Boxwood brochure 2022

Programme
Day 1
We take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord.
On arrival, we travel by coach to Roseraie Val-de-Marne in L’Haÿles-Roses,
where we start with a delicious light lunch followed by
a tour of the roses with the garden’s curator. Initiated in the late
19th-Century by Jules Gravereaux, a private collector and owner of
the Parisian department store Le Bon Marché, the garden now has
more than 11,000 rose bushes and nearly 2,900 species and varieties
of rose, making it one of the largest collections of old roses in the
world. We then drive to Hôtel Les Pléiades, on the edge of the Forêt de
Fontainebleau, with time to settle in before our evening meal together.
Hosted by Rosarian, Michael Marriott
and led by Maïté Delmas
Day 2
Though André Eve (1931-2015) is well known in France for his work
in hybridising old roses, few people know of his own small garden
in the Pithiviers. This garden, full of his favourite roses planted with
compatible herbaceous plants, is a joy to see and is maintained to
high standards by a group of skilled volunteers. At Le Manoir de la
Javeliére Park, we are invited to lunch by the owner, Patrick Masure,
and to view his comprehensive collection of wild roses. Next, we visit
the nursery that was originally set up by André Eve for a fascinating
behind-the-scenes tour of Les Roses Anciennes André Eve where
work is still underway creating beautiful new French roses. We
then journey on to Hôtel Le Choiseul overlooking the River Loire in
Amboise, with time to settle in before dining in the hotel restaurant.
Day 3
The fairy-tale Château Rivau has a remarkable garden with a
remarkable owner. Patricia Laigneau has planned her colourful garden
to wrap around the château. With a particular passion for roses, she
will take us on a special tour to show how roses are interwoven into
all corners of the garden before a delicious lunch together. In the
afternoon we have a private visit to the Loubert Rose Collection where
over 2,500 different species and cultivars of the genus Rosa comprise
a French National Collection, its main purpose to preserve and display
rose species as well as old and rare varieties. We then return to Hôtel
Le Choiseul for dinner together.
Day 4
In the heart of Touraine, we find Chédigny, ‘village des roses’, the
only village in France to be ranked as a ‘Jardin Remarquable’ for its
extraordinary collection of roses and its Rose Festival. We are then
invited to lunch and Vouvray wine tasting at Château de Valmer owned
by the same family for five generations. Today the Count and Countess
de Saint Venant still live in the château, their son, Jean de Saint Venant
managing the property and vineyards. Later, we visit the gardens of
Château de Villandry a unique testament to Renaissance architecture
with decorative potager and symbolic ornamental garden. Villandry
has long been the epitome of decorative vegetable gardens; the
standard of horticulture, attention to detail, and clever design remain a
total delight; we meet the head gardener to discuss the standard roses
that give the rhythm and the high notes to the potager. We then return
to Hôtel Le Choiseul for dinner together.
Day 5
Moving up-river we pass the village of Cormeray to find a small rose
garden, product of the full-blown passion of owner, Brigitte Chiron-
Charaud. We then find Les Jardins de Roquelin where Stephane
Chassine, who previously worked for André Eve, has created a very
beautiful cottage garden full of his favourite old roses on the banks
of the Loire. The coach will then drive to Paris, Gare du Nord for our
evening Eurostar service to London St Pancras.
Tour Dates
30 May – 3 June 2022
5 days
Tour Prices
£3,350 per person
Double room for sole use supplement £250
Deposit £450 per person
What’s Included
• Return travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to
Paris Gare du Nord
• Private coach transfers and excursions
• One night in the four-star Hôtel Les Pléiades, Barbizon
• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in the four-star Hôtel Le
Choiseul, Amboise
• Four evening meals and five lunches with wine
• Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
• Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts
• Detailed programme and garden notes
• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers
and waiters
Your Accommodation
Hôtel Les Pléiades, Barbizon
Partially the former atelier of the painter Charles Daubigny,
a member of the Barbizon school, Les Pléiades combines
history and elegance with chic modern style. Located in
the heart of Barbizon, made famous by the 19th-Century
painters who strove to capture the area’s pastoral beauty,
hotel facilities include a spa, stylish indoor and outdoor
pools and a fine dining restaurant.
Hôtel Le Choiseul, Amboise
Le Choiseul combines three handsome and historic
residencies to form this picturesque castle-hotel in the
heart of Amboise. Rooms are furnished in an elegant
French Country style and enjoy views across the hotel’s
romantic Italian-style gardens, the Loire or the Château
d’Amboise. This luxury extends to an attractive outdoor
pool and the hotel restaurant, which offers gastronomic
dining with an array of panoramic views.
To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk
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