Hidden Gardens Hidden France offers tours to the little-known gardens of the fascinating Languedoc region of France, as well as guided botanical walks in the countryside. Listed in the Lonely Planet Guide to Languedoc Roussillon as the specialists for garden tours in the region, Hidden Gardens is the first company to offer tours focusing solely on  the Languedoc. Come and explore this fascinating region of southern  France, with its undiscovered gardens, breathtaking countryside, Cathar castles, excellent wines, and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Cité at Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi. 

In 2010 we are offering six tours in the spring and autumn when gardens and countryside are a stunning mass of plants in flower and temperatures are perfect for exploring.

Featured on the tours:  château gardens, designed and constructed in the 19^th century;  modern gardens by contemporary designers;  gardens that are whimsical and reflect the personality of the owner, as well as guided walks in the garrigue and maquis (typical of the Mediterranean countryside) when it is at its best with swathes of aromatic plants such as rosemary, thyme and lavender;  flowering shrubs such as cistus and phlomis;  charming bulbous plants such as  tulips, Star of Bethlehem, grape hyacinths, narcissus, irises, asphodels and fritillaries, not to mention the many varieties of wild orchid.

Small groups:  we  limit the number of participants on each tour  to a maximum of 15, so that everyone can benefit from the expertise of our horticultural specialist and ensure that our tours are a more personal experience.

 

Personalised tours are one of our specialities.  In discussion with our experts at Hidden Gardens Hidden France, you can devise your own tour:  for couples, a group of friends, a gardening club etc.  We are also happy to organise shorter excursions (without accommodation) for those of you who are already taking a holiday in the area, or even live locally. Contact us for suggestions and cost. 

Value versus quality:  with our intimate knowledge of the area, we are able to offer our tours at prices below that of other companies, without compromising our high level of quality. Our 2010 tours start at only € 895 for 5 days.

 

Our expert horticultural guide:  Gill Pound has been visiting the Languedoc for over 20 years and has lived here for the last 12 years. She runs a small, specialist nursery, where she experiments with new varieties of perennials and shrubs adapted to a summer dry climate, as well as offering  garden courses and consultancy. Gill accompanies all our tours, and is available during evening sessions for discussion and questions about the plants you have seen.

Highlights from our tours......

..... on walks in the garrigue countryside you can find at least 20 different varieties of orchid

..... the Jardin de la Bouichère has 2,500 examples of perennials, trees and shrubs including "forgotten" vegetables and fruit trees

..... access to private gardens not normally open for visits and to gardens which can only be viewed by appointment

...... the beautiful Abbaye de Fontfroide with its rose gardens and its newly restored "historical" terraces

 ..... the Cathar castles of Lastours: four castles built in a row on a terrain 500 m long and 50 m wide, high above a deep valley

 

Hidden Gardens Hidden France

La Grande Maison
Rue des Caves Hautes
F 34210 Cesseras
France

Tel: 00 33 (0)4 68 91 36 96
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it