s. Vita Sackville-West, a poet, a garden writer and Harold's wife, took responsibility for the planting at Sissinghurst garden. She worked as an 'artist-gardener'. Her planting design was brilliant. The historical importance of Sissinghurst Castle Garden comes from its role in transmitting Gertrude Jekyll's design philosophy to a host of visitors. The most famous and influential feature of Sissinghurst is the White Garden. It exemplified and popularised Jekyll's idea of using colour themes in planting design. From http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/sissinghurst_garden

I have two new ones - the Giardino Guisti in Verona, and the Gardens at Trautmansdorff Castle in Merano. Very different in spirit; loved them both.

Luxembourg Garden in Paris. Despite some activity, it is an extremely relaxing and serene place where one can just simply "be".

Sceaux in Paris is very beautiful - but not in the main tourist areas.

Monet's Garden in Giverney
Luxembourg Garden in Paris
Isola Bella in Italy
Villandry in France
All are very different, and all are spectacular in their own way..
SharYn

I second the Villa d'Ephrussi in St. Jean Cap Ferrat, just outside of Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris is a close second for me. Last November, it was wonderful; they were replanting several areas and there were still a few roses.

I have yet to visit Monet's Gardens but it is on the bucket list.

The Keukenhoff was amazing.

A great topic, thanks!

The garden at the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice is pretty special. Designed by Carlo Scarpa, who also designed great renovations for the ground floor interior. The garden has a Zen-like tranquility, superbly designed small details, a marble well head that seems to float. Stepping stones that are too closely spaced for a normal pace, so they force you to slow down.

Also, as others have said, the Orto Botanico in Padua, a garden started around 1550, has a world heritage classification. Plants segregated by purpose rather than by genus, so there is. A place for medicinal herbs, another for poisonous plants and so on. There is a new glasshouse there, with five different micro climates, from wet tropics to arid desert.