TOP 10 GLOBAL GARDENS Join us to discover the secrets of the world’s most glorious gardens, from cactus beds to Arctic botanicals SANSSOUCI, GERMANY Built in 1747 by Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, as a summer palace and garden to rival Versailles in France, Sanssouci (which translates as ‘without care’) is a Rococo gem that sits above vine-clad terraces. It became a sanctuary for the king, a place he could withdraw from the world with his beloved dogs. Its location and layout reflect the pre-Romantic ideal of harmony between man and nature. MATEUS PALACE GARDENS, PORTUGAL In Vila Real you can visit the extraordinary Mateus Palace – the building famous for appearing on the Mateus Rosé wine label. A perfect example of Baroque architecture, the palace was designed to present a series of vistas and mirror images. Meanwhile, its delightful gardens are among the most beautiful in Europe, with topiaries, box hedges, elegant statues and a spectacular tunnel of cedars. A highlight is the lake, a body of water built in the 1950s to reflect the palace’s main façade and home to a João Cutileiro sculpture. If you are visiting in winter, you can also see the grand old camellias in bloom. PHOTOS: ©ALAMY 28 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | AUTUMN 2019
GARDENS IMPERIAL PALACE, CHINA Beijing’s vast Imperial Palace, built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty and also known as the Forbidden City, is the ultimate in majestic grandeur. Step through the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility into the Imperial Garden, the private garden of the former royal family which features a pair of 400-year-old consort pines, symbolising the harmony between the emperor and empress. SCHÖNBRUNN, AUSTRIA One of the most important monuments in Austria, Schönbrunn is also one of Europe’s grandest palaces. Discover opulent rooms and period furniture, as well as beautiful formal gardens. Unsurprisingly, the whole ensemble, which includes the palace and park, with its fountains, statues, palm house and zoo, is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. ARCTIC-ALPINE BOTANICAL GARDENS, NORWAY Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway, is set against a backdrop of snow-topped mountains. The city lies more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, yet the climate is comfortably warmed by the Gulf Stream. You can visit the Arctic Cathedral and walk through Tromsø’s Arctic-Alpine Botanical Gardens, the world’s northernmost botanic garden which features plants from the polar regions and high mountains. The beautiful giant Tibetan blue poppies are always a favourite with visitors. AUTUMN 2019 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 29
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