Vue du Jardin de Brantes Bassin
Val Joannis Garden ©SiefkinDR, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Pavillon de Galon ©Guy Hervais, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jardin de Brantes
Provencal fountain
Saint-Remy-de-Provence
Jardin de Brantes
Fountain in Aix-en-Provence
Garden at the studio of Paul Cezanne, Aix-en-Provence
Tour highlights:
Pavillion de Galon – a beautifully restored Provençal estate
Lavender Fields of Valensole
Mas dou Gaou – a private, contemporary garden
Visits to the lovely Provencal towns of St Rémy and Bandol
Accompanied throughout by garden expert David Hurrion
Cypress trees, sunlit vineyards, and silvery olive groves stretching across rolling hills; terraced slopes set against limestone cliffs and distant mountains. This is the essence of Provence, a landscape both rugged and refined, shaped by centuries of cultivation and a climate that demands resilience. Hot summers, drying winds, and scarce water have not diminished its beauty—instead, they have helped create some of the most distinctive and inspiring gardens in Europe.
This tour will explore a rich variety of these gardens and landscapes. From historic estates and formal terraces to innovative contemporary designs and private creations, each visit reveals a different response to the Provençal environment. Along the way, you will encounter exceptional planting, artistic influences, and a deep connection between garden design and place, all set within one of France’s most captivating regions.
Available Departures |
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| 22 - June - 2027 | £ 3675.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings St Pancras Departing: 22nd June 2027 at 09:01 Returning: 29th June 2027 at 18:37 |
Day 1: London to Aix-en-Provence
Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille, continuing south through the French countryside to Aix-en-Provence. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. There will be time to settle in before a welcome drink and dinner.
Day 2: Pavillion de Galon and Chateau Val Joanis
This morning visit award winning garden Pavillion de Galon, full of local flora, created by photographer Guy Hervais around an 18th century mansion. After the visit a light lunch (included) will be served on the terrace. In the afternoon visit the gardens at Chateau Val Joanis, a highly-regarded winery that has a remarkable, formal kitchen garden. Late afternoon, return to the hotel with the evening free.
Day 3: Domaine d’Orves, Bandol and Jardin Albertas
Morning visit to the award-winning gardens of Domaine d’Orves. Here a beautiful walled garden surrounds the house filled with endemic plants and plants from around the world. One feature of the garden is the constant presence of water through fountains, false springs and marshy ponds. Heading towards the coast there will be time for a leisurely lunch (own expense) in the pretty town of Bandol. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Jardin Albertas, originally created in the 17th century the gardens are a testament to the art of the 17th century garden. Structured over four terraces there is plenty to explore with their statues, ponds, trees and plants. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 4: Chateau de Brantes, St Rémy and Mas dou Gaou
Morning visit to Chateau de Brantes which has a Tuscan inspired garden created in the 1960s by Danish landscape architect Mogens Tvede. Afterwards, plenty of time will be allowed for a leisurely lunch (own expense) in St Rémy. In the afternoon visit a private garden designed by James and Helen Basson. Explore this garden that was designed with a tableau of planting to encourage users to explore the garden away from the house. Return to the hotel with your evening at leisure.
Day 5: Lavender farm, Puimoisson and Atelier de Cezanne
This morning visit the family run Lavendes Angelvin to see that famous Provencal lavender. We continue through rolling countryside to Puimoisson for some free time before returning to Aix-en-Provence to visit Atelier de Cezanne. It was in this studio that between 1902 and 1906 Cezanne worked and created some of his greatest works.
Day 6: La Ciotat and Cassis
Visit Parc du Mugel in La Ciotat, where a sheltered microclimate beneath dramatic cliffs allows an impressive range of plant species to flourish. Exotic and Mediterranean plants grow side by side, creating a garden of unexpected richness. Continue to Cassis for lunch (own expense), followed by a boat trip through the Calanques, where sheer limestone cliffs and resilient coastal vegetation provide a striking contrast to the cultivated gardens seen earlier in the week.
Day 7: La Louve and Jardins des Plantes Tinctorialles
We begin at La Louve, a garden known for its contemporary planting and thoughtful use of space. This is followed by the Jardins des Plantes Tinctorialles, where an unusual collection of dye plants is grown and displayed with both botanical and historical interest. Our final visit is to the garden of Hôtel Pigonnet, for a tour of their beautiful garden. Farewell dinner tonight.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to the station for your return journey via Lille to London.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 30 travellers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the amount of time spent walking and standing for viewing at attractions. For further information, please visit the mobility page on our website, or call our team if you have any questions prior to booking.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
PLEASE NOTE: As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages.Trollies are available at St Pancras and Lille, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform.
Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and we have arranged a 10% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the thebaggageman service. Tel: 01844 264890
BEST WESTERN LE GALICE, AIX-EN-PROVENCE
This modern four-star hotel is located around a 10–15 minute walk from the centre of Aix-en-Provence and offers bright, spacious and comfortable accommodation. Facilities include a restaurant and bar, terrace and seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and well-appointed, air-conditioned bedrooms with modern amenities including free Wi‑Fi, bath/shower, TV, telephone, minibar, hairdryer, tea/coffee-making facilities and safe.
YOUR EXPERT GUIDE
David started gardening as a young child and has been growing plants for more than 40 years. He has worked in gardens and nurseries, growing on a range of different soils and in different types of microclimate. His extensive knowledge and practical experience of plants, crops and growing techniques is founded on a thorough botanical and scientific training, complemented by an in depth understanding of garden design, wildlife, geology and climatology.
He also trained as a teacher and has taught a huge diversity of subjects from botany, soil science and plant identification, to propagation, garden design and crop production, and from City & Guilds through to Degree level. He is also a popular speaker with local gardening groups.
As a journalist, David has spent more than 20 years writing for and editing the nation’s crop of garden magazines, currently as Associate Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. He has also written for a number of websites and appeared both as a regular contributor and an expert commentator on TV and radio.
David is a popular figure in the horticultural world, well liked and respected for his knowledge by nurserymen, professional gardeners, journalists and the gardening public. He has designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at most of the major garden shows in the UK, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, and is now a Designate Judge for the Royal Horticultural Society.
He has also travelled to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, to discover plants and gardens, both independently and on more than 50 trips accompanying groups of gardeners.
